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American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History reported $246.8 million in revenue and $278.6 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $83.15 went to program services, $12.64 to management and general costs and $4.21 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 62.2% of the total. Government grants made up 18.9%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,796,115 (DIR. OF THE MUS. (END 6/30/24)). 262 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 25% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $279MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $247MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.1% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.6% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 4.2% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.08 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 62.2% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 18.9% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 11.3% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,796,115 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.64% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 262 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 48.4 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 45 of 47 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseScience - since its founding, the museum has pursued a scientific research program to advance understanding of the biological, physical, and cultural world. The museum's full-time scientific staff of approx. 170 work in biological sciences, paleontology, astrophysics, earth and planetary sciences, anthropology, and publish in peer-reviewed journals. Annually, amnh scientists conduct more than 50 expeditions, enhancing the museum's collection of more than 30 million specimens and artifacts. The museum offers its ph.d. And master's programs through its gilder graduate school, the only…
Education and public programs - the museum welcomed over 291,000 field trip participants in FY25. High school and college students participate in programs that provide exploration of science and museum careers. Educator professional learning programs served thousands of teachers onsite and online. Urban advantage, a science education program reached 87,240 students from 324 schools across nyc. The museum's mat program helps train earth science teachers for placement in high needs schools. Lectures and public events provide opportunities for public engagement with science topics
Exhibition - the museum is open to the public 363 days a year with more than 40 permanent exhibition halls. The museum has a robust schedule of special exhibitions and planetarium shows it designs and produces, which also travel to venues around the U.S. And internationally, supplemented with educational content, and other web-based resources for learning
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIR. OF THE MUS. (END 6/30/24) Former, 45.0 hrs/week | $1,738,936 | $0 | $57,179 | $1,796,115 |
| PRESIDENT & EX OFFICIO TRUSTEE Director/trustee, officer, 55.0 hrs/week | $1,216,070 | $0 | $286,338 | $1,502,408 |
| CURATOR (FMR SR VP & PROVOST) Former, 35.0 hrs/week | $789,415 | $0 | $71,439 | $860,854 |
| CURATOR Highest compensated employee, 35.0 hrs/week | $536,173 | $0 | $111,527 | $647,700 |
| SR VP COMMUNICATIONS,MARKETING Officer, 45.0 hrs/week | $460,769 | $0 | $159,009 | $619,778 |
| SR VP & PROVOST Officer, 45.0 hrs/week | $478,177 | $0 | $95,316 | $573,493 |
| ACTING SR VP CFO & CIO Officer, 45.0 hrs/week | $479,619 | $0 | $87,602 | $567,221 |
| DEAN OF GRAD SCHOOL & CURATOR Highest compensated employee, 35.0 hrs/week | $455,585 | $0 | $105,427 | $561,012 |
262 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from American Museum of Natural History (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $6.7M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b47 · 45 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 51,337
- Volunteers Part I, line 6804
Private foundation grants it received
251 private foundations reported grants to American Museum of Natural History totaling $18M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from American Museum of Natural History's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for American Museum of Natural History, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 American Museum of Natural History spent in FY2025, $83.15 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Los Angeles Philharmonic AssociationLos Angeles, CA · revenue $245M · programs 84.3% · FY2025
- The Museum of Fine Arts HoustonHouston, TX · revenue $255M · programs 75.1% · FY2025
- Museum AssociatesLos Angeles, CA · revenue $235M · programs 84.5% · FY2025
- Educational Media FoundationRocklin, CA · revenue $261M · programs 69.1% · 2024
- Lincoln Center for the Performing ArtsNew York, NY · revenue $235M · programs 74.9% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in New York
Questions people ask
How much of American Museum of Natural History's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, American Museum of Natural History reported that 83.1% of its $278.6 million in expenses went to program services, 12.6% to management and general and 4.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does American Museum of Natural History pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation American Museum of Natural History reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $1,796,115, for the role of DIR. OF THE MUS. (END 6/30/24) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does American Museum of Natural History get its money?
Of $246.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 62.2% came from contributions and grants (including 18.9% from government grants) and 11.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is American Museum of Natural History a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 13-6162659 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202641179349300744 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202511219349302896 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202441359349311669 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202301359349313735 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202221339349307862 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202101339349302495 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 13-6162659: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.