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National Building Museum
National Building Museum reported $11.7 million in revenue and $8.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $82.24 went to program services, $5.49 to management and general costs and $12.27 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 60.7% of the total. Government grants made up 9.3%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $352,439 (PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 132% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $8.8MFor context, the median across 874 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.92 programs, $13.89 management, $6.19 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $12MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.2% | 78.3% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 5.5% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 12.3% | 6.1% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.15 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 60.7% | 57.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 9.3% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 33.7% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $352,439 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.99% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 16.2 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 40 of 41 | 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 expenseExhibitions:in fiscal year 2025, the National Building Museum presented eight exhibitions that examined and interpreted the built environment.house and home is a long-term exhibition presentation that takes visitors on a tour of houses both familiar and surprising, through past and present, challenging our ideas about what it means to live at home in america.brick city celebrates iconic architecture from cities around the world through carefully recreated constructions made from lego bricks by u.k.-based artist warren elsmore. Visitors will take a world tour discovering new destinations…
School programming:we offered 558 formal programs for a total of 11673 students. We also launched homeschool days in FY25 with 141 attendees for two dates. We also had a specialty workshop with 156 high school dcps students. Out-of-school youth (summer camp):the museum did not offer any out-of-school youth (teens) programs in FY25.out-of-school youth (summer camp):we ran the nbm summer camp for the second consecutive year in FY25 and increased the number of sessions offered and for a larger range of ages (204 attendees) community engagement: families, early learners, & all ages programming:we…
Marketing and communications:tells the story of the National Building Museum - exhibitions, programs, collections, activities, the museum shop, and more - through website and online community engagement, advertising, print collateral and digital marketing, email marketing, public relations, and social media
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 & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Director/trustee, officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $341,685 | $0 | $10,754 | $352,439 |
| VP OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS & DEVELOPMENT Officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $153,002 | $0 | $9,259 | $162,261 |
| VP OF OPERATIONS AND STRATEGY Officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $146,072 | $0 | $3,707 | $149,779 |
| DEPUTY OF EXHIBITION DEVELOPMENT Officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $120,454 | $0 | $12,742 | $133,196 |
| DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $100,268 | $0 | $12,774 | $113,042 |
| DIR. OF CORPORATE GIVING & STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $100,622 | $0 | $10,594 | $111,216 |
6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from National Building Museum (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $790K (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–1b41 · 40 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 5116
- Volunteers Part I, line 652
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses onlyIndividuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
19 private foundations reported grants to National Building Museum totaling $424K 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 Building 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 National Building Museum, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 National Building Museum spent in FY2025, $82.24 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Basilica LandmarkMinneapolis, MN · revenue $12M · programs 75.8% · 2024
- The Center for Education ReformWashington, DC · revenue $12M · programs 98.5% · 2024
- Historic Landmarks Foundation of IndianaIndianapolis, IN · revenue $12M · programs 84.6% · FY2025
- Nebraska Public Media FoundationLincoln, NE · revenue $12M · programs 72.7% · FY2025
- Public Media NjNew York, NY · revenue $12M · programs 79.6% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of National Building Museum's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, National Building Museum reported that 82.2% of its $8.8 million in expenses went to program services, 5.5% to management and general and 12.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does National Building Museum pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation National Building Museum reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $352,439, for the role of PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does National Building Museum get its money?
Of $11.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 60.7% came from contributions and grants (including 9.3% from government grants) and 33.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is National Building Museum a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-1050999 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 September 30, 2025, object 202602259349301125 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202522249349302262 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202432209349300428 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202332269349302763 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202232079349300743 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202112219349300901 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-1050999: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.