Lower East Side Tenement Museum
Lower East Side Tenement Museum shows consistent asset growth and positive net income, with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 133475390 · New York, NY · NTEE: A540 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $17.2M |
| Total Expenses | $9.7M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $43 |
| Net Assets | $32.6M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Lower East Side Tenement Museum Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Lower East Side Tenement Museum directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Lower East Side Tenement Museum
Lower East Side Tenement Museum (EIN: 133475390) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code A540. The organization reported total revenue of $17.2M and total assets of $45.4M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Lower East Side Tenement Museum's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Lower East Side Tenement Museum is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 38 years, with 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2010–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 2.9%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $10.5M |
| Total Expenses | $9.7M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$816K |
| Total Assets | $43.3M |
| Total Liabilities | $10.7M |
| Net Assets | $32.6M |
| Operating Margin | 7.8% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 24.8% |
| Months of Reserves | 53.6 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Lower East Side Tenement Museum reported a surplus of $816K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 53.6 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 24.8% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 14 years of filings (2010–2023), Lower East Side Tenement Museum's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.9%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -28.4% | +9.3% | +5.2% |
| 2022 | +69.1% | +26.5% | +11.6% |
| 2021 | -21.1% | -32.3% | +4.4% |
| 2020 | -8.8% | -13.4% | +4.4% |
| 2019 | +12.9% | +11.7% | -1.0% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1988 |
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 Lower East Side Tenement Museum 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: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Lower East Side Tenement Museum allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. 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 $816K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 24.8%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% for officer compensation across all available IRS 990 filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size with assets exceeding $43 million and annual revenues over $10 million. This suggests that executive compensation may be reported under different categories or is genuinely not paid to officers, directors, trustees, or key employees as defined by the IRS, which would be a significant indicator of financial efficiency.
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 Lower East Side Tenement Museum's IRS 990 filings:
- Unusually low (0%) reported officer compensation, which may obscure actual executive pay if reported elsewhere.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Lower East Side Tenement Museum:
- Consistent growth in assets, from $27.6M in 2014 to $43.3M in 2023, indicating strong financial management.
- Generally positive net income (revenue exceeding expenses) in most years, demonstrating operational efficiency.
- Stable liabilities relative to asset growth, suggesting responsible debt management.
- Strong program focus implied by the NTEE code and consistent operational surpluses.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lower East Side Tenement Museum
Is Lower East Side Tenement Museum a legitimate charity?
Lower East Side Tenement Museum (EIN: 133475390) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $17.2M. 1 red flag identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Lower East Side Tenement Museum spend its money?
Lower East Side Tenement Museum directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Lower East Side Tenement Museum tax-deductible?
Lower East Side Tenement Museum is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 133475390). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Lower East Side Tenement Museum CEO make?
Lower East Side Tenement Museum's highest-compensated officer earns $43 annually. The organization reported $17.2M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Lower East Side Tenement Museum's spending goes to programs?
Lower East Side Tenement Museum directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Lower East Side Tenement Museum compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Lower East Side Tenement Museum is above average for NTEE category A540 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Lower East Side Tenement Museum located?
Lower East Side Tenement Museum is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 133475390. It is classified under NTEE code A540.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Lower East Side Tenement Museum have?
Lower East Side Tenement Museum has 14 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 $17.2M in total revenue.
Is the Lower East Side Tenement Museum financially stable?
Yes, the museum appears financially stable. Its assets have grown consistently from $27,623,609 in 2014 to $43,327,482 in 2023, and it has generally maintained a positive net income (revenue exceeding expenses) in most years, including a surplus of $816,297 in 2023.
How does the museum manage executive compensation?
The museum consistently reports 0% for officer compensation in its IRS 990 filings. This indicates that no compensation was reported for officers, directors, trustees, or key employees on Part VII of the Form 990, which is an unusual but potentially positive sign for resource allocation.
Has the museum's revenue been consistent?
The museum's revenue has fluctuated but generally remained strong, ranging from $8,687,426 in 2021 to $14,689,551 in 2022, with the latest reported revenue at $10,513,328 in 2023. This indicates a diverse and resilient funding base.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Lower East Side Tenement Museum showing financial trends over 14 years of public records:
Over 14 years of IRS 990 filings (2010–2023), Lower East Side Tenement Museum's revenue has grown by 45.8%, moving from $7.2M to $10.5M. Total assets increased by 87.3% over the same period, from $23.1M to $43.3M. Total functional expenses rose by 61.1%, from $6.0M to $9.7M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Lower East Side Tenement Museum reported a surplus of $816K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $10.7M in liabilities against $43.3M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 24.8%), resulting in net assets of $32.6M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $10.5M | $9.7M | $43.3M | $10.7M | — | — |
| 2022 | $14.7M | $8.9M | $41.2M | $9.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $8.7M | $7.0M | $36.9M | $10.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $11.0M | $10.4M | $35.4M | $11.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $12.1M | $12.0M | $33.9M | $10.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $10.7M | $10.7M | $34.2M | $10.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $14.0M | $9.8M | $35.7M | $11.8M | — | — |
| 2016 | $11.0M | $9.3M | $30.1M | $10.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $9.8M | $9.4M | $26.4M | $8.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $11.4M | $8.7M | $27.6M | $10.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $8.3M | $8.3M | $25.2M | $10.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $9.1M | $7.2M | $25.8M | $10.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $8.2M | $6.5M | $25.4M | $12.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2010 | $7.2M | $6.0M | $23.1M | $11.6M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $10.5M, expenses of $9.7M, and assets of $43.3M (revenue -28.4% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $14.7M, expenses of $8.9M, and assets of $41.2M (revenue +69.1% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $8.7M, expenses of $7.0M, and assets of $36.9M (revenue -21.1% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $11.0M, expenses of $10.4M, and assets of $35.4M (revenue -8.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $12.1M, expenses of $12.0M, and assets of $33.9M (revenue +12.9% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $10.7M, expenses of $10.7M, and assets of $34.2M (revenue -23.8% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $14.0M, expenses of $9.8M, and assets of $35.7M (revenue +27.7% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $11.0M, expenses of $9.3M, and assets of $30.1M (revenue +12.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $9.8M, expenses of $9.4M, and assets of $26.4M (revenue -14.3% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $11.4M, expenses of $8.7M, and assets of $27.6M (revenue +38.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $8.3M, expenses of $8.3M, and assets of $25.2M (revenue -9.3% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $9.1M, expenses of $7.2M, and assets of $25.8M (revenue +11.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $8.2M, expenses of $6.5M, and assets of $25.4M (revenue +13.7% year-over-year).
- 2010: Revenue of $7.2M, expenses of $6.0M, and assets of $23.1M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Lower East Side Tenement Museum:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Lower East Side Tenement 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.