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Denver Art Museum
Denver Art Museum reported $87.0 million in revenue and $79.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $83.61 went to program services, $13.52 to management and general costs and $2.87 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 86.8% of the total. Government grants made up 14.5%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,088,203 (DIRECTOR). 27 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 72% 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 $80MFor 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 $87MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.6% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 13.5% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.9% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 86.8% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 14.5% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 6.7% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,088,203 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.37% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 27 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 26.8 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 41 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 and collections: each year, the Denver Art Museum (dam) presents temporary and traveling exhibitions of art from around the world. Among the highlights in 2025 were dawoud bey: street portraits, the life and art of tokio ueyama, lunar phases: korean moon jars, kent monkman: history is painted by the victors, and charles sandison: chamber. Shown in the textile art gallery in the martin building, confluence of nature: nancy hemenway barton features twelve textile wall sculptures and five works on paper by american artist nancy hemenway barton, each an exploration of the stunning…
Premises & buildings: these costs include all expenditures associated with the day-to-day operations of the museum's facilities. Exhibition and permanent galleries displayed a variety of artwork for the public's enjoyment while the museum's public spaces enable museum staff and volunteers to conduct frequent learning and engagement programs including tours, public talks, interpretive programs, art-making activities, and more. The premises and buildings provide ample space for mission-driven programming aimed at enriching the lives of this and future generations, and for which the museum has…
Learning and engagement programs: at the Denver Art Museum (dam), we collaborate with communities to create art and creativity experiences that foster well-being, belonging, and empathy for all, while advancing innovative practices in the field. We do this to fulfill our vision of making a meaningful difference in peoples lives by celebrating creativity and inspiring greater understanding and connection with the world. The dams learning & engagement (l&e) department develops programs with two overarching goals: (1) increasing access to the museums collections and (2) cultivating a welcoming…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $909,131 | $0 | $179,072 | $1,088,203 |
| DEPUTY DIREC Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $248,940 | $0 | $22,210 | $271,150 |
| CHIEF DEV. O Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $193,628 | $0 | $19,277 | $212,905 |
| COO Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $182,767 | $0 | $22,161 | $204,928 |
| DEPUTY DIREC Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $178,388 | $0 | $20,888 | $199,276 |
| CHIEF CURATO Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $145,904 | $0 | $20,558 | $166,462 |
| DEPUTY DIREC Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $145,482 | $0 | $14,693 | $160,175 |
| CHIEF TALENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $144,681 | $0 | $13,359 | $158,040 |
27 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Denver Art Museum (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.8M (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–1b41 · 41 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 5551
- Volunteers Part I, line 6240
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| DCPS CLEANING LLC Cleaning | $668,826 |
| UOVO LLC Shipping | $333,241 |
| GLASBAU HAHN AMERICA LLC Glass install | $197,932 |
| HOLLAND & HART LLP Legal | $135,089 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 7 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
98 private foundations reported grants to Denver Art Museum totaling $3.1M 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 Denver Art 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 Denver Art Museum, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Denver Art Museum spent in FY2025, $83.61 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Detroit Institute of ArtsDetroit, MI · revenue $86M · programs 69.3% · FY2025
- Solomon R Guggenheim FoundationNew York, NY · revenue $88M · programs 66.4% · 2024
- Minnesota Historical SocietySaint Paul, MN · revenue $85M · programs 77.6% · FY2025
- Playhouse Square FoundationCleveland, OH · revenue $89M · programs 88.5% · FY2025
- New York Public RadioNew York, NY · revenue $85M · programs 68.8% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Colorado
Questions people ask
How much of Denver Art Museum's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Denver Art Museum reported that 83.6% of its $79.7 million in expenses went to program services, 13.5% to management and general and 2.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Denver Art Museum pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Denver Art Museum reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $1,088,203, for the role of DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Denver Art Museum get its money?
Of $87.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 86.8% came from contributions and grants (including 14.5% from government grants) and 6.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Denver Art Museum a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 84-6038240 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 202631219349302303 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202510799349300116 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202400809349300415 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202330759349301028 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202200639349300630 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202130769349300818 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 84-6038240: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.