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Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum reported $12.3 million in revenue and $7.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2026. Of every $100 it spent, $75.54 went to program services, $18.45 to management and general costs and $6.01 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 68.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $317,872 (PRESIDENT CEO). 5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 176% between FY2020 and FY2026. Source: Form 990, FY2026.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending February 28, 2026 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $7.8MFor 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 February 28, 2026 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $12MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2026 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 75.5% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 18.5% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.0% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.06 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 68.9% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 2.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 20.6% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $317,872 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 4.06% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 69.0 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 31 of 31 | 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
FY2026 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseThe museum is a private non-profit educational institution dedicated to furthering an understanding and appreciation of the maritime heritage of the Chesapeake Bay through collections, education, documentation, exhibition, research and publication. Over 90,000 members and visitors participate on an annual basis. Volunteers provided over 8,000 hours of their time to areas such as education, boat yard and curatorial services. The value of these services is not recorded as an expense
Highest reported compensation
FY2026 · 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 Officer, 040.00 hrs/week | $215,492 | $0 | $102,380 | $317,872 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Key employee, 040.00 hrs/week | $182,310 | $0 | $58,478 | $240,788 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Key employee, 040.00 hrs/week | $129,547 | $0 | $5,875 | $135,422 |
| DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES Highest compensated employee, 040.00 hrs/week | $104,717 | $0 | $4,338 | $109,055 |
| CONTROLLER Highest compensated employee, 040.00 hrs/week | $102,831 | $0 | $2,244 | $105,075 |
5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $694K (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
FY2026 · 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–1b31 · 31 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 2No
- 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 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5101
- Volunteers Part I, line 6301
Largest outside contractors
FY2026 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| JOHNSON CONTROLS FIRE PROTECTION LP Professional services | $225,945 |
| FRESH AIR CONCEPTS LLC Professional services | $117,587 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
18 private foundations reported grants to Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum totaling $302K 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 Chesapeake Bay Maritime 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 Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum spent in FY2026, $75.54 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center FoundationTampa, FL · revenue $12M · programs 85.8% · FY2025
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- Miami Children's MuseumMiami, FL · revenue $12M · programs 86.7% · FY2025
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All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Maryland
Questions people ask
How much of Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending February 28, 2026, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum reported that 75.5% of its $7.8 million in expenses went to program services, 18.5% to management and general and 6.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum reported for one person in the fiscal year ending February 28, 2026 was $317,872, for the role of PRESIDENT CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum get its money?
Of $12.3 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending February 28, 2026, 68.9% came from contributions and grants (including 2.0% from government grants) and 20.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-7051889 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
- FY2026: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2026, object 202641749349301504 · read the filing · XML
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2025, object 202541759349300209 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2024, object 202413479349301651 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2023, object 202322229349301137 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2022, object 202233189349300428 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2021, object 202131689349300833 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending February 29, 2020, object 202110269349300101 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-7051889: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.