Cincinnati Museum Center

Tax-deductible

Cincinnati, OH501(c)(3)Since 1987Arts & CultureEIN 31-1212634

This page gets seen. Tell your story. Claim this org.

Cincinnati Museum Center inspires people of all ages to learn more about our world through science, regional history, and educational, engaging and meaningful experiences.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
65¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 424 volunteers and 266 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $7.2M a year · 20% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
65%
of spending
Worth a look: 65% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.5M
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 67% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.5 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $23K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$14.8M
4% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 4% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
33
of 34 voting members
Looks good: 33 of 34 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$34.5M
+4% vs prior year
Spent
$28.8M
To programs
65%
Net assets
$314.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$34.5M
FY2024▲ +4%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$49.5M
FY2021$36.2M
FY2022$34.0M
FY2023$26.9M
FY2024$33.2M
FY2024$34.5M
Expenses
$28.8M
FY2024▼ -14%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$22.2M
FY2021$40.3M
FY2022$23.0M
FY2023$24.8M
FY2024$33.4M
FY2024$28.8M
Net assets
$314.8M
FY2024▼ -1%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$271.7M
FY2021$301.7M
FY2022$300.8M
FY2023$307.1M
FY2024$318.9M
FY2024$314.8M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Oct 1987.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

65 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 65% · $18.7M Management & general 23% · $6.6M Fundraising 12% · $3.4M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? The org can add a note here. Request edit privileges.

Who runs it and what they're paid

46 people listed on the 990; $1.5M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President & CEO
$414,893Pt VII · Sec A
$306,859Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Philanthropy
$219,167Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Learning Officer
$163,915Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Marketing
$157,157Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Technology
$131,539Pt VII · Sec A
Controller
$120,834Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Elizabeth W Pierce’s $415K as President & CEO is at the 67th percentile of top reported officer pay among 749 $10–100M arts & culture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Elizabeth W Pierce$414,893—————
Elizabeth Pierce—$355,272$365,098$364,845$259,187$311,140
Jill Berkemeier$306,859$271,868$260,000$218,262$180,301$193,300
Scott Schuster$219,167$182,835$195,412$175,130$160,074—
David Zlatic—$149,785$164,926$118,061—$103,147
Whitney Owens$163,915$150,843$150,893$151,153$116,070$132,343
Cody Hefner$157,157$145,846$122,304———
David Duszynski—————$138,678

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Cincinnati Museum Center executive salaries →

Are you one of these people? Claim this org to confirm your role

Something off? The org can add a note here. Request edit privileges.

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Inspires lifelong learning through interactive science and regional history exhibits, educational programs, school outreach, and live theater performances for visitors of all ages.

Provided by the organization

Know this organization? Claim it to add your story

3 programs · $18.7M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Three museums accredited by the american association of museums are open to the public 363 days each year. Cincinnati history museum, cincinnati museum of natural history and science, and duke energy children's museum provide public exhibits and interactive programming for visitors of all ages.

$11.8Mprogram expense
02

Educational programs include classes, workshops, day camps, overnight camps, lectures and tours that interpret and expand on museum exhibit themes. One large and two small theater spaces are used for live performances that bring historical events to life, providing reinforcement of topics and an additional avenue for mission delivery.

$5.4Mprogram expense
03

Collections management and research. Preservation and conservation of objects in our collections for use by current and future generations of scientists and historians, as well as providing objects and information about them for our museum exhibits.

$1.5Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$23K
Grants paid · 5 grants · $32.6M · 2020–2024
Cincinnati Museums FoundationOH · FY2024$625,997
Cincinnati Museums FoundationOH · FY2023$6,852,623
Cincinnati Museums FoundationOH · FY2022$823,555
Cincinnati Museums FoundationOH · FY2021$1,291,934
Cincinnati Museums FoundationOH · FY2020$22,997,409

