Is The Museum For African Art Legit?

Quick charity verification for The Museum For African Art (EIN: 133137461)

Verdict: The Museum For African Art shows mixed signals

65/100Mission Score
$7.5MRevenue
$86.4MAssets
3Red Flags
3Strengths

Red Flags

Strengths

Spending Breakdown

How The Museum For African Art allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

75%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
10%
Fundraising
Within typical range
How to read this: Well-run charities typically spend 75% or more on programs, keep admin under 25%, and fundraising under 15%. A high program ratio means more of every dollar goes directly to the mission.

How to Interpret This Report

What Red Flags Mean

Red flags are potential warning signs identified by AI analysis of IRS 990 filings. They may indicate issues like declining revenue, high executive pay relative to program spending, lack of transparency, or governance concerns. A single red flag does not necessarily mean an organization is untrustworthy, but multiple flags warrant further investigation before donating.

What Mission Score Measures

The Mission Score (0-100) evaluates how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated purpose. It combines multiple factors: program spending efficiency (how much goes to programs vs. overhead), financial health and sustainability, governance quality, transparency in reporting, and consistency of operations over time. A score of 70+ indicates strong alignment with the organization’s mission.

Using This Data for Donation Decisions

Use this report as one input in your decision. Look at the overall Mission Score for a quick assessment, review red flags and strengths for specific concerns, check the spending breakdown to see where money goes, and compare executive compensation to the organization’s size. Consider viewing the full transparency report for deeper analysis, and always verify tax-exempt status with the IRS before making large donations.

Frequently Asked Questions about The Museum For African Art

Is The Museum For African Art a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, The Museum For African Art (EIN: 133137461) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.

Is The Museum For African Art a good charity to donate to?

The Museum For African Art has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $7.5M. Assets: $86.4M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for The Museum For African Art?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for The Museum For African Art is 133137461. This is the unique tax ID assigned by the IRS.

What is a Mission Score?

The Mission Score is a 0-100 rating that measures how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated mission. It factors in program spending efficiency, financial transparency, governance practices, and outcome reporting. Scores above 70 indicate strong mission alignment, 40-69 suggest mixed performance, and below 40 signals potential concerns.

How does The Museum For African Art spend its money?

The Museum For African Art allocates 75% to programs, 15% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify The Museum For African Art's tax-exempt status?

You can verify The Museum For African Art's tax-exempt status using EIN 133137461 on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) at apps.irs.gov/app/eos. You can also request copies of their Form 990 directly from the organization, as they are required by law to provide them upon request.

AI Transparency Report

The Museum For African Art demonstrates a fluctuating financial landscape over the past decade. While the organization holds substantial assets, reported at $86,428,481 in its latest filing, its revenue has been inconsistent, with a notable decline from $13,627,719 in 2019 to $1,738,866 in 2023. This recent trend of expenses exceeding revenue, such as $3,402,371 in expenses against $1,738,866 in revenue in 2023, suggests operational challenges or a reliance on prior year surpluses or endowment drawdowns. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings indicates strong transparency regarding executive pay, or that compensation is not structured in a way that requires disclosure in this section, which is a positive sign for donors concerned about excessive salaries. Spending efficiency appears to be a concern in recent years, as expenses have consistently outpaced revenue, leading to a reduction in assets from a peak of $86,577,954 in 2020 to $82,696,141 in 2023. While the specific breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses isn't provided in the summary data, the overall financial trend suggests that the organization may be drawing down reserves to cover operational costs. The significant liabilities in earlier years (e.g., $26,661,084 in 2017) have been substantially reduced to $9,085,897 in 2023, which is a positive development in managing debt. Overall, the museum exhibits a commitment to transparency regarding executive compensation. However, the recent financial performance, characterized by declining revenue and expenses exceeding income, warrants closer examination of its operational model and sustainability. Donors should consider the long-term financial strategy given the current trends.

View Full Transparency Report →

Disclaimer

AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.

Related Pages