Home › Arts, culture & humanities
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum reported $57.5 million in revenue and $33.5 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $72.29 went to program services, $19.76 to management and general costs and $7.95 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 54.3% of the total. Government grants made up 12.7%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,025,568 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 56% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $33MFor 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 $58MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 72.3% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 19.8% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 8.0% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.09 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 54.3% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 12.7% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 25.0% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,025,568 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.06% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 13 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 85.9 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 8 of 9 | 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 expenseSee schedule omuseum operations: the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has established itself as the pre-eminent home for the celebration and study of Rock and Roll. It is a world-class museum and library and archives that educates its visitors about the history of Rock and Roll, from its roots to the present, and about Rock and Roll's impact on our culture and society. It accomplishes all of this with seven floors of exhibits and experiences featuring thousands of historic artifacts as well as numerous films and interactive elements. The Rock Hall also curates several temporary exhibits each year…
See schedule osaturday night live: ladies & gentlemen50 years of music : from its start on october 11, 1975, saturday night live was one of the most revolutionary shows on tv. Though billed as a sketch comedy series, it was targeted to viewers who grew up on Rock & Roll, just like the show's creator, lorne michaels.the exhibit highlights great musical performances and music-related sketches from the show's five decades, including artifacts from bill murray, eddie murphy, billie eilish, foo fighters, bonnie raitt, post malone, and music-related sketches of wayne and garth, james brown's…
See schedule oeducation & public programs: the Rock and Roll Hall of fames's education and programs division produces scores of activities and events each year that reinforce the Rock Hall's commitment to the study and interpretation of Rock and Roll music and its roots. The content of these programs highlights not only the work of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees but also a broad spectrum of popular music. These programs are presented in a variety of formats including student group programs, interviews, public concerts, lectures, film screenings, master classes, and community festivals.…
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 Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $910,072 | $0 | $115,496 | $1,025,568 |
| TRUSTEE/MEMBER Director/trustee, 1.00 hrs/week | $0 | $650,000 | $0 | $650,000 |
| VP-DEVELOPMENT Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $437,697 | $0 | $38,085 | $475,782 |
| VP-CULTURE & STRATEGY Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $358,060 | $0 | $10,500 | $368,560 |
| VP-SALES & MARKETING Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $323,869 | $0 | $29,921 | $353,790 |
| VP-DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $307,947 | $0 | $43,455 | $351,402 |
| VP-EDUCATION Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $297,145 | $0 | $43,455 | $340,600 |
| VP-FINANCE & FACILITIES Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $288,241 | $0 | $43,112 | $331,353 |
13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.4M (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–1b9 · 8 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 11aNo
- 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 5281
- Volunteers Part I, line 64
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ARAMARK SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT LLC Food & beverage svcs. | $192,033 |
| SKYLINE CLEVELAND RENAISSANCE Hotel services | $176,825 |
| OL MIDCO LLC Email marketing svcs. | $167,533 |
| RSM US LLP Audit & software svcs. | $114,248 |
| THOMSON HINE LLP Legal services | $112,202 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
46 private foundations reported grants to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum totaling $4.8M 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 The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and 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 The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum spent in 2025, $72.29 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Colorado Museum of Natural HistoryDenver, CO · revenue $57M · programs 75.6% · 2024
- Minneapolis Society of Fine ArtsMinneapolis, MN · revenue $58M · programs 78.8% · FY2025
- Museum of ScienceBoston, MA · revenue $56M · programs 73.7% · FY2025
- Polynesian Cultural CenterLaie, HI · revenue $58M · programs 84.1% · 2024
- The Nelson Gallery FoundationKansas City, MO · revenue $56M · programs 70.5% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Ohio
Questions people ask
How much of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum reported that 72.3% of its $33.5 million in expenses went to program services, 19.8% to management and general and 8.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $1,025,568, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum get its money?
Of $57.5 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 54.3% came from contributions and grants (including 12.7% from government grants) and 25.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 34-1520995 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 202642479349300019 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202522409349300602 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202432489349300643 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202342289349300419 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202222359349301307 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202102429349300520 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202032529349300268 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 34-1520995: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.