Newseum Inc
Newseum Inc. dramatically downsized operations, with 2021 revenue and expenses under $1 million after multi-million dollar divestment.
EIN: 203985447 · Laurel, MD · NTEE: A50 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $758K |
| Total Expenses | $758K |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| Net Assets | $0 |
| Transparency Score | 65/100 |
Is Newseum Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Newseum Inc directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Newseum Inc
Newseum Inc (EIN: 203985447) is a nonprofit organization based in Laurel, MD, classified under NTEE code A50. The organization reported total revenue of $758K and total assets of $1.4M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Newseum Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Newseum Inc is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 11 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2021). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -35.8%.
Key Financial Metrics (2021)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $758K |
| Total Expenses | $758K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$32 |
| Total Assets | $1.4M |
| Total Liabilities | $1.4M |
| Net Assets | $0 |
| Operating Margin | 0.0% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 100.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 22.3 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2021, Newseum Inc reported a surplus of $32 with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 22.3 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 100.0% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 11 years of filings (2011–2021), Newseum Inc's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -35.8%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | -30.2% | -92.1% | -68.4% |
| 2020 | -95.9% | -82.5% | -94.8% |
| 2019 | -51.2% | -6.1% | -6.6% |
| 2018 | -6.2% | -7.2% | -6.0% |
| 2017 | +4.3% | -1.2% | -6.2% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2006 |
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 Newseum Inc with a Mission Score of 65 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 5%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Newseum Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 5%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 5%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2021)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $32, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 100.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation has consistently been reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers received compensation from the organization, which is highly unusual for an entity that once managed tens of millions in revenue and expenses.
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 Newseum Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Dramatic and rapid decline in revenue and assets without clear public explanation in the provided data, suggesting a major operational shift or dissolution.
- Significant negative net income in prior years (e.g., 2019: $26.6M revenue vs. $55M expenses; 2020: $1M revenue vs. $9.6M expenses) indicating unsustainable operations before the downsizing.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Newseum Inc:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating a commitment to minimizing administrative salary costs.
- In 2021, expenses ($758,241) were almost perfectly matched by revenue ($758,273), demonstrating fiscal balance in its current, reduced state.
Frequently Asked Questions about Newseum Inc
Is Newseum Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Newseum Inc (EIN: 203985447) some concerns. Mission Score: 65/100. 2 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
How does Newseum Inc spend its money?
Newseum Inc directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Newseum Inc tax-deductible?
Newseum Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 203985447). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Newseum Inc's spending goes to programs?
Newseum Inc directs 90% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Newseum Inc compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 65/100 (Good), Newseum Inc 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 Newseum Inc located?
Newseum Inc is headquartered in Laurel, Maryland and files with the IRS under EIN 203985447. It is classified under NTEE code A50.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Newseum Inc have?
Newseum Inc has 11 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 $758K in total revenue.
What caused the dramatic reduction in Newseum Inc.'s revenue and assets between 2018 and 2021?
The significant decline in revenue from $54.5 million in 2018 to $758,273 in 2021, and assets from $91.6 million to $1.4 million, strongly suggests a major operational change, likely the sale of its physical museum and associated assets, leading to a substantial divestment.
Is Newseum Inc. still actively operating as a museum or educational institution?
Given the drastic reduction in revenue and expenses to under $1 million in 2021, it is highly unlikely that Newseum Inc. is still operating as a large-scale museum. Its current activities are likely minimal, focused on asset management, or a significantly re-scoped mission.
How did Newseum Inc. manage to report 0% officer compensation while operating at a multi-million dollar scale?
Reporting 0% officer compensation across all filings, even when revenues were in the tens of millions, is highly unusual. This could indicate that executive salaries were covered by a parent organization, through a different entity, or that the leadership was entirely volunteer-based, which would be exceptional for an organization of its former size.
What is the current purpose or mission of Newseum Inc. given its reduced financial footprint?
The latest financial data (2021) shows assets and liabilities perfectly matching at $1,407,827, and expenses almost perfectly matching revenue. This suggests the organization is either in a final dissolution phase, managing residual assets, or has adopted a new, much smaller mission that does not involve significant operational costs.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Newseum Inc showing financial trends over 11 years of public records:
Over 11 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2021), Newseum Inc's revenue has declined by 98.8%, moving from $63.7M to $758K. Total assets decreased by 99% over the same period, from $137.5M to $1.4M. Total functional expenses fell by 98.9%, from $71.3M to $758K. In its most recent filing year (2021), Newseum Inc reported a surplus of $32, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $1.4M in liabilities against $1.4M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 100.0%), resulting in net assets of $0.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $758K | $758K | $1.4M | $1.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $1.1M | $9.6M | $4.5M | $4.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $26.6M | $55.0M | $85.6M | $52.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $54.6M | $58.6M | $91.6M | $30.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $58.2M | $63.2M | $97.5M | $32.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $55.8M | $64.0M | $104.0M | $33.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $59.3M | $61.9M | $112.9M | $34.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $55.2M | $60.4M | $116.2M | $35.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $62.6M | $66.9M | $122.8M | $36.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $59.7M | $68.0M | $128.1M | $36.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $63.7M | $71.3M | $137.5M | $35.7M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2021: Revenue of $758K, expenses of $758K, and assets of $1.4M (revenue -30.2% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $9.6M, and assets of $4.5M (revenue -95.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $26.6M, expenses of $55.0M, and assets of $85.6M (revenue -51.2% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $54.6M, expenses of $58.6M, and assets of $91.6M (revenue -6.2% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $58.2M, expenses of $63.2M, and assets of $97.5M (revenue +4.3% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $55.8M, expenses of $64.0M, and assets of $104.0M (revenue -6.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $59.3M, expenses of $61.9M, and assets of $112.9M (revenue +7.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $55.2M, expenses of $60.4M, and assets of $116.2M (revenue -11.8% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $62.6M, expenses of $66.9M, and assets of $122.8M (revenue +4.8% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $59.7M, expenses of $68.0M, and assets of $128.1M (revenue -6.3% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $63.7M, expenses of $71.3M, and assets of $137.5M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Newseum Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Newseum Inc 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.