Home › Arts, culture & humanities
National Inventors Hall of Fame
National Inventors Hall of Fame reported $49.5 million in revenue and $44.2 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $83.03 went to program services, $13.65 to management and general costs and $3.32 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 68.4% of the total. Government grants made up 13.7%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $880,256 (CEO TO 9/7, EXEC CHAIRMAN AT 9/8). 24 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 46% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $44MFor 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 $50MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.0% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 13.6% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.3% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.12 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 25.7% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 13.7% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 68.4% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $880,256 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.99% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 24 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 19.4 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 15 of 15 | 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 expenseChildren's education - programs and initiatives to create public awareness of the major role that invention, inventors and patents, trademarks and copyrights play in america's economic and cultural success and to nurture the creative and inventive spirit of american children and to inspire them to enter the exciting fields of science and math in an effort to continue america's dominance in the future
Other inventor recognition - operate recognition programs for inventors and other ip owners and developers, and produce private and public events that honor educate, and encourage independent inventors, and entrepreneurs
Museum & inventors exhibits - the National Inventors Hall of Fame museum housed in the US patent and trademark office in alexandria, va. Is operated and maintained by National Inventors Hall of Fame, inc. Each year a new exhibit is built and installed at the museum. The annual induction ceremony is also created and produced by National Inventors Hall of Fame, inc
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO TO 9/7, EXEC CHAIRMAN AT 9/8 Officer, 39.00 hrs/week | $672,955 | $0 | $207,301 | $880,256 |
| COO TO 9/7, CEO AT 9/8 Officer, 39.00 hrs/week | $290,215 | $0 | $72,722 | $362,937 |
| SECRETARY/ GENERAL COUNSEL Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $252,130 | $0 | $15,931 | $268,061 |
| EVP, EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $218,594 | $0 | $37,034 | $255,628 |
| VICE PRESIDENT/CSO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $173,961 | $0 | $60,085 | $234,046 |
| TREASURER/EVP, FINANCE Officer, 39.00 hrs/week | $154,319 | $0 | $50,788 | $205,107 |
| VP, EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $164,150 | $0 | $29,738 | $193,888 |
| VP, MARKETING & CREATIVE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $131,630 | $0 | $37,000 | $168,630 |
24 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from National Inventors Hall of Fame (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.0M (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–1b15 · 15 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 5269
- Volunteers Part I, line 613,242
Private foundation grants it received
45 private foundations reported grants to National Inventors Hall of Fame totaling $1.2M 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 National Inventors Hall of Fame's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for National Inventors Hall of Fame, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 National Inventors Hall of Fame spent in 2025, $83.03 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Dallas Symphony AssociationDallas, TX · revenue $49M · programs 77.0% · FY2025
- Kaizen Education FoundationPhoenix, AZ · revenue $50M · programs 79.3% · FY2025
- Alvin Ailey Dance FoundationNew York, NY · revenue $49M · programs 79.7% · FY2025
- Los Angeles Opera CompanyLos Angeles, CA · revenue $50M · programs 78.7% · FY2025
- Houston Museum of Natural ScienceHouston, TX · revenue $48M · programs 73.4% · 2024
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Ohio
Questions people ask
How much of National Inventors Hall of Fame's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, National Inventors Hall of Fame reported that 83.0% of its $44.2 million in expenses went to program services, 13.6% to management and general and 3.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does National Inventors Hall of Fame pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation National Inventors Hall of Fame reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $880,256, for the role of CEO TO 9/7, EXEC CHAIRMAN AT 9/8 (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does National Inventors Hall of Fame get its money?
Of $49.5 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 25.7% came from contributions and grants (including 13.7% from government grants) and 68.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is National Inventors Hall of Fame a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 34-1580038 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 202611209349300241 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202531259349301603 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202421219349302507 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202341869349301214 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202201729349300905 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202131409349300823 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202021829349300322 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 34-1580038: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.