Skirball Cultural Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE SKIRBALL CULTURAL CENTER IS A PLACE OF MEETING GUIDED BY THE JEWISH TRADITION OF WELCOMING THE STRANGER AND INSPIRED BY THE AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC IDEALS OF FREEDOM AND EQUALITY. WE WELCOME PEOPLE OF ALL COMMUNITIES AND GENERATIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN CULTURAL EXPERIENCES THAT CELEBRATE DISCOVERY AND HOPE, FOSTER HUMAN CONNECTIONS, AND CALL UPON US TO HELP BUILD A MORE JUST SOCIETY.
- Income
- $27.5 million
- Spending
- $39.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 61.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 47%
- Employees
- 436
- Volunteers
- 150
- Highest pay
- $589,596, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 61.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 44% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 19 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $13.7 million spent. COMMUNITY GATHERINGS: SKIRBALL SERVES AS A VENUE FOR 400+ COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, LIFE CYCLE, AND CORPORATE EVENTS AND CELEBRATIONS.
- $9.0 million spent. MUSEUM: SKIRBALL PROTECTS AND CONSERVES 30,000 OBJECTS OF JUDAIC HISTORY AND CULTURE AND PRESENT 7 TO 10 EXHIBITIONS PRESENTING JEWISH STORIES AND AMERICAN EXPERIENCES TO BUILD A SENSE OF SHARED HUMANITY AND APPRECIATION FOR A PLURAL SOCIETY.
- $6.2 million spent. EDUCATION: SKIRBALL OFFERS K-12 SCHOOL TOURS TO ITS MUSEUM, ARTS EDUCATION CURRICULUM, AND TEACHER TRAININGS SERVING 40,000 LOCAL STUDENTS FREE OF CHARGE. ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE BOOK GROUPS, DOCENT LED MUSEUM TOURS, APPLIED ARTS CLASSES, AND LECTURE SERIES.
- $6.0 million spent. PERFORMANCE, FILM, & LITERARY ARTS: SKIRBALL PRESENT 50+ DANCE, MUSIC, FILM, LECTURE, AND LITERARY ART PROGRAMS, OFTEN FREE OF CHARGE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1995.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.