International African American Museum

International African American Museum shows strong asset growth and zero reported officer compensation amidst significant operational expenses post-opening.

EIN: 203398254 · Charleston, SC · NTEE: A50 · Updated: 2026-03-28

$11.2MRevenue
$11.2MGross Revenue
$73.5MAssets
90/100Mission Score (Excellent)
A50
International African American Museum Financial Summary
MetricValue
Total Revenue$11.2M
Total Expenses$14.1M
Program Spending85%
CEO/Top Officer Pay$73.5
Net Assets$55.0M
Transparency Score90/100

Is International African American Museum Legit?

Some Concerns

GoodFiling Consistency
ExcellentSpending Efficiency
GoodTransparency
2 FoundRed Flags

Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →

International African American Museum directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.

About International African American Museum

International African American Museum (EIN: 203398254) is a nonprofit organization based in Charleston, SC, classified under NTEE code A50. The organization reported total revenue of $11.2M and total assets of $73.5M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of International African American Museum's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.

Organization Overview

19Years Operating
LargeSize Classification
13Years of Filings
MixedRevenue Trajectory

International African American Museum is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 19.2%.

Key Financial Metrics (2023)

From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:

Total Revenue$7.4M
Total Expenses$14.1M
Surplus / Deficit$-6,653,667
Total Assets$73.6M
Total Liabilities$18.6M
Net Assets$55.0M
Operating Margin-89.8%
Debt-to-Asset Ratio25.3%
Months of Reserves62.8 months

Financial Health Grade: B

In 2023, International African American Museum reported a deficit of $6.7M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 62.8 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 25.3% (moderate leverage).

Financial Trends

Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), International African American Museum's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.2%.

YearRevenue ChangeExpense ChangeAsset Change
2023-37.9%-26.5%+15.1%
2022-59.8%+221.1%-8.6%
2021+418.7%+17.7%+52.6%
2020-69.4%+181.0%+2.9%
2019+26.1%-61.6%+60.7%

IRS Tax-Exempt Classification

IRS Classification Codes2000
IRS Ruling Date2007

Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.

AI Transparency Report

The International African American Museum (IAAM) demonstrates a strong commitment to its mission, as evidenced by its significant asset growth and substantial program-related expenditures in recent years. The organization has successfully raised considerable revenue, with a notable peak of $29,654,302 in 2021, contributing to its current asset base of $73,547,323. While the 2023 fiscal period shows expenses exceeding revenue ($14,059,329 vs. $7,405,662), this could be indicative of significant operational ramp-up or initial post-opening costs for the museum, which opened in June 2023. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests a volunteer-led executive structure or that compensation is not reported in this specific field, which enhances its perceived financial efficiency and dedication to mission over individual gain. The museum's financial trajectory shows a clear pattern of capital accumulation for its establishment, transitioning to operational expenses. The substantial increase in liabilities in 2023 to $18,597,407, up from $2,293,471 in 2022, warrants closer examination to understand the nature of these obligations, though it is not uncommon for large capital projects to incur debt. The organization's transparency is commendable given the consistent filing history and the clear reporting of key financial metrics. The absence of reported officer compensation is a significant positive indicator of resource allocation directly to the mission. Overall, IAAM appears to be in a robust financial position, having successfully built a significant asset base to support its mission. The recent increase in expenses relative to revenue is a point to monitor but is likely a temporary phase as the museum establishes its operational rhythm. Its long-term financial health will depend on its ability to generate sustainable operating revenue to cover ongoing expenses, building upon its strong foundation.

Mission Effectiveness Score

NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates International African American Museum with a Mission Score of 90 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

According to IRS 990 filings, International African American Museum allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% 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:

$7.4MTotal Revenue
$14.1MTotal Expenses
$73.6MTotal Assets
$18.6MTotal Liabilities
$55.0MNet Assets

Executive Compensation Analysis

The International African American Museum consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all 13 filings, indicating that executive leadership is either entirely volunteer-based or compensated through other means not categorized as officer compensation, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size and asset base ($73.5 million).

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 International African American Museum's IRS 990 filings:

Strengths

The following positive indicators were identified for International African American Museum:

Frequently Asked Questions about International African American Museum

Is International African American Museum a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, International African American Museum (EIN: 203398254) some concerns. Mission Score: 90/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.

How does International African American Museum spend its money?

International African American Museum directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.

Are donations to International African American Museum tax-deductible?

International African American Museum is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 203398254). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.

How much does the International African American Museum CEO make?

International African American Museum's highest-compensated officer earns $73.5 annually. The organization reported $11.2M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.

What percentage of International African American Museum's spending goes to programs?

International African American Museum directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.

How does International African American Museum compare to similar nonprofits?

With a transparency score of 90/100 (Excellent), International African American Museum is above average for NTEE category A50 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.

Where is International African American Museum located?

International African American Museum is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina and files with the IRS under EIN 203398254. It is classified under NTEE code A50.

How many years of IRS 990 filings does International African American Museum have?

International African American Museum 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 $11.2M in total revenue.

How does the International African American Museum plan to sustain its operations given the 2023 deficit where expenses ($14,059,329) significantly exceeded revenue ($7,405,662)?

The 2023 deficit likely reflects the initial operational costs and investments following the museum's opening in June 2023. Future filings will need to show a strategy for increasing recurring revenue streams (e.g., admissions, memberships, grants) to cover ongoing expenses and achieve financial sustainability.

What is the nature of the significant increase in liabilities from $2,293,471 in 2022 to $18,597,407 in 2023?

This substantial increase in liabilities could be related to financing for the museum's construction, exhibits, or initial operational setup. Further investigation into the specific types of liabilities (e.g., bonds, loans, payables) would provide clarity on the organization's debt structure.

How does the International African American Museum manage to operate with 0% reported officer compensation?

The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation suggests that the organization's executive leadership may be entirely volunteer-driven, or that compensation for key management personnel is categorized differently within the IRS 990, such as under general salaries and wages rather than specific officer compensation fields. This practice, while seemingly efficient, warrants further detail for full transparency.

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for International African American Museum showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:

Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), International African American Museum's revenue has grown by 720.1%, moving from $903K to $7.4M. Total assets increased by 73691% over the same period, from $100K to $73.6M. Total functional expenses rose by 2227.3%, from $604K to $14.1M. In its most recent filing year (2023), International African American Museum reported a deficit of $6.7M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $18.6M in liabilities against $73.6M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 25.3%), resulting in net assets of $55.0M.

YearRevenueExpensesAssetsLiabilitiesOfficer Comp. %PDF
2023 $7.4M $14.1M $73.6M $18.6M
2022 $11.9M $19.1M $63.9M $2.3M
2021 $29.7M $6.0M $69.9M $1.1M View 990
2020 $5.7M $5.1M $45.8M $662K View 990
2019 $18.7M $1.8M $44.5M $255K View 990
2018 $14.8M $4.7M $27.7M $366K View 990
2017 $16.6M $1.5M $21.9M $4.7M
2016 $2.6M $575K $5.9M $22K View 990
2015 $3.7M $201K $3.9M $7K View 990
2014 $396K $172K $392K $15K View 990
2013 $193K $99K $182K $12K View 990
2012 $206K $423K $90K $14K View 990
2011 $903K $604K $100K $45K View 990

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

View Individual Filing Years

Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for International African American Museum:

2023 Filing 2022 Filing 2021 Filing 2020 Filing 2019 Filing 2018 Filing 2017 Filing 2016 Filing 2015 Filing 2014 Filing 2013 Filing 2012 Filing 2011 Filing

Data Sources and Methodology

This transparency report for International African American Museum 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.

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