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Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego reported $1.7 million in revenue and $13.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $61.89 went to program services, $33.48 to management and general costs and $4.63 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 282.2% of the total. Government grants made up 16.6%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $455,582 (DAVID C. COPLEY DIRECTOR AND CEO). 6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 85% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $14MFor 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 June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $1.7M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$63.65 $4.6M
- Government grants$3.97 $285K
- Program service revenue$6.58 $473K
- Other revenue$25.80 $1.9M
Investment income was negative: −$5.5M. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 61.9% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 33.5% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 4.6% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.13 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 282.2% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 16.6% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 27.5% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $455,582 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.33% | 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 | 109.2 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 29 of 29 | 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 expenseMcasd's expanded, state-of-the-art la jolla facility features 40,000 square feet of gallery space for exhibitions of the historical holdings and special, temporary exhibitions, which are developed with original research to provide insightful analysis of issues that impact our region and our world. Exhibitions provide the basis for publications, panel discussions, lectures, community events, tours and other supporting programs
The stewardship of mcasd's collection is a key component of its mission. In fiscal 2025, mcasd increased its holdings with 103 works of art through donation, purchase, and purchase with donated funds. The funds allocated for care of the permanent collection include expenses for insurance, preservation, and conservation. Mcasd shared its collection through the loan of 11 artworks to 11 exhibitions at other museums nationally
Mcasd's intergenerational arts education programs serves audiences with enriching material developed from both the museum's permanent collection and temporary exhibitions. Mcasd's signature extended school partnership (esp) connects museum educators with cohorts of students for gallery tours, learning workshops and ultimately creative showcases that connect directly back to school curriculum. Youth audiences are also served through the teen arts collective and monthly family play days. Mcasd received funding to support a creative aging initiative called reflections which allowed older adults…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID C. COPLEY DIRECTOR AND CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $399,331 | $0 | $56,251 | $455,582 |
| CFO & COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $173,352 | $0 | $9,259 | $182,611 |
| DIRECTOR OF EARNED REVENUE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $148,707 | $0 | $12,582 | $161,289 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $148,916 | $0 | $11,337 | $160,253 |
| DIRECTOR, HR BUSINESS PARTNER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $118,477 | $0 | $14,179 | $132,656 |
| SENIOR CURATOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $113,402 | $0 | $10,181 | $123,583 |
6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $793K (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–1b29 · 29 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 4No
- 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 629
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART CHICAGO Traveling exhibition | $251,200 |
| BLUSKY RESTORATION Building damage repairs | $225,612 |
| PACIFIC RIM MECHANICAL Hvac system repairs and installation | $195,258 |
| PROFESSIONAL MAINTENANCE SYSTEMS Outsourced building sanitation | $191,681 |
| URBAN KITCHEN CATERING Catering services | $149,345 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 8 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
18 private foundations reported grants to Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego totaling $1.4M 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 Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego spent in FY2025, $61.89 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Shed in WarroadWarroad, MN · revenue $263K · programs 52.9% · 2025
- Illuminate the ArtsSan Francisco, CA · revenue $2.7M · programs 96.9% · FY2025
- Calvin Simmons TheatreEmeryville, CA · revenue $0 · programs 0.0% · FY2025
- Heritage ConservancyDoylestown, PA · revenue $3.0M · programs 67.6% · 2025
- Center for Asian American MediaSan Francisco, CA · revenue $3.7M · programs 81.9% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego reported that 61.9% of its $13.7 million in expenses went to program services, 33.5% to management and general and 4.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $455,582, for the role of DAVID C. COPLEY DIRECTOR AND CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego get its money?
Of $1.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 282.2% came from contributions and grants (including 16.6% from government grants) and 27.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 95-1855640 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 June 30, 2025, object 202641359349310114 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202541349349312444 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202441359349312084 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331229349302458 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202221369349317007 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202101259349301500 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 95-1855640: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.