To make creative expression a life-changing force through experiences that inspire and connect.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
85¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 138 volunteers and 177 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
1 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $5.1M a year · 27% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
85%
of spending
Looks good: 85% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.0M
to officers and key staff · 7% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 7% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
10 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 10.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $92K
Looks good: 5 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$8.2M
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
$21.0M
-13% vs prior year
Spent
$30.0M
To programs
85%
Net assets
$128.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$21.0M
FY2024▼ -13%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$6.9M
FY2021$23.5M
FY2022$19.8M
FY2023$24.2M
FY2024$21.0M
Expenses
$30.0M
FY2024▲ +15%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$19.9M
FY2021$20.7M
FY2022$24.0M
FY2023$26.1M
FY2024$30.0M
Net assets
$128.8M
FY2024▼ -7%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$143.1M
FY2021$145.2M
FY2022$140.6M
FY2023$138.3M
FY2024$128.8M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · 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: FY2024. IRS ruling in Sep 1994.

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

Where the money goes

85 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 85% · $25.4M Management & general 13% · $4.0M Fundraising 2% · $587K

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

22 people listed on the 990; $2.0M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Chief Executive Officer
$407,079Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Financial Officer
$199,548Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Business & Ops Officer
$195,791Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Collections & Exhib. Officer
$176,132Pt VII · Sec A
VP Marketing Strategy & Sponsorships
$170,579Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Museum Ops. & Gov. Affairs
$169,077Pt VII · Sec A
Director, IT
$148,990Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Marketing & Revenue
$140,204Pt VII · Sec A

Michele Smith’s $407K as Chief Executive Officer is at the 66th 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

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Michele Smith$407,079$228,046———
Alexis Lee——$257,244$265,060$258,524
Jennifer Chu$199,548$222,604$238,111$156,975$155,099
Toni Godwin Sells$195,791————
Ste Marchio—$186,575$147,657——
Lauren Burkle——$162,089$184,272$170,674
Jacob McMurray$176,132$145,723$144,239$138,768$138,360
Nicole Carrido$170,579————

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.

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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 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Inspire and connect people through creative experiences that change lives.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $24.2M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Expenditures related to the curation, development, fabrication, installation, production, and display of exhibitions and installations that advance the museum's mission of connecting our community.

$13.2Mprogram expense
02

Mopop operates an iconic, architecturally significant and custom-built museum building, designed by renowned architect frank o. Gehry. Program costs associated with the building include depreciation of $6,819,401 and $6,897,490 and occupancy of $1,866,985 and $2,414,979 respectively for 2024 and 2023.

$9.4Mprogram expense
03

Expenditures related to mopop's significant collection of contemporary cultural and historical music archive of over 85,000 artifacts plus our oral history collection, consisting of more than 1,100 interviews with musicians, filmmakers, producers, authors, and innovative luminaries who have shaped the culture of our time and influenced…

$1.6Mprogram 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 · FY2024
ArtsfundFY2024$34K
Total grants receivedfrom 5 funders$92K
See all 5 funders →
Grants paid · 1 grant · $10K · 2024–2024
Elc DevelopmentWA · FY2024$10,000

