To inspire people to learn how history, science, technology, and nature shape the mid-south.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
45¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 1,320 volunteers and 56 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $441K a year · 11% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
45%
of spending
Concern: 45% of spending went to programs; under 50%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$210K
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $7.4M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 1.8 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $27K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$588K
6% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 6% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
11
of 11 voting members
Looks good: 11 of 11 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$5.2M
+28% vs prior year
Spent
$5.7M
To programs
45%
Net assets
$8.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$5.2M
FY2025▲ +28%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.2M
FY2021$3.3M
FY2022$4.6M
FY2023$4.2M
FY2024$4.0M
FY2025$5.2M
Expenses
$5.7M
FY2025▲ +32%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.9M
FY2021$2.2M
FY2022$2.4M
FY2023$3.4M
FY2024$4.3M
FY2025$5.7M
Net assets
$8.6M
FY2025▼ -2%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$4.4M
FY2021$6.1M
FY2022$7.9M
FY2023$8.8M
FY2024$8.8M
FY2025$8.6M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jan 1969.

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

Where the money goes

45 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 45% · $2.6M Management & general 51% · $2.9M Fundraising 5% · $260K

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

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Who runs it and what they're paid

13 people listed on the 990; $210K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director Till 12/12/25
$209,635Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A

William Thompson’s $210K as Executive Director Till 12/12/25 is at the 86th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3924 $1–10M 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 · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
William Thompson$209,635$201,640————
Kevin Thompson——$177,778$199,221$192,200—
Steve Pike—————$56,121

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 Memphis Museums INC executive salaries →

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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 learning how history, science, tech, and nature shape the Mid-South.

Questions for Memphis Museums INC

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $2.6M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Memphis museum education programs -- giant screen theater featuring history, natural history, and science films; lichterman nature center featuring indoor exhibits and outdoor habitats with environmental education programs; pink palace education school and general audience programs; coon creek science center for school groups evacavating…

$1.3Mprogram expense
02

Pink palace exhibitions -- permanent exhibitions about the cultural history and natural history of the mid-south. TEMPORARY/TRAVELING exhibitions about science, history, and natural history. 149,191 persons benefitted.

$1.2Mprogram expense
03

Curatorial services -- conservation and preservation of over 60,000 artifacts and objects in support of education programs and exhibitions. 482,096 persons benefitted.

$60Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$27K
See all 3 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$5.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.1M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.3M
Other incomeLn 4–11$457K
Money outPt IX
$5.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.6M
Managementcol C$2.9M
Fundraisingcol D$260K
Owns and owesPt X
$8.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$868K
Total assetsLn 16$9.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$588K
PeoplePt VI, VII
13
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.1M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$333K
Other incomeLn 4–11$457K
Gains on assetsLn 7$170K
Total revenueLn 12$5.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$581K
SavingsLn 2$288K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$868K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$7.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$708K
Other assetsLn 15$25K
Total assetsLn 16$9.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$588K
Net assetsLn 32$8.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 556
VolunteersI 61,320
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.4M$868K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$6.8M$7.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$763K$708K
Total assetsLn 16$9.0M$9.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$292K$588K
Net assetsLn 32$8.8M$8.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$216K$216K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.1M$1.0M$865K$166K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$126K$63K$53K$10K
Payroll taxesLn 10$153K$69K$73K$11K
Investment management feesLn 11f$40K$40K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.0M$417K$578K$24K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$71K$71K
TravelLn 17$15K$6K$9K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$56K$43K$13K
InsuranceLn 23$196K$196K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.5M$812K$670K$43K
All other expensesLn 24e$226K$46K$174K$5K
Total functional expensesLn 25$5.7M$2.6M$2.9M$260K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $5.2M$5.7M−$537K$8.6M 990 PDF
FY2024 $4.0M$4.3M−$281K$8.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $4.2M$3.4M$784K$8.8M 990 PDF
FY2022 $4.6M$2.4M$2.3M$7.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 $3.3M$2.2M$1.1M$6.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.2M$2.9M−$697K$4.4M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $5,165,441 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,375,746$3,058,175
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,477,594$1,317,221
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $153,137$332,811
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $1,036,745$457,234
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,043,222$5,165,441
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,916,578$2,556,028
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,407,617$3,146,038
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $4,324,195$5,702,066
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$280,973−$536,625
Part VI · Governance 11 of 11 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body11
VI-1b Independent voting members11
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $5,165,441 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $83,010 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1b Membership dues$61,233
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,996,942
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,058,175
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,317,221$1,317,221
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $162,909$162,909
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $391,685$391,685
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $169,902$169,902
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$17,461−$17,461
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,400,231 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $707,035$5,165,441
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $5,702,066 across 12 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffManagement $216,058$216,058
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,029,480 · Management $864,788 · Fundraising $166,493$2,060,761
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $63,076 · Management $52,986 · Fundraising $10,201$126,263
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $68,975 · Management $72,696 · Fundraising $11,275$152,946
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $40,253$40,253
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $417,019 · Management $577,897 · Fundraising $23,520$1,018,436
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $70,672$70,672
IX-17 TravelPrograms $5,559 · Management $9,164$14,723
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $42,876 · Management $12,808$55,684
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $195,765$195,765
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $812,261 · Management $669,501 · Fundraising $43,214$1,524,976
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $46,185 · Management $174,293 · Fundraising $5,051$225,529
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,556,103 · Management $2,886,209 · Fundraising $259,754$5,702,066
Part X · Balance sheet $9,143,732 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $979,677$580,577
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $374,795$287,734
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $63,250$74,836
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $53,342$24,669
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $763,444$707,760
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $6,763,160$7,443,084
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $27,085$25,072
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $9,044,142$9,143,732
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $131,619$387,684
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $160,273$200,298
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $291,892$587,982
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $4,643,343$4,089,483
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $4,108,907$4,466,267
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $8,752,250$8,555,750
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $9,044,142$9,143,732
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $8,555,750 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$5,165,441
XI-2 Total expenses$5,702,066
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$536,625
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$8,752,250
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$340,125
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$8,555,750

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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