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Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution reported $1.91 billion in revenue and $1.70 billion in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $74.74 went to program services, $19.76 to management and general costs and $5.50 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 80.2% of the total. Government grants made up 70.0%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,038,055 (SECRETARY OF THE SMITHSONIAN). 2,436 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 22% 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 $1.70BFor 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 September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $1.91BThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 74.7% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 19.8% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.5% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.06 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 80.2% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 70.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 5.9% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,038,055 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.06% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 2,436 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 45.9 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 17 of 17 | 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 expenseHighest 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SECRETARY OF THE SMITHSONIAN Officer, 50.0 hrs/week | $960,266 | $0 | $77,789 | $1,038,055 |
| CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER Key employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $738,911 | $0 | $52,240 | $791,151 |
| DEPUTY SECRETARY & COO Officer, 50.0 hrs/week | $640,049 | $0 | $52,002 | $692,051 |
| PRESIDENT, SMITHSONIAN ENTERPRISES Key employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $608,701 | $0 | $23,989 | $632,690 |
| UNDER SEC FOR FIN/ADMIN/CFO Officer, 50.0 hrs/week | $533,297 | $0 | $80,076 | $613,373 |
| ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ADVANCEMENT Key employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $462,163 | $0 | $93,933 | $556,096 |
| DIR, HIRSHHORN MUSEUM & SCULPTURE GAR Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $478,729 | $0 | $76,925 | $555,654 |
| SR ADV TO THE UNDER SEC MUSEUMS/CULTURE Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $493,192 | $0 | $52,658 | $545,850 |
2,436 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Smithsonian Institution (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $7.7M (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–1b17 · 17 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 4No
- 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 57,334
- Volunteers Part I, line 6100,729
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| CLARKSMOOTCONSIGLI A JOINT VENTURE Construction | $116,566,698 |
| UNIVERSAL PROTECTION SERVICE LP Security | $30,127,783 |
| DELL MARKETING L P Information technology | $5,290,889 |
| 100 DISCOVERY PARK DE LLC Real estate | $5,275,729 |
| RAAD CONSTRUCTION GROUP LLC Construction | $4,470,932 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 166 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
206 private foundations reported grants to Smithsonian Institution totaling $99M 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 Smithsonian Institution's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Smithsonian Institution, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Smithsonian Institution spent in FY2025, $74.74 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Metropolitan Museum of ArtNew York, NY · revenue $907M · programs 57.4% · FY2025
- Public Broadcasting ServiceArlington, VA · revenue $697M · programs 92.1% · FY2025
- John F Kennedy Center for the Performing ArtsWashington, DC · revenue $517M · programs 87.9% · FY2025
- National Gallery of ArtLandover, MD · revenue $383M · programs 71.1% · FY2025
- Crystal StairsLos Angeles, CA · revenue $376M · programs 97.2% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Smithsonian Institution's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Smithsonian Institution reported that 74.7% of its $1.70 billion in expenses went to program services, 19.8% to management and general and 5.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Smithsonian Institution pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Smithsonian Institution reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $1,038,055, for the role of SECRETARY OF THE SMITHSONIAN (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Smithsonian Institution get its money?
Of $1.91 billion in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 80.2% came from contributions and grants (including 70.0% from government grants) and 5.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Smithsonian Institution a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 53-0206027 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 202602239349300630 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202542239349300544 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202442289349302354 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202302269349301205 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202202249349301675 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202112229349300116 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 53-0206027: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.