Autry Museum of the American West

Analysis

Autry Museum of the American West is a registered charity in United States, based in Los Angeles, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in March 1985, 41 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts, culture and humanities, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Autry Museum of the American West reported income of $7.4m and spending of $20.5m, spending 278% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income fell from $21.7m to $7.4m (-66%), an average of -24% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 67%. Over the whole period it spent 178% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Autry Museum of the American West sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 97% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile, and in the 94th percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include National Business Officers Association Inc ($7.4m), Crocker Art Museum Foundation ($7.4m) and Science and Technology Futures Inc ($7.4m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 82% and program service revenue 6.7% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $561k (2.7% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $8.3m. At year end it held assets of $184.7m against liabilities of $3.2m, net assets of $181.5m. It reported 183 employees.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.