Whitney Museum Of American Art
Whitney Museum maintains strong asset base despite fluctuating revenues and zero reported officer compensation.
EIN: 131789318 · New York, NY · NTEE: A510 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $184.6M |
| Total Expenses | $86.7M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $1 |
| Net Assets | $847.0M |
| Transparency Score | 75/100 |
Is Whitney Museum Of American Art Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Whitney Museum Of American Art directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Whitney Museum Of American Art
Whitney Museum Of American Art (EIN: 131789318) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code A510. The organization reported total revenue of $184.6M and total assets of $1.0B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Whitney Museum Of American Art's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Whitney Museum Of American Art is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 90 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -3.1%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $100.9M |
| Total Expenses | $86.7M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$14.2M |
| Total Assets | $972.8M |
| Total Liabilities | $125.8M |
| Net Assets | $847.0M |
| Operating Margin | 14.1% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 12.9% |
| Months of Reserves | 134.6 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Whitney Museum Of American Art reported a surplus of $14.2M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 134.6 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 12.9% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Whitney Museum Of American Art's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -3.1%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -8.3% | +11.9% | +5.1% |
| 2022 | +62.5% | -32.8% | -7.7% |
| 2021 | -40.2% | +40.4% | +7.0% |
| 2020 | +19.1% | -8.0% | +3.4% |
| 2019 | +11.5% | +9.9% | +0.9% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1936 |
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 Whitney Museum Of American Art with a Mission Score of 75 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: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Whitney Museum Of American Art 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 $14.2M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 12.9%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The IRS 990 filings consistently report 0% officer compensation, which is highly unusual for an organization with over $1 billion in assets and significant annual revenue. This suggests that executive compensation may be reported in other expense categories or through related entities, which could obscure a complete picture of leadership remuneration.
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 Whitney Museum Of American Art's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size and could indicate a lack of transparency in executive pay reporting.
- Significant expense exceeding revenue in 202106 ($115,365,000 expenses vs. $67,707,000 revenue), indicating a period of financial deficit.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Whitney Museum Of American Art:
- Substantial and growing asset base, exceeding $1 billion in the latest period, indicating strong financial stability.
- Generally manages expenses below revenue, demonstrating fiscal prudence in most periods.
- Long filing history (13 filings) provides extensive data for financial analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions about Whitney Museum Of American Art
Is Whitney Museum Of American Art a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Whitney Museum Of American Art (EIN: 131789318) some concerns. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Whitney Museum Of American Art spend its money?
Whitney Museum Of American Art directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Whitney Museum Of American Art tax-deductible?
Whitney Museum Of American Art is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 131789318). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Whitney Museum Of American Art CEO make?
Whitney Museum Of American Art's highest-compensated officer earns $1 annually. The organization reported $184.6M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Whitney Museum Of American Art's spending goes to programs?
Whitney Museum Of American Art directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Whitney Museum Of American Art compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 75/100 (Good), Whitney Museum Of American Art is above average for NTEE category A510 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Whitney Museum Of American Art located?
Whitney Museum Of American Art is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 131789318. It is classified under NTEE code A510.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Whitney Museum Of American Art have?
Whitney Museum Of American Art 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 $184.6M in total revenue.
Is the Whitney Museum a good charity?
Financially, the Whitney Museum appears stable with substantial assets and generally manages expenses below revenue. Its mission to promote American art is clear. However, the consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation raises questions about transparency regarding executive pay, which is a key factor in assessing a 'good charity'.
Why is officer compensation consistently reported as 0%?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings is highly unusual for an organization of the Whitney Museum's scale. This could mean that compensation for key executives is reported under other expense categories (e.g., salaries and wages for all employees), paid through a related organization, or that the specific 'officer' roles as defined by the IRS 990 are truly uncompensated, which is less likely for a major institution.
How has the museum's financial health changed over time?
The museum's assets have grown steadily, from $853,444,000 in 201406 to over $1 billion in the latest period. Revenue has shown significant fluctuations, from a low of $67,707,000 in 202106 to a high of $184,593,000 in the latest period, indicating variability in its income streams. Expenses have generally been managed, though 202106 saw expenses significantly outpace revenue.
What is the museum's spending efficiency?
Based on the general trend of expenses being lower than revenue, the museum appears to be fiscally responsible. For example, in 202306, revenue was $100,886,000 against expenses of $86,708,000. However, without a detailed functional expense breakdown (program, administrative, fundraising), a precise efficiency ratio cannot be calculated from the provided data.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Whitney Museum Of American Art showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Whitney Museum Of American Art's revenue has declined by 31.6%, moving from $147.6M to $100.9M. Total assets increased by 117% over the same period, from $448.2M to $972.8M. Total functional expenses rose by 117.4%, from $39.9M to $86.7M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Whitney Museum Of American Art reported a surplus of $14.2M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $125.8M in liabilities against $972.8M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 12.9%), resulting in net assets of $847.0M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $100.9M | $86.7M | $972.8M | $125.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $110.1M | $77.5M | $925.4M | $129.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $67.7M | $115.4M | $1.0B | $135.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $113.1M | $82.2M | $937.8M | $127.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $95.0M | $89.4M | $907.1M | $121.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $85.2M | $81.3M | $899.2M | $116.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $73.3M | $75.2M | $905.8M | $142.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $88.1M | $76.8M | $882.3M | $150.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $100.8M | $66.2M | $888.6M | $156.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $178.6M | $42.7M | $853.4M | $170.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $91.3M | $40.4M | $687.9M | $161.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $54.8M | $38.7M | $603.0M | $156.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $147.6M | $39.9M | $448.2M | $16.0M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $100.9M, expenses of $86.7M, and assets of $972.8M (revenue -8.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $110.1M, expenses of $77.5M, and assets of $925.4M (revenue +62.5% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $67.7M, expenses of $115.4M, and assets of $1.0B (revenue -40.2% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $113.1M, expenses of $82.2M, and assets of $937.8M (revenue +19.1% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $95.0M, expenses of $89.4M, and assets of $907.1M (revenue +11.5% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $85.2M, expenses of $81.3M, and assets of $899.2M (revenue +16.2% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $73.3M, expenses of $75.2M, and assets of $905.8M (revenue -16.7% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $88.1M, expenses of $76.8M, and assets of $882.3M (revenue -12.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $100.8M, expenses of $66.2M, and assets of $888.6M (revenue -43.5% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $178.6M, expenses of $42.7M, and assets of $853.4M (revenue +95.7% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $91.3M, expenses of $40.4M, and assets of $687.9M (revenue +66.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $54.8M, expenses of $38.7M, and assets of $603.0M (revenue -62.9% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $147.6M, expenses of $39.9M, and assets of $448.2M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Whitney Museum Of American Art:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Whitney Museum Of American Art 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.