Smithsonian Institute
"increase and diffusion of knowledge" is the mission set forth by james smithson.
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Plan your visit or explore online the world's largest museum, research, and education complex.
Verified certifications
Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.
Mission
"increase and diffusion of knowledge" is the mission set forth by james smithson.
Focus areas & reach
· What they work on and whereHow it stacks up against peers
· vs. 8 similar arts & culture in United StatesConcerns
· None foundWhere every $1 goes
· FY2024 · IRS 990 (FY2024)GiveRadar Analysis
Original analysis from GiveRadar's dataset of comparable organizations
GiveRadar's verified records show Smithsonian Institute with a complete profile, cross-referenced across 4 independent sources including the IRS.
- Established in 1846, it is among the oldest arts & culture charities in the United States GiveRadar tracks. View this cohort
- By reported annual revenue, it is larger than 99% of the 55,580 arts & culture charities in the United States with financial records on GiveRadar. See the filings
- It is one of the better-documented arts & culture charities in the United States GiveRadar currently tracks, because GiveRadar has verified its financial disclosures and its governance. Most of those have little verified data on record yet. View this cohort
- government registration
- financial records (5 filed years)
- disclosed leadership
- a website
- a donation page
- third-party accreditation
- a contact email
- an owner-submitted profile claim
Analysis based on GiveRadar's benchmark dataset of 2026-07-03. It describes what GiveRadar has verified, not a judgment of the organization itself.
Common questions
· Auto-generated from filings + methodologySmithsonian Institute is a registered arts & culture nonprofit based in Washington, DC, United States. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It was founded in 1846 and has been operating for 180 years. Its EIN is 530206027. According to GiveRadar's records, it holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 77/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports $2.0B in annual revenue. 216 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. No red flags have been detected.
Smithsonian Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 530206027. This is the organization's IRS tax identification number; you can use it to verify tax-exempt status and to look up its Form 990 filings with the IRS.
Smithsonian Institute has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 77/100. This score combines five components: Registration (20 pts), Financial Transparency (30 pts), Governance (20 pts), Contact Availability (10 pts), and Data Recency (20 pts), with negative adjustments for any red flags. A score of 77 ('Strong transparency') reflects well-documented governance, recent financials, named leadership, and working contact details. The charity allocates 76% of expenses to programs, which contributes positively to its score. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for arts & culture charities in United States is 90/100.
Smithsonian Institute is located in Washington, DC, United States. The organization was established in 1846 and has been active for 180 years.
Based on official tax filings, Smithsonian Institute has $2.0B in annual revenue. It allocates 76% of expenses to programs and services. This is in line with the average of 77% for arts & culture charities in United States. Its revenue is significantly above the peer average of $1M. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.
Smithsonian Institute is classified as an Arts & Culture organization, registered in United States. It operates as a Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)). By size, it is categorized as a major organization. It has $2.0B in annual revenue. The organization has 216 disclosed officers and directors.
No red flags have been detected for Smithsonian Institute. GiveRadar automatically screens charities for concerning patterns including high executive compensation, low program spending, and missing financial filings. Based on available official data, no issues have been identified.
According to GiveRadar's records, Smithsonian Institute holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It reports that 76% of expenses go to programs (the peer average is 77%). You can donate directly through their official donation page linked on their GiveRadar profile. GiveRadar provides data for research and does not endorse any organization. A GiveRadar Integrity Assessment reflects how much public data is available, not whether an organization is safe to donate to, so it is always smart to do your own research before giving.
Plan your visit or explore online the world's largest museum, research, and education complex. Smithsonian Institute is classified as an arts & culture organization registered in United States. The organization was founded in 1846.
Among arts & culture charities registered in United States: It allocates 76% of expenses to programs, in line with the peer average of 77%. Its annual revenue of $2.0B is well above the peer average of $1M.
Yes, donations to Smithsonian Institute are generally tax-deductible in the United States. Its EIN is 530206027, which you can use for tax filing purposes. Donors can typically deduct contributions on their federal income tax return if they itemize deductions. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.