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$21.0M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$17.3M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.4M
Money outPt IX
$30.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$25.4M
Managementcol C$4.0M
Fundraisingcol D$587K
Owns and owesPt X
$128.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$24.9M
Total assetsLn 16$137.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$8.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
22
listed · VII A
PaidVII A11
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$248K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$95K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$557K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$17.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.4M
Other incomeLn 4–11$285K
Gains on assetsLn 7$372K
Total revenueLn 12$21.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$15K
SavingsLn 2$24.9M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$24.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$91.6M
Other assetsLn 15$5.4M
Total assetsLn 16$137.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$8.2M
Net assetsLn 32$128.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5177
VolunteersI 6138
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$27.2M$24.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$96.8M$91.6M
Total assetsLn 16$146.2M$137.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$8.0M$8.2M
Net assetsLn 32$138.3M$128.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$10K$10K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.5M$813K$643K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$9.7M$8.3M$1.0M$391K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$161K$136K$14K$10K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$1.4M$1.1M$244K$51K
Payroll taxesLn 10$914K$733K$148K$33K
Legal feesLn 11b$177K$177K
Accounting feesLn 11c$114K$114K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$10K$10K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$35K$35K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$875K$459K$408K$8K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$2.0M$2.0M$10K$15K
Office expensesLn 13$1.6M$1.1M$476K$28K
Information technologyLn 14$468K$438K$20K$11K
RoyaltiesLn 15$324K$324K
OccupancyLn 16$2.7M$2.7M$129
TravelLn 17$70K$56K$14K$75
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$25K$13K$11K$688
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$6.8M$6.8M
InsuranceLn 23$636K$1K$635K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$413K$405K$3K$5K
Total functional expensesLn 25$30.0M$25.4M$4.0M$587K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $21.0M$30.0M−$9.0M$128.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $24.2M$26.1M−$1.9M$138.3M 990 PDF
FY2022 $19.8M$24.0M−$4.2M$140.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $23.5M$20.7M$2.8M$145.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 $6.9M$19.9M−$13.0M$143.1M 990 PDF

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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 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $21,040,617 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $3,795,199$1,985,186
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $17,933,806$17,324,715
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $996,710$1,446,073
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $1,518,008$284,643
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $24,243,723$21,040,617
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $5,000$10,000
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $11,478,354$13,698,598
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$35,108
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $14,623,204$16,260,553
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $26,106,558$30,004,259
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$1,862,835−$8,963,642
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-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $21,040,617 across 15 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $17,734 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$46,480
VIII-1b Membership dues$474,021
VIII-1c Fundraising events$556,694
VIII-1e Government grants$247,550
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$660,441
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$94,812
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,985,186
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $17,324,715$17,324,715
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,074,015$1,074,015
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $451$451
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $42,138$42,138
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $372,058$372,058
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$468,088−$468,088
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $359,435 · Excluded from tax $332,973$692,408
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $17,700,150 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,355,281$21,040,617
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $30,004,259 across 21 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $10,000$10,000
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $813,396 · Management $642,959$1,456,355
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $8,299,131 · Management $1,041,350 · Fundraising $390,644$9,731,125
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $136,364 · Management $14,349 · Fundraising $9,954$160,667
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,141,457 · Management $244,001 · Fundraising $51,461$1,436,919
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $732,597 · Management $148,076 · Fundraising $32,859$913,532
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $176,966$176,966
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $114,415$114,415
IX-11d Lobbying feesManagement $10,000$10,000
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $35,108$35,108
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $459,249 · Management $407,803 · Fundraising $7,758$874,810
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,973,740 · Management $10,308 · Fundraising $14,514$1,998,562
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $1,129,437 · Management $475,525 · Fundraising $28,114$1,633,076
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $437,754 · Management $19,572 · Fundraising $11,035$468,361
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $323,679$323,679
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $2,696,239 · Fundraising $129$2,696,368
IX-17 TravelPrograms $55,894 · Management $14,451 · Fundraising $75$70,420
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $13,302 · Management $10,868 · Fundraising $688$24,858
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $6,819,401$6,819,401
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $1,080 · Management $635,310$636,390
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $405,225 · Management $2,922 · Fundraising $5,100$413,247
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $25,447,945 · Management $3,968,875 · Fundraising $587,439$30,004,259
Part X · Balance sheet $137,047,590 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $15,324$15,267
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $27,156,484$24,896,054
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $13,217,254$12,863,402
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,494,929$844,304
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $1,279,293$1,286,275
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $96,762,436$91,639,442
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $115,000$115,000
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $6,201,885$5,387,846
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $146,242,605$137,047,590
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,539,269$1,534,430
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $735,062$657,739
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $5,702,421$6,051,575
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $7,976,752$8,243,744
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $124,928,800$115,915,000
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $13,337,053$12,888,846
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $138,265,853$128,803,846
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $146,242,605$137,047,590
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $128,803,846 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$21,040,617
XI-2 Total expenses$30,004,259
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$8,963,642
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$138,265,853
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities−$493,840
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$4,525
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$128,803,846

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

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