The Griffin Museum of Photography Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
043517288
IRS 990 coverage
2011–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
Winchester, MA, USA
Phone
7817291158
Rating
80
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Visual Arts Organizations

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$835,083
Expenses
$821,731
Assets
$988,844
Liabilities
$32,602

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

15 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • MICHAEL BURKA (PRESIDENT)
  • FERN L NESSON (VICE PRESIDENT)
  • CRISTA DIX (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)

Highest reported compensation

  • CRISTA DIX (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $101,628 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

The griffin museum of photography, inc. Is dedicated to the promotion of photography and the photographic arts. It will strive to elevate the sensitivity of the general public to the beauty of photography as an art medium, to educate the general public on photographic techniques, to preserve history through photographic displays, to interest the general public in photography, and to become the leading institution in new england for the recognition and promotion of photography. To accomplish these objectives, the museum will display the collection of photographs by arthur griffin, offer a place for photographers to display their artistic works and to give lectures, to preserve and store photographic works of arthur griffin and other photographers who donate their works to the museum. The museum will also provide a place for meetings, and work with educational instutitions to promote photography, and will provide scholarships.

What it reported doing in 2024

The griffin museum of photography, building upon 33 years of showcasing emerging and established photographers, is dedicated to advancing the art and craft of photography. We provide a dynamic platform for diverse visual voices, from artists of note to new creative artists, fostering a space for innovative ideas. The museum creates an infrastructure for education and community via local arts, humanities, and science organizations' public programmed events. Embracing the evolving landscape of visual media, we explore the intersection of technology and art, educating the public on the power of still and moving images. With a global reach and a commitment to accessibility, the museum saw over 7,000 visitors and in 2024 we supported over 500 photographic artists and 40 exhibitions annually across various venues, including our winchester museum, satellite spaces, and online exhibitions. We are a community partner, working with local organizations like the winchester cultural district to provide event space for programs and presentations. Museum programming, including members' exhibitions and contemporary narratives and explorations on a theme, strives to engage audiences through interactive analog and digital experiences. We support artistic growth through comprehensive educational programs and insightful lectures, celebrating the makers shaping the future of photography.

Operating model

Revenue model
Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 97% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

STRONG - The filed numbers largely add up and a large share of available resources goes toward mission work. Fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised and expenses are high relative to revenue.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 66
  • Transparency & Controls: 94
  • Accountability: 95
  • Sustainability: 44
  • Growth: 80

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 68.4%; rating input score 68
  • Program expense ratio: 68.8%; rating input score 69
  • Fundraising efficiency: $14.61 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
  • 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: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Fail
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 1.6%; rating input score 41; 41st percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.2; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 57; 57th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 12.4%; rating input score 29; 29th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 10.4% per year; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 8% per year; rating input score 100; 59th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: -2.6% per year; rating input score 0; 10th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 68.4% of revenue deployed · 68.8% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 14 of 14 board members independent · 7 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 2 filed program accomplishments · $565K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $102K · 15 people listed
  • Consistency: 30 of 30 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 5 filed schedules · includes major donors and grants
  • Filing history: 14 filing years from 2011 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 2 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: 1 filed related-organization link
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Review — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 50/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 41/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: CEO compensation review process not reported.
  • High — Growth: Asset growth scored 0/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 49/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 29/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 57/100.