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$34.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$17.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$14.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$2.8M
Money outPt IX
$28.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$18.7M
Managementcol C$6.6M
Fundraisingcol D$3.4M
Owns and owesPt X
$314.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.6M
Total assetsLn 16$329.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$14.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
46
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a34
IndependentVI 1b33
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$17.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$598K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$415K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$14.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$93K
Other incomeLn 4–11$2.8M
Gains on assetsLn 7$55K
Total revenueLn 12$34.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$3.6M
SavingsLn 2$6K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$353K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$229.7M
Other assetsLn 15$85.7M
Total assetsLn 16$329.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$14.8M
Net assetsLn 32$314.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5266
VolunteersI 6424
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.6M$3.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$466K$353K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$42.7M$229.7M
Total assetsLn 16$340.8M$329.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$21.9M$14.8M
Net assetsLn 32$318.9M$314.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$626K$626K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$870K$591K$156K$123K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$8.7M$5.9M$1.6M$1.2M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$347K$250K$52K$46K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$1.3M$952K$198K$174K
Payroll taxesLn 10$775K$530K$147K$99K
Legal feesLn 11b$146K$53K$92K$684
Accounting feesLn 11c$67K$67K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$60K$60K
Investment management feesLn 11f$99K$2K$97K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2.1M$1.1M$527K$452K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$740K$321K$8K$412K
Office expensesLn 13$1.1M$536K$188K$360K
Information technologyLn 14$915K$162K$641K$113K
OccupancyLn 16$3.6M$932K$2.7M$579
TravelLn 17$114K$99K$8K$7K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$38K$23K$8K$7K
InterestLn 20$483K$457K$7K$18K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$4.2M$4.0M$63K$159K
InsuranceLn 23$463K$404K$58K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.7M$1.5M$64K$155K
All other expensesLn 24e$268K$268K
Total functional expensesLn 25$28.8M$18.7M$6.6M$3.4M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 $33.2M$33.4M−$197K$318.9M 990 PDF
FY2023 $26.9M$24.8M$2.1M$307.1M 990 PDF
FY2022 $34.0M$23.0M$11.0M$300.8M 990 PDF
FY2021 $36.2M$40.3M−$4.1M$301.7M 990 PDF
FY2020 $49.5M$22.2M$27.3M$271.7M 990 PDF

Want to add your own materials alongside these filings? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $34,467,370 across 11 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $469,610 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1d Related organizations$1,919,834
VIII-1e Government grants$598,064
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$15,002,416
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$414,662
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$17,520,314
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $12,682,394 · Unrelated business $334,329 · Excluded from tax $686,831$13,703,554
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $38,073$38,073
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $1,898$1,898
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $54,890$54,890
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $2,679,031$2,679,031
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $15,831,035 · Unrelated business $334,329 · Excluded from tax $781,692$34,467,370
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $28,754,196 across 22 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $625,997$625,997
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $590,872 · Management $156,490 · Fundraising $122,767$870,129
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $5,900,148 · Management $1,586,673 · Fundraising $1,236,589$8,723,410
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $249,548 · Management $51,888 · Fundraising $45,525$346,961
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $951,889 · Management $197,924 · Fundraising $173,655$1,323,468
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $529,774 · Management $146,978 · Fundraising $98,578$775,330
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $52,684 · Management $92,140 · Fundraising $684$145,508
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $67,353$67,353
IX-11d Lobbying feesFundraising $60,125$60,125
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $2,100 · Management $96,900$99,000
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,141,528 · Management $526,549 · Fundraising $451,691$2,119,768
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $320,646 · Management $7,620 · Fundraising $411,940$740,206
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $535,969 · Management $188,083 · Fundraising $359,836$1,083,888
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $161,594 · Management $641,247 · Fundraising $112,502$915,343
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $932,152 · Management $2,674,925 · Fundraising $579$3,607,656
IX-17 TravelPrograms $99,259 · Management $7,700 · Fundraising $7,071$114,030
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $23,239 · Management $8,439 · Fundraising $6,576$38,254
IX-20 InterestPrograms $457,047 · Management $7,239 · Fundraising $18,290$482,576
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $3,983,077 · Management $63,087 · Fundraising $159,387$4,205,551
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $404,363 · Management $58,482$462,845
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,459,392 · Management $64,110 · Fundraising $155,175$1,678,677
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $268,121$268,121
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $18,689,399 · Management $6,643,827 · Fundraising $3,420,970$28,754,196
Part X · Balance sheet $329,600,250 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $4,573,361$3,616,543
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $5,238$6,457
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $2,909,312$8,041,275
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $69,700$334,809
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $456,931$1,912,023
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $42,696,972$229,657,094
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $137,917$140,212
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $328,317$212,302
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $77,837,351$85,679,535
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $340,786,064$329,600,250
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,956,869$2,840,658
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $2,084,952$3,701,585
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $7,864,862$56,829
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $21,906,683$14,799,072
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $286,790,605$273,474,766
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $32,088,776$41,326,412
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $318,879,381$314,801,178
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $340,786,064$329,600,250
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $314,801,178 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$34,467,370
XI-2 Total expenses$28,754,196
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$5,713,174
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$318,879,381
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$7,572,633
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$17,364,010
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$314,801,178

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

If you ARE the filing organization, claim this org and add context

Made it to the end? Claim this organization

Keep this kind of thing free
Keep public charity data easy to read.

Free to the public, because obviously. Like this? Pay it forward. Don't like this? Help us get better.

Card, Apple Pay or Google Pay through Stripe. One time.
Keep this kind of thing free
Keep public charity data easy to read.

Free to the public, because obviously. Like this? Pay it forward. Don't like this? Help us get better.

Card, Apple Pay or Google Pay through Stripe. One time.

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.