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The 990 read · EIN 13-6162659 · NY · Fiscal year FY ending Jun 2025

American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: CEO salary, finances and where donations go

In its own words

“Nat history museum, planetarium, collections, library, scientific research, graduate school (ph.d./ comp biology & mat/education), education & exhibitions (sch o).”

Data only Figures straight from the filing, screened by our rules. Not yet reviewed in depth by a CPA.

Methodology by Amir Arani, CPA, CA · Updated

Top pay
$1.7M Lisa Gugenheim, 0.6% of spending
Revenue
$246.8M 62.2% from donations and grants
Spent
$278.6M 83.1% on programs, as reported
Net assets
$1.12B end of FY ending Jun 2025
Savings
48.4 months of spending, net assets ÷ spending
People
1,337 employees, 804 volunteers
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Parts I, VII, IX, X
01 · Red flags

1 thing to look at.

We screen every filing against twelve rules. A flag is a prompt for a closer look, not a finding of wrongdoing.

low

Business transactions with insiders or their companies

Part IV line 28b answered yes.

Form 990 Part IV, lines 28a–28c; Schedule L Part IV
02 · Where $1 goes · FY ending Jun 2025

Of each dollar it spent, 83.1¢ went to programs, as reported.

The split the charity filed.
83.1¢
Programs, $231.6M
4.2¢
Fundraising, $11.7M
12.6¢
Admin, $35.2M
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part IX, line 25
Cost to raise $1
8¢
as reported

For each dollar donated, American Museum of Natural History spent 8¢ on fundraising.

Fundraising ÷ $153.5M contributions · Form 990 Parts VIII, IX
03 · What it does

What it told the IRS it spent on.

The charity's own description of its largest programs, with what each cost.

Program 1 · 31.9% of program spending · $2.1M in grants $73.8M

Education and public programs - the museum welcomed over 291,000 field trip participants in fy25. High school and college students participate in programs that provide exploration of science and museum careers. Educator professional learning programs served thousands of teachers onsite and online. Urban advantage, a science education program reached 87,240 students from 324 schools across nyc. The museum's mat program helps train earth science teachers for placement in high needs schools. Lectures and public events provide opportunities for public engagement with science topics.

Program 2 · 27.2% of program spending $63.0M

Exhibition - the museum is open to the public 363 days a year with more than 40 permanent exhibition halls. The museum has a robust schedule of special exhibitions and planetarium shows it designs and produces, which also travel to venues around the u.s. And internationally, supplemented with educational content, and other web-based resources for learning.

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part III
04 · The savings

Net assets: $789.5M to $1.12B in 11 years.

Net assets at each fiscal year end, 2013 to 2025.

Net assets at year end, $ millions
790
838
903
897
1038
1071
1047
1001
1202
1057
1107
1123
Form 990 history via ProPublicaForm 990 (FY ending Jun 2025)
05 · Who gets paid

The 8 highest-paid people.

Reportable pay in FY ending Jun 2025, from the charity and related organizations.

Lisa Gugenheim
Dir. of the Mus. (end 6/30/24)
$1,738,936
Sean M Decatur
President & Ex Officio Trustee
$1,216,070
Michael Novacek
Curator (fmr Sr VP & Provost)
$789,415
Ward C Wheeler
Curator
$536,173
Richard a Madonna
Sr VP & CFO-(end 3/3/25)
$485,462
Daniel Stoddard
Acting Sr VP CFO & Cio
$479,619
Cheryl Hayashi
Sr VP & Provost
$478,177
Anne Canty
Sr VP Communications,marketing
$460,769
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part VII, Section A
Largest outside contractors
ContractorServicePaid
Nicholson Galloway IncConstruction service$8,232,166
Restaurant AssociatesRestaurant mgmt$4,772,673
Tishman Interiors CorporationConstruction service$2,671,262
Delta Designs LtdDesign & fabrication$1,450,107
Mjh Energy Consulting IncConstruction service$1,020,652
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part VII, Section B
06 · Questions

The questions people ask about the American Museum of Natural History.

Short, sourced answers. Each one stands on its own.

How much does the American Museum of Natural History CEO make?

Lisa Gugenheim, Dir. of the Mus. (end 6/30/24), received $1,738,936 in reportable compensation in FY ending Jun 2025, 0.6% of American Museum of Natural History's $278.6M in spending.

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part VII

What percentage of American Museum of Natural History donations go to programs?

American Museum of Natural History reported 83.1% of FY ending Jun 2025 spending as programs, 4.2% as fundraising and 12.6% as management.

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part IX

How much money does American Museum of Natural History have?

Net assets were $1.12B at the end of FY ending Jun 2025, about 48.4 months of spending.

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part X

Does American Museum of Natural History have any red flags in its filing?

Its latest Form 990 triggered 1 of our twelve screening rules: business transactions with insiders or their companies. A flag is a prompt for a closer look, not a finding of wrongdoing.

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025)
07 · Sources and citing

Every number, traced.

  1. American Museum of Natural History Form 990, FY ending Jun 2025 (IRS e-file)
  2. American Museum of Natural History Form 990 history (ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer)
Cite this page

Amir Arani, “American Museum of Natural History: CEO salary, finances and where your dollar goes,” Charity Math, updated 2026-11-07. https://charitymath.com/charities/american-museum-of-natural-history/