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John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts reported $516.6 million in revenue and $306.3 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $87.89 went to program services, $6.69 to management and general costs and $5.42 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 79.3% of the total. Government grants made up 60.5%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,407,965 (PRESIDENT (THRU 02/25)). 294 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 160% 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 $306MFor 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 $517MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 87.9% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.7% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.4% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.04 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 79.3% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 60.5% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 17.3% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,407,965 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.46% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 294 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 30.5 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 58 of 58 | 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 expenseThe john f. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is america's Performing Arts facility, annually hosting 1,700 performances and events for visitors totaling 1.0 million people, with televised productions, events and broadcasts reaching 75 million more. The organization (a) produces and presents music, theater, dance, comedy, and other art; (b) supports artists in the creation of new works; and (c) serves as the nation's cultural center and leader in arts education. Additionally, the organization is a living memorial to the late president john f. Kennedy and receives visitors from every…
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 (THRU 02/25) Officer, 39.8 hrs/week | $1,362,056 | $0 | $45,909 | $1,407,965 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (THRU 02/25) Officer, 37.7 hrs/week | $461,474 | $0 | $40,640 | $502,114 |
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NSO Key employee, 38.9 hrs/week | $462,177 | $0 | $36,566 | $498,743 |
| NSO CONCERTMASTER Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $455,139 | $0 | $42,581 | $497,720 |
| EXECUTIVE VP & GENERAL COUNSEL (THRU 02/25) Officer, 39.8 hrs/week | $466,052 | $0 | $25,470 | $491,522 |
| GENERAL DIRECTOR, WNO Key employee, 38.9 hrs/week | $434,784 | $0 | $55,253 | $490,037 |
| SR. VP DEVELOPMENT (THRU 04/25) Key employee, 39.9 hrs/week | $412,580 | $0 | $46,909 | $459,489 |
| NSO ASSOCIATE CONCERTMASTER Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $323,438 | $0 | $54,140 | $377,578 |
294 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $6.8M (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–1b58 · 58 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bNo
- 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 2Yes
- 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 52,572
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,150
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| BTI SECURITY Security services | $7,935,215 |
| THE HONORS INC Production fees | $6,179,652 |
| CONSIGLI CONSTRUCTION CO INC Construction | $4,795,493 |
| BUENA VISTA THEATRICAL GROUP Company fees | $3,951,603 |
| RESTAURANT ASSOCIATES INC Restaurant services | $3,087,986 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 150 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
64 private foundations reported grants to John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts totaling $5.7M 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 John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts spent in FY2025, $87.89 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- National Gallery of ArtLandover, MD · revenue $383M · programs 71.1% · FY2025
- Public Broadcasting ServiceArlington, VA · revenue $697M · programs 92.1% · FY2025
- Crystal StairsLos Angeles, CA · revenue $376M · programs 97.2% · FY2025
- Metropolitan Museum of ArtNew York, NY · revenue $907M · programs 57.4% · FY2025
- Museum of Modern ArtNew York, NY · revenue $362M · programs 73.7% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts reported that 87.9% of its $306.3 million in expenses went to program services, 6.7% to management and general and 5.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $1,407,965, for the role of PRESIDENT (THRU 02/25) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts get its money?
Of $516.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 79.3% came from contributions and grants (including 60.5% from government grants) and 17.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 53-0245017 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 202622249349301957 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202522259349300707 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202442279349302829 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202342279349301554 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202212269349300401 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202122229349300637 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 53-0245017: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.