Filing history
5 years on file from IRS 990 (FY2024): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.
See 5 years of revenue, expense breakdowns, and balance sheet.
Sign up to viewTaxes
Tax-deductibility for donors
Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United States under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE is registered in United States. Donations from the Netherlands to charities outside the EU/EEA are generally not tax-deductible for Dutch donors unless the charity is listed on the Dutch ANBI register with foreign-recognized status.
Always confirm tax treatment with the charity directly or your tax advisor before donating.
Staff & volunteers
From filings and published profiles
Leadership
From FY2024 filing
Officers & trustees (25)
Source: Public filings
25 officers and trustees on file - free with a GiveRadar account.
Latest news
From global news sources
10 articles found
From news sources and the organization. Shown for transparency; news never affects the integrity score.
The iconic Smithsonian Castle is reopening next week - Axios
The Smithsonian Zoo’s Off-View Front Royal Campus Is a Sanctuary for Endangered Species - Northern Virginia Magazine
See photos from one of the Dogwood Arts featured gardens listed with Smithsonian - MSN
Smithsonian women’s history museum may be derailed by GOP effort to feature only "biological women" - LGBTQ Nation
Three ginormous bison have been craned into the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Here’s why - BBC Wildlife Magazine
The Trump Administration’s Clashes With Smithsonian Institute Could Complicate the Hirshhorn’s Future - News of the United States - NOTUS
Timeless French Lick hosting Smithsonian exhibit as part of 250th Celebration - Dubois County Free Press, Inc.
Inside the Smithsonian - Moore County Observer
5 Underrated Washington, DC Museums (That Aren't Part Of The Smithsonian), According To A Local - islands.com
What is the Smithsonian Castle? DC landmark to reopen for America250 - Delawareonline.com
Activity timeline
Filings and press mentions, merged
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Sign up to write a reviewCause areas in United States
How many charities work in each area, with this charity's area highlighted.
Most common causes in United States
Causes charities work on most, with this charity's causes ticked.
Sources and verification
- Registration and legal identity
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search
- Financial filings
- IRS Form 990 filings - Fiscal year 2024 most recent on file.
- Officers and trustees
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search - 216 disclosed in the public registry.
- News and media coverage
- GDELT Project + Google News
- Supplementary verification
- Charity Navigator
Data freshness
What we know and don't know
Exactly which public data we hold on this charity. Our score reflects transparency, not impact.
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Financial data · FY2024 on record
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Named leadership · 216 officers on file
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Executive pay · Disclosed
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Government registration · Registered with an official registry
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Mission statement · Published
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Official website · On record
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Headquarters address · On file
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Direct contact · Email or phone published
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Tax-deductibility · Verified
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Founding date · 1846
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Programs & activitiesNo named programs listed by the charity
Methodology
GiveRadar builds each profile primarily from official government charity registries, supplemented where available by third-party nonprofit databases and news archives, and combines it into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. The exact sources for this charity are listed above. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.
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Quick facts about Smithsonian Institute
- What is Smithsonian Institute?
- Smithsonian Institute is a arts & culture publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)) based in Washington, United States. Plan your visit or explore online the world's largest museum, research, and education complex.
- When was Smithsonian Institute founded?
- Smithsonian Institute was founded in 1846.
- Who leads Smithsonian Institute?
- Ronald Cortez serves as Under Secretary For Fin/Admin & CFO.
- Where is Smithsonian Institute located?
- Headquartered in Washington, DC, United States.
- What is Smithsonian Institute's annual budget?
- Annual revenue for fiscal year 2024 is approximately $1B+. 76% of expenses go to program services.
- Is Smithsonian Institute trustworthy?
- Smithsonian Institute has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 77 out of 100 (Strong transparency). The score reflects public-data transparency: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and how recently data was refreshed. It does not measure program impact.
- What is Smithsonian Institute's registration number?
- IRS EIN: 530206027.
- What is Smithsonian Institute's website?
- http://www.si.edu