Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust
Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust maintains substantial assets with stable expenses, despite recent revenue declines and no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 166169480 · Chicago, IL · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $22.2M |
| Total Expenses | $5.3M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $2 |
| Net Assets | $70.6M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust
Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust (EIN: 166169480) is a nonprofit organization based in Chicago, IL. The organization reported total revenue of $22.2M and total assets of $68.5M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 52 years, with 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2010–2023).
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $2.5M |
| Total Expenses | $5.3M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-2,847,171 |
| Total Assets | $70.6M |
| Net Assets | $70.6M |
| Operating Margin | -114.3% |
| Months of Reserves | 158.7 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust reported a deficit of $2.8M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 158.7 months of operating reserves (strong position).
Financial Trends
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -47.7% | +1.0% | -3.9% |
| 2022 | -39.2% | +5.9% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | +16.1% | +1.2% | +4.0% |
| 2020 | +10.8% | +1.4% | +2.5% |
| 2019 | -28.7% | +0.3% | -2.6% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1974 |
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 Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust 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, Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust 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 deficit of $2.8M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all 14 filings, which is unusual for an entity with over $2 million in annual expenses and nearly $70 million in assets. This suggests either a fully volunteer executive leadership or that executive compensation is paid by a related entity, requiring further clarification for full transparency.
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 Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation, which may obscure executive remuneration if paid by a related entity.
- Expenses exceeded revenue in 2022 ($5,287,264 expenses vs. $4,763,809 revenue) and 2023 ($5,338,753 expenses vs. $2,491,582 revenue), indicating reliance on reserves or other funding sources.
- Significant decline in revenue from $7.8 million in 2021 to $2.4 million in 2023 without a proportional decrease in expenses.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust:
- Substantial and stable asset base, averaging over $68 million, providing long-term financial security.
- Consistent reporting of zero liabilities across all filings, indicating a debt-free operation.
- Stable operational expenses, generally ranging between $4.5 million and $5.3 million annually, suggesting predictable cost management.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (14 filings), demonstrating commitment to regulatory compliance and transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions about Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust
Is Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust a legitimate charity?
Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust (EIN: 166169480) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Illinois. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $22.2M. 3 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust spend its money?
Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust tax-deductible?
Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 166169480). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust CEO make?
Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust's highest-compensated officer earns $2 annually. The organization reported $22.2M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust's spending goes to programs?
Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust located?
Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and files with the IRS under EIN 166169480.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust have?
Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust 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 $22.2M in total revenue.
Why is officer compensation consistently reported as 0% across all filings?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation is unusual for an organization of this size and asset base. It could indicate a volunteer-led executive team, or that executive compensation is handled by a related entity not directly reported in this section of the 990. Further investigation into the organization's structure and related entities would be necessary to understand this.
What caused the significant drop in revenue from $7,829,381 in 2021 to $2,491,582 in 2023?
The 990 filings show a substantial decrease in revenue over the past two years. This could be due to various factors such as changes in investment performance, reduced donations, or shifts in grant funding. A detailed review of the revenue sources reported in the 990s would be needed to pinpoint the exact causes.
How does the organization manage to operate with zero reported liabilities?
The consistent reporting of $0 liabilities across all filings is a significant strength, indicating that the organization operates without debt. This suggests strong financial management and a reliance on existing assets and current revenue to cover expenses.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust showing financial trends over 14 years of public records:
Total assets increased by 5.3% over the same period, from $67.1M to $70.6M. Total functional expenses rose by 14.1%, from $4.7M to $5.3M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust reported a deficit of $2.8M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $2.5M | $5.3M | $70.6M | $0 | — | — |
| 2022 | $4.8M | $5.3M | $73.4M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $7.8M | $5.0M | $74.0M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $6.7M | $4.9M | $71.1M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $6.1M | $4.9M | $69.4M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $8.5M | $4.9M | $71.2M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $7.4M | $4.6M | $68.4M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $3.3M | $4.5M | $65.1M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $4.0M | $4.5M | $66.6M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $9.2M | $4.3M | $72.2M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $2.5M | $4.2M | $67.6M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $3.8M | $4.4M | $69.5M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $2.6M | $4.6M | $65.0M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2010 | $-1,116,251 | $4.7M | $67.1M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $2.5M, expenses of $5.3M, and assets of $70.6M (revenue -47.7% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $4.8M, expenses of $5.3M, and assets of $73.4M (revenue -39.2% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $7.8M, expenses of $5.0M, and assets of $74.0M (revenue +16.1% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $6.7M, expenses of $4.9M, and assets of $71.1M (revenue +10.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $6.1M, expenses of $4.9M, and assets of $69.4M (revenue -28.7% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $8.5M, expenses of $4.9M, and assets of $71.2M (revenue +15.4% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $7.4M, expenses of $4.6M, and assets of $68.4M (revenue +122.7% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $3.3M, expenses of $4.5M, and assets of $65.1M (revenue -16.4% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $4.0M, expenses of $4.5M, and assets of $66.6M (revenue -56.8% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $9.2M, expenses of $4.3M, and assets of $72.2M (revenue +267.5% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $2.5M, expenses of $4.2M, and assets of $67.6M (revenue -34.7% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $3.8M, expenses of $4.4M, and assets of $69.5M (revenue +46.3% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $2.6M, expenses of $4.6M, and assets of $65.0M.
- 2010: Revenue of $-1,116,251, expenses of $4.7M, and assets of $67.1M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum Charitable Trust 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.