FOUNDATION FOR THE READING PUBLIC MUSEUM

Financials

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

500 MUSEUM RD, READING, PA 19611-1425

Principal officer (990 for 2024)

GEOFFREY FLEMING, 500 MUSEUM ROAD, READING, PA 196111425

Signed the 990

GEOFFREY FLEMING, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO

Phone

(610) 371-5850

Website

WWW.READINGPUBLICMUSEUM.ORG

Return prepared by

HERBEIN COMPANY INC

Mission

THE READING PUBLIC MUSEUM IS A DYNAMIC CENTER OF LIFELONG LEARNING THAT COLLECTS, PRESERVES, AND INTERPRETS OBJECTS OF ART, SCIENCE, AND CIVILIZATION TO ENGAGE, EDUCATE, AND ENLIGHTEN CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS FROM OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.

Program accomplishments

• PROGRAM SERVICES:ADMISSIONS AND TOURS - TOURS ARE AVAILABLE TO PRE-K TO SENIOR GROUPS, CUSTOMIZED TO MEET THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THE SPECIFIC GROUP AND PROVIDED BY PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED MUSEUM PERSONNEL. TO ASSIST SCHOOLS IN COVERING THE COSTS OF TOURS, THE MUSEUM OFFERS A FUNDING PROGRAM CALLED "FEED THEIR IMAGINATION" (FTI). THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF DONORS, THE FTI PROGRAM ALLOWS GROUPS TO VISIT THE MUSEUM AND PLANETARIUM BY COVERING EXPENSES SUCH AS ADMISSION AND BUSSING COSTS. THIS FUNDING PROGRAM IS INTEGRAL TO KEEPING OUR EDUCATION AND COLLECTION ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND BRINGING STUDENTS INTO THE MUSEUM WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SCHEDULE O.APPROXIMATELY 30% OF TOURS ANNUALLY ARE PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY UNDERWRITTEN BY THE MUSEUM'S FEED THEIR IMAGINATION FUND. THE MUSEUM AND NEAG PLANETARIUM RECEIVE BETWEEN 60,000 AND 100,000 VISITORS PER YEAR. WHILE NO OFFICIAL COUNT IS KEPT, ANNUAL VISITS TO THE MUSEUM ARBORETUM AND SCULPTURE GARDEN EASILY EXCEED 120,000 PER YEAR, AND LIKELY TOTAL MULTIPLES OF THAT NUMBER. THE ARBORETUM, A VALUABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCE, IS MAINTAINED AND MANAGED BY NEARLY 150 ARBORETUM ASSISTANTS THROUGH THE MASTER GARDNERS PROGRAM OF THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY THROUGH PENN STATE UNIVERSITY AT NO COST TO THE PUBLIC.TEMPORARY/SPECIAL EXHIBITS AND PERMANENT COLLECTION - THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THE MUSEUM PROVIDES PATRONS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE TWO KINDS OF EXHIBITS. THE MUSEUM HAS PERMANENT GALLERIES WHICH FEATURE AND EDUCATE ABOUT UNIQUE ITEMS FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION, INCLUDING A MUMMIFIED PERSON WHO IS OVER 2,000 YEARS OLD. PATRONS CAN ALSO ENJOY TEMPORARY/SPECIAL EXHIBITS FROM EXTERNