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The Phillips Collection
The Phillips Collection reported $26.6 million in revenue and $17.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $74.14 went to program services, $14.37 to management and general costs and $11.49 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was investment income: 55.3% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $439,814 (VRADENBURG DIRECTOR & CEO). 11 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 153% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $17MFor 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 July 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $27MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 74.1% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.4% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 11.5% | 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 | 37.7% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.9% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 5.5% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $439,814 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.53% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 11 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 86.7 | 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
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseDevelopment and presentation of special exhibitions including works from the museum's own holdings, loans from individuals and other institutions, and collaborations with other venues. Highlights from FY25 include where we meet, a look at the overlapping institutional histories between the howard university gallery of art and the Phillips Collection, revealing an early and evolving relationship developed through a common interest in collecting, stewardship, and providing access to art; up close with paul cezanne, an unveiling of two recently conserved works by paul cezanne, mont…
Management and maintenance of the museum's permanent collection of nearly 6,000 works. When the museum opened to the public in 1921 as the nation's first museum of modern and contemporary art, the collection comprised over 200 works acquired by duncan phillips. Our new acquisitions, arriving through both gift and purchase, reflect the museum's efforts to continue phillips's legacy with works that deepen or introduce new global voices into our collection while enriching the narrative of modern and contemporary art. Our displays of the permanent collection have built meaningful connections with…
The Phillips Collection engaged with audiences through onsite programs including member art tours, exhibition openings, and others. Through thoughtfully curated performances, phillips music, the museum's concert series, continues to present an outstanding program of concerts, showcasing a culturally diverse range of artists and musical styles. The season highlighted both emerging and established musicians, featuring compositions celebrating artistic excellence while fostering connections between music and visual art. We were able to offer a full guest experience with amenities including our…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VRADENBURG DIRECTOR & CEO Officer, 60.00 hrs/week | $375,556 | $0 | $64,258 | $439,814 |
| CFO Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $182,109 | $0 | $55,563 | $237,672 |
| CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $168,664 | $0 | $48,185 | $216,849 |
| DIR. OF HUMAN RESOURCES Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $133,875 | $0 | $64,258 | $198,133 |
| CHIEF CURATOR Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $132,869 | $0 | $30,150 | $163,019 |
| HORNING CHAIR FOR DEAI Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $137,541 | $0 | $24,986 | $162,527 |
| CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $126,449 | $0 | $15,064 | $141,513 |
| COO (FROM 10/2024) Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $30,091 | $0 | $5,839 | $35,930 |
11 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Phillips Collection (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $823K (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–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 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5242
- Volunteers Part I, line 660
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| CROZIER FINE ARTS INC Art shipping & storage | $269,898 |
| WELL DUNN CATERING Catering | $189,350 |
| PATHSTONE Endowment investment advisors | $183,890 |
| HLP ASSOCIATES INC It services | $160,483 |
| P&R ENTERPRISES Cleaning services | $146,043 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 9 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
57 private foundations reported grants to The Phillips Collection totaling $1.5M 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 Phillips Collection'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 Phillips Collection, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Phillips Collection spent in FY2025, $74.14 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Buffalo Fine Arts AcademyBuffalo, NY · revenue $27M · programs 43.9% · FY2025
- University Communications NetworkNew York, NY · revenue $27M · programs 90.2% · 2024
- Hennepin Theatre TrustMinneapolis, MN · revenue $27M · programs 79.4% · FY2025
- Oregon Museum of Science and IndustryPortland, OR · revenue $27M · programs 77.5% · FY2025
- Milwaukee Repertory TheaterMilwaukee, WI · revenue $27M · programs 79.2% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of The Phillips Collection's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, The Phillips Collection reported that 74.1% of its $17.4 million in expenses went to program services, 14.4% to management and general and 11.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Phillips Collection pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Phillips Collection reported for one person in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 was $439,814, for the role of VRADENBURG DIRECTOR & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Phillips Collection get its money?
Of $26.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, 37.7% came from contributions and grants (including 1.9% from government grants) and 5.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Phillips Collection a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 53-0204620 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 July 31, 2025, object 202641639349300819 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2024, object 202531679349301313 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2023, object 202411669349300016 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2022, object 202331669349302368 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2021, object 202221669349302502 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2020, object 202111669349302126 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 53-0204620: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.