American Museum Of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History maintains strong asset base and consistent program spending.
EIN: 136162659 · New York, NY · NTEE: A560 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $496.2M |
| Total Expenses | $227.7M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $1.1B |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is American Museum Of Natural History Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
American Museum Of Natural History directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About American Museum Of Natural History
American Museum Of Natural History (EIN: 136162659) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code A560. The organization reported total revenue of $496.2M and total assets of $1.6B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of American Museum Of Natural History's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
American Museum Of Natural History is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 83 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 1.0%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $228.7M |
| Total Expenses | $227.7M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$1.0M |
| Total Assets | $1.6B |
| Total Liabilities | $537.1M |
| Net Assets | $1.1B |
| Operating Margin | 0.4% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 32.7% |
| Months of Reserves | 86.6 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, American Museum Of Natural History reported a surplus of $1.0M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 86.6 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 32.7% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), American Museum Of Natural History's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.0%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +0.2% | +12.8% | +1.5% |
| 2022 | +14.4% | +6.6% | -9.9% |
| 2021 | +0.8% | -10.1% | +17.3% |
| 2020 | -9.6% | -2.1% | +4.6% |
| 2019 | +6.7% | -0.1% | +0.0% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1943 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates American Museum Of Natural History with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 12%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 8%
According to IRS 990 filings, American Museum Of Natural History allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 12%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 8%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $1.0M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 32.7%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The provided data indicates 0% officer compensation across all listed periods, which is unusual for an organization of this size and suggests that executive compensation may be reported differently or not included in this specific 'Officer Comp' metric, requiring further investigation into the full 990 filings.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of American Museum Of Natural History's IRS 990 filings:
- Unclear executive compensation reporting (0% listed across all periods, which is highly improbable for an organization of this size).
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for American Museum Of Natural History:
- Strong and growing asset base ($1.64 billion in 2023).
- Consistent program delivery indicated by high expense levels relative to revenue.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings, demonstrating transparency.
- Significant revenue generation, indicating strong public and donor support.
Frequently Asked Questions about American Museum Of Natural History
Is American Museum Of Natural History a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, American Museum Of Natural History (EIN: 136162659) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does American Museum Of Natural History spend its money?
American Museum Of Natural History directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to American Museum Of Natural History tax-deductible?
American Museum Of Natural History is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 136162659). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of American Museum Of Natural History's spending goes to programs?
American Museum Of Natural History directs 80% to programs, 8% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does American Museum Of Natural History compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), American Museum Of Natural History is above average for NTEE category A560 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is American Museum Of Natural History located?
American Museum Of Natural History is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 136162659. It is classified under NTEE code A560.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does American Museum Of Natural History have?
American Museum Of Natural History has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $496.2M in total revenue.
Is the American Museum of Natural History financially stable?
Yes, the museum appears financially stable, consistently holding over $1.6 billion in assets as of 2023, significantly exceeding its liabilities of $537 million.
How has the museum's revenue trended recently?
Revenue has shown some fluctuation, with $228 million in 2023 and $228 million in 2022, following a dip to $199 million in 2021, indicating a recovery post-pandemic impacts.
What is the organization's spending efficiency?
While specific detailed breakdowns are not provided in the summary, the consistent ratio of expenses to revenue, often close to or below revenue, suggests a generally efficient operation. For example, in 2023, expenses were $227.6 million against $228.6 million in revenue.
Why is officer compensation listed as 0%?
The 'Officer Comp' metric consistently showing 0% across all periods is unusual for an organization of this scale and suggests that executive compensation might be reported under different categories within the full IRS 990, or that this specific summary metric does not capture all forms of compensation.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for American Museum Of Natural History showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), American Museum Of Natural History's revenue has grown by 13%, moving from $202.3M to $228.7M. Total assets increased by 42.1% over the same period, from $1.2B to $1.6B. Total functional expenses rose by 23.2%, from $184.9M to $227.7M. In its most recent filing year (2023), American Museum Of Natural History reported a surplus of $1.0M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $537.1M in liabilities against $1.6B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 32.7%), resulting in net assets of $1.1B.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $228.7M | $227.7M | $1.6B | $537.1M | — | — |
| 2022 | $228.3M | $201.7M | $1.6B | $561.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $199.6M | $189.2M | $1.8B | $594.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $198.1M | $210.5M | $1.5B | $531.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $219.1M | $215.0M | $1.5B | $416.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $205.4M | $215.1M | $1.5B | $392.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $310.3M | $214.0M | $1.4B | $400.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $255.3M | $203.8M | $1.3B | $408.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $284.0M | $201.2M | $1.3B | $401.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $180.3M | $198.5M | $1.3B | $414.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $197.3M | $189.3M | $1.2B | $396.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $175.6M | $188.1M | $1.1B | $450.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $202.3M | $184.9M | $1.2B | $408.9M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $228.7M, expenses of $227.7M, and assets of $1.6B (revenue +0.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $228.3M, expenses of $201.7M, and assets of $1.6B (revenue +14.4% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $199.6M, expenses of $189.2M, and assets of $1.8B (revenue +0.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $198.1M, expenses of $210.5M, and assets of $1.5B (revenue -9.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $219.1M, expenses of $215.0M, and assets of $1.5B (revenue +6.7% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $205.4M, expenses of $215.1M, and assets of $1.5B (revenue -33.8% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $310.3M, expenses of $214.0M, and assets of $1.4B (revenue +21.6% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $255.3M, expenses of $203.8M, and assets of $1.3B (revenue -10.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $284.0M, expenses of $201.2M, and assets of $1.3B (revenue +57.5% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $180.3M, expenses of $198.5M, and assets of $1.3B (revenue -8.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $197.3M, expenses of $189.3M, and assets of $1.2B (revenue +12.3% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $175.6M, expenses of $188.1M, and assets of $1.1B (revenue -13.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $202.3M, expenses of $184.9M, and assets of $1.2B.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for American Museum Of Natural History:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for American Museum Of Natural History is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.