San Antonio Museum of Art

What it reported doing in 2024

In 2025, on-site visitation was ~151,000, with many more visitors engaging in artworks and programming virtually. Based on annual Museum data, 85% of visitors to SAMA reside in Texas, with 44% from Greater San Antonio; and 15% were from other US locales or abroad. Approximately 68% of Museum visitors are racially/ethnically diverse, with 44% identifying as Hispanic/Latino or Indigenous, 35% as Caucasian, and 14% as African American, Asian, and other, and 7% as multiracial. Eight percent (8%) identify as military with increases each year. Data from recent exhibitions indicate that 40% of Museum visitors have household incomes of $100,000 or above, and 46% have a college education. While attracting all age groups, SAMA draws most strongly from the 25-44 age group, including family households with children. The Museum is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 am-5pm, except Tuesday and Friday when it remains open until 7 pm. In line with SAMA's "access for all" mission, Bexar County residents receive free general admission during weekly Free Hours on Tuesdays 4-7pm and second Sundays 10am-12pm. Children aged 12 and under always receive free admission. Complimentary admission opportunities are integral to the Museum's charge to reach and engage all communities in Greater San Antonio, particularly those overlooked and/or under-resourced. To this end, SAMA also participates in two nationwide cultural admission programs for targeted individuals and families: Museums for All and Blue Star Museums. SAMA's membership currently numbers ~3,000 households, with participation and distinct benefits reflecting various membership levels.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 82.3%; rating input score 82
• Program expense ratio: 80.2%; rating input score 80
• Fundraising efficiency: $6.15 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Limited
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 92.7%; rating input score 93; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • 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: 19.3%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 10; rating input score 91; 91st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 92; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 7.2%; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -0.7% per year; rating input score 0; 9th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.3% per year; rating input score 100; 28th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.4% per year; rating input score 100; 19th percentile among comparable filings