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Cincinnati Museum Center
Cincinnati Museum Center reported $34.5 million in revenue and $28.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $65.00 went to program services, $23.10 to management and general costs and $11.90 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 50.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $467,684 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 10 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 30% 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 $29MFor 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 $34MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 65.0% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 23.1% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 11.9% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.20 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 50.8% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.7% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 40.8% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $467,684 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.63% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 10 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 131.4 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 33 of 34 | 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 expenseThree museums accredited by the american association of museums are open to the public 363 days each year. Cincinnati history museum, Cincinnati Museum of natural history and science, and duke energy children's museum provide public exhibits and interactive programming for visitors of all ages. We create exhibits that travel to other museums in north america and also host temporary exhibits that we rent from other organizations to supplement the topics presented in our permanent museum exhibits. Omnimax large-format film theater presents films on natural and cultural history topics. We have…
Collections management and research. Preservation and conservation of objects in our collections for use by current and future generations of scientists and historians, as well as providing objects and information about them for our museum exhibits. Our staff conducts field investigations in paleontology, archaeology and zoology to increase our understanding of life processes, earth and human history. This research provides information and material for exhibits and for articles published in popular and scientific journals. 1.8 million objects, artifacts and documents are curated by cmc …
Educational programs include classes, workshops, day camps, overnight camps, lectures and tours that interpret and expand on museum exhibit themes. One large and two small theater spaces are used for live performances that bring historical events to life, providing reinforcement of topics and an additional avenue for mission delivery. School group programs are provided in our museums and also at school sites. Docents are stationed in all museum exhibit areas to interact with visitors and enhance the visitor's learning opportunities
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $414,893 | $0 | $52,791 | $467,684 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $306,859 | $0 | $16,537 | $323,396 |
| VP OF PHILANTHROPY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $219,167 | $0 | $48,964 | $268,131 |
| VP OF MARKETING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $157,157 | $0 | $19,015 | $176,172 |
| CHIEF LEARNING OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $163,915 | $0 | $8,812 | $172,727 |
| CONTROLLER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $120,834 | $0 | $19,965 | $140,799 |
| VP OF TECHNOLOGY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $131,539 | $0 | $6,730 | $138,269 |
10 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Cincinnati Museum Center (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $870K (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–1b34 · 33 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 4Yes
- 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 5266
- Volunteers Part I, line 6424
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SCIENCE MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA Exhibit services | $1,300,000 |
| GREENHAUS CONSTRUCTION LLC Construction work | $392,151 |
| LAMAR COMPANIES Advertising services | $355,943 |
| ATOMIC DATA LLC Technology services | $352,657 |
| WLWT Marketing services | $221,674 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 13 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
49 private foundations reported grants to Cincinnati Museum Center totaling $1.1M 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 Cincinnati Museum Center's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Cincinnati Museum Center, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Cincinnati Museum Center spent in FY2025, $65.00 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- French-American School of New YorkMamaroneck, NY · revenue $34M · programs 79.6% · FY2025
- Houston Grand Opera AssociationHouston, TX · revenue $35M · programs 81.0% · FY2025
- Interlochen Center for the ArtsInterlochen, MI · revenue $34M · programs 53.7% · FY2025
- Bethel Woods Center for the ArtsLiberty, NY · revenue $35M · programs 87.3% · 2024
- ArtsquestBethlehem, PA · revenue $34M · programs 86.4% · 2024
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Ohio
Questions people ask
How much of Cincinnati Museum Center's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Cincinnati Museum Center reported that 65.0% of its $28.8 million in expenses went to program services, 23.1% to management and general and 11.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Cincinnati Museum Center pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Cincinnati Museum Center reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $467,684, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Cincinnati Museum Center get its money?
Of $34.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 50.8% came from contributions and grants (including 1.7% from government grants) and 40.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Cincinnati Museum Center a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 31-1212634 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 202611349349303931 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202541349349300039 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202421369349300822 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202311319349301906 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201329349305645 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202111329349303101 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 31-1212634: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.