George Eastman Museum

What it reported doing in 2024

Collections, preservation and exhibitions: the museum is the steward of the world's leading collections in photography, moving images, contemporary moving image artworks and technology. The photography collection, among the oldest and best in the world comprises more than 400,000 objects dating from the introduction of the medium in 1839 through to the present day. (continued on schedule o)it encompasses works made in all major photographic processes-from daguerreotype to digital - for a wide range of purposes, from documentary record to artistic expression.the moving image collection is one of the largest (28,000 films) and most important in the united states, with a focus n the history and preservation of cinema. Its holding include thousands of rare and historically significant films, as will as archival ephemeral related to motion pictures, such as film stills, celebrity portraits, documents, and production materials. The museum presents a program of two-month exhibitions of (mostly contemporary) moving image artworks in a dedication space throughout the year. The technology collection holds the world's leading collection of photographic and cinematrographic technology. Consisting of over 19,000 objects, the collection offers an unparalleled opportunity to learn about the history of the technology and science of photography and moving images. Camera equipment for virtually every form of lens-based photography from its invention to today, including the cameral model for the lunar orbiter. The museum's principal facilities are located on the ten-acre property formerly owned by george eastman (1854-1932). Eastman's 35,000 square-foot mansion was restored and reopened to the public in 1990 as a historic home, which includes his furnishings, decorative art, related artifacts from his home. It includes three historic gardens and the george eastman study center, with substantial holdings of the correspondence, photographs, films and personal items related to george eastman. The richard and ronay menschel library is an internationally renowned collections of books, periodicals and other material on photography and moving images. It's holding of 50,000 objects, include comprehensive, international, up-to-date materials on the history of photography; literature about motion pictures, television and video which covers the silent period to the digital age; and an extensive and important collection of rare books on photography and moving images. The museum has an active book program focused on catalogs related to our exhibitions. It has produced more than 75 publications including 13 scholarly and beautifully illustrated books on photography and cinema, three of which have received awards. During 2024 there were eight projects in various stages of production. The museum's active program of temporary exhibitions or photography and image works are presented year-round in five galleries, including the recently opened gallery obscura. This gallery has a unique role - featuring exhibitions created or presented in collaboration with community organizations and school and youth programs. The projects focus on greater rochester and exhibitions from the museum's collections that are thematically related to community events. In 2024 the museum acquired 1179 objects, displayed 14 exhibitions, and lent collection objects to museums around the world. In october 2024, in conjunction with the museum's seventy-fifth anniversary, life with photographs - 75 year of the eastman museum opened. In this exhibition, we pay homage to the long history of the museum, while also creating opportunities for ongoing conversations, contemporary interpretations, and new understandings of how photography has inundated and shaped lives. The exhibition comprised seven sections, each focusing on strengths of the collections and outlining approaches to understanding the amorphous medium known as photography.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 73.7%; rating input score 74
• Program expense ratio: 78.3%; rating input score 78
• Fundraising efficiency: $8.94 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.4%; rating input score 94; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: No; rating input score 0

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 96.7%; rating input score 97; 30th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 27.7%; rating input score 87; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 6.2; rating input score 87; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.05; rating input score 82; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 6.4%; rating input score 40; 40th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 0.3% per year; rating input score 100; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.2% per year; rating input score 100; 54th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 1.7% per year; rating input score 100; 16th percentile among comparable filings