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Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum
Also known as The Strong
Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum reported $22.5 million in revenue and $23.4 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $86.81 went to program services, $8.99 to management and general costs and $4.20 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 55.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $400,759 (PRESIDENT/CEO). 12 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 24% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $23MFor 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
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $22MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 86.8% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.0% | 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 | 55.2% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 3.1% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 38.7% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $400,759 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.71% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 12 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 104.3 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 34 of 35 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseExhibits and education - as an educational institution focused on american cultural history, the strong explores play in order to encourage learning, creativity, and discovery. The museum accomplishes this through exhibitions, programs, and other activities that engage, entertain, and enlighten diverse audiences, especially families, children, and educators. (639,386 served)
Curatorial and collections- to support the mission, the museum collects, preserves, and researches objects, manuscripts, and other materials that reflect and document the importance of play, particularly as it reflects and illuminates the american experience and with special emphasis on toys and other artifacts related to play. (639,386 served)
Guest and membership services- to support the mission, the museum places great emphasis on guest services and the way in which guests are hosted and guided during their visit. The museum considers guest services to be a critical component of the visitors' experience which enhances their ability to learn, create and discover. (639,386 served)
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT/CEO Director/trustee, officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $358,247 | $0 | $42,512 | $400,759 |
| SVP FOR STRATEGIC PARTNERS Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $202,775 | $0 | $24,015 | $226,790 |
| SVP FOR FINANCE & FACILITI Officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $199,420 | $0 | $24,015 | $223,435 |
| SVP FOR EXHIBITS & INTERPR Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $156,233 | $0 | $31,966 | $188,199 |
| SVP FOR MARKETING & GUEST Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $164,057 | $0 | $13,370 | $177,427 |
| VP FOR GUEST SERVICES & SE Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $135,146 | $0 | $30,325 | $165,471 |
| VP OF COLLECTIONS & CHIEF Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $140,899 | $0 | $17,543 | $158,442 |
12 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $602K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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–1b35 · 34 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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5289
- Volunteers Part I, line 6176
Private foundation grants it received
4 private foundations reported grants to Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum totaling $549K 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 Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum spent in 2025, $86.81 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Salvador Dali MuseumSt Petersburg, FL · revenue $22M · programs 86.5% · FY2025
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- Greater Columbus Arts CouncilColumbus, OH · revenue $22M · programs 88.7% · 2025
- World War II TheatreNew Orleans, LA · revenue $23M · programs 97.1% · FY2025
- Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of ScienceMiami, FL · revenue $22M · programs 84.9% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in New York
Questions people ask
How much of Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum reported that 86.8% of its $23.4 million in expenses went to program services, 9.0% to management and general and 4.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $400,759, for the role of PRESIDENT/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum get its money?
Of $22.5 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 55.2% came from contributions and grants (including 3.1% from government grants) and 38.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 16-0954168 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, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202602599349300015 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202503219349306865 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202402929349300930 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202343149349302874 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202203199349306105 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202112369349301101 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202002389349300910 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 16-0954168: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.