Hispanic Society of America

What it reported doing in 2024

Building on the momentum generated by the reopening of its main galleries and the return of its most celebrated treasures, fy25 marked a year of growth, innovation, and deeper community engagement for the hispanic society museum & library. Through a dynamic exhibition program, the museum continued to showcase the breadth of its collections while amplifying contemporary voices and fostering new dialogues between past and present. Highlights included adriana varejo: don't forget, we come from the tropics, a powerful exploration of ecology, history and the amazon, as well as spanish style: fashion illuminated, which examined the enduring influence of hispanic art and culture on fashion and design. The museum also expanded its public programming, educational initiatives, and scholarly activities, welcoming diverse audiences through lectures, performances, family programs, and community partnerships. As a free cultural institution serving Washington heights and beyond, the hispanic society strengthened its role as a vibrant center for the study, preservation, and celebration of the arts, cultures, and histories of the hispanic world.modern libraryfy25 was a year of active engagement, professional growth, and digital planning for the library department. Staff advanced expertise, strengthened institutional partnerships, and laid the groundwork for hsm&l's future digital library. Highlights include progress on the modern library assessment project, the creation of the digitization task force, participation in national and international conferences, completion of digital library courses, launch of the bloomberg tech fellowship and digital library grant proposal, successful community outreach through book donations and a book sale, and continued cataloging, acquisitions, and reader services for a global audience.department of manuscripts and rare booksthe staff comprised dr. John o'neill, curator of manuscripts & rare books, and ms. Vanessa pintado, assistant curator. Michelle nanni, book conservator, undertook work for both sides of the library department as well as for other departments within the hispanic society. Ms. Nanni constructed a total 149 boxes, in addition to performing paper or binding repairs on other items. Mr. Matthew palmer, funded by a grant from the pine tree foundation, continued his work on both sides of the library department. In september 2025, ms. Beatrice sampedro lee began work as an intern in the department. Dr. O'neill continued his cataloguing of the 1701-1830 print material, adding another 845 items to the short-title (off-line) catalogue, and began work on the cataloguing of the carmena y milln bullfighting collection, with 1,292 items described so far. He also continued to manage the library's copying and reproduction service, scanning approximately 3,000 images which brought in a net total of $4,447. In addition to attending to readers' requests, both in person and via e- mail, dr. O'neill gave a total of 21 presentations to groups of individuals, bibliophilic entities (e.g. Tefaf, associaci de biblifils [barcelona], grolier club), or college groups (e.g. Barnard college, queen's college, fordham university, yeshiva university). During the fiscal year, the library acquired 533 books and periodicals valued at $14,402.09. 50 books and 58 periodicals, were purchased, totaling $5,673.29. The library was also gifted 357 books and 68 periodicals, valued at $8,728.80. Online catalog additions comprised of 367 new holdings, including 363 modern library items and 4 manuscripts & rare books entries. The library continued welcoming readers thursday through saturday, from 12:00 to 3:30 p.m. From october 2024 through september 2025 (excluding the month of august when the reading room is closed), the reading room received 260 readers. Materials consulted included 848 manuscripts, 383 pre-1830 books, 74 modern books, and 8 reference volumes. Of the readers for whom place of residence is known, 79 readers came from new

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 70.1%; rating input score 70
• Program expense ratio: 63.4%; rating input score 63
• Fundraising efficiency: $5.56 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
• Grant itemization coverage: Scored; rating input score 0
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • 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: 2.5%; rating input score 43; 43rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 14.07; rating input score 93; 93rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 19.6%; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -0.3% per year; rating input score 0; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 4.1% per year; rating input score 100; 35th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 7.2% per year; rating input score 100; 46th percentile among comparable filings