Home › Arts, culture & humanities
Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation
Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation reported $31.7 million in revenue and $29.8 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $84.26 went to program services, $10.98 to management and general costs and $4.76 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 46.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $632,245 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 21 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 144% between FY2020 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $30MFor 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
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $32MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 84.3% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 11.0% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 4.8% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 46.8% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 30.3% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $632,245 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.12% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 21 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 74.9 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 19 of 19 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseExhibits programs present the museum and its collection to the general public. This includes the development, production, and implementation of permanent and rotating exhibits, as well as the dissemination of museum content through online channels
Collections and curatorial programs provide for the acquisition and preservation of collection objects that advance the mission of the museum. These programs include the maintenance and restoration of collection vehicles and other objects. The museum also acquires, preserves, and archives two dimensional objections (printed matter, photographs, diagrams, etc.), books and films related to the automotive world. Curatorial staff conduct research and produce written content that interpret these objects for the public as well as for scholars
Educational programs include museum endeavors to expose and teach children and adults about the automobile and its impact on the world and culture. Significant programs include tours for school children in support of their curricula, hands-on training on automotive repair and customization for teens, displaying vehicles in public automotive shows, as well as providing speakers, films, and other experiences for adults and children
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $582,338 | $0 | $49,907 | $632,245 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $434,095 | $0 | $32,653 | $466,748 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $285,232 | $0 | $54,583 | $339,815 |
| CHIEF OF STAFF/INTERIM DIR. ENGAGEMENT Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $239,313 | $0 | $50,867 | $290,180 |
| EXHIBITS DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $248,022 | $0 | $23,449 | $271,471 |
| FINANCE DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $195,792 | $0 | $19,274 | $215,066 |
| CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $193,653 | $0 | $5,166 | $198,819 |
| EVENT DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $169,870 | $0 | $16,391 | $186,261 |
21 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.7M (Part IX, line 5).
7 filings since FY2020
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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–1b19 · 19 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 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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5249
- Volunteers Part I, line 6184
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SMART CLEANING COMPANY Janitorial services | $422,799 |
| TOWN & COUNTRY EVENT RENTALS Event rentals | $337,781 |
| KAHN MEDIA INC Public relations | $193,440 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 14 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
5 private foundations reported grants to Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation totaling $120K 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 Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation spent in 2025, $84.26 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Cleveland Museum of Natural HistoryCleveland, OH · revenue $32M · programs 61.9% · FY2025
- The Denver Art Museum FoundationDenver, CO · revenue $32M · programs 95.2% · FY2025
- Paper Mill PlayhouseMillburn, NJ · revenue $31M · programs 81.5% · FY2025
- Baltimore Museum of ArtBaltimore, MD · revenue $32M · programs 78.6% · FY2025
- Portland Art MuseumPortland, OR · revenue $31M · programs 76.7% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation reported that 84.3% of its $29.8 million in expenses went to program services, 11.0% to management and general and 4.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $632,245, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation get its money?
Of $31.7 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 46.8% came from contributions and grants and 30.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 95-4739699 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202642449349301659 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202502389349301235 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202412509349301571 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202302859349301525 · read the filing
- FY2021 (3 mo.): Form 990 for the 3-month short period ending December 31, 2021, object 202242219349300644 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202201659349301400 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202111899349301351 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 95-4739699: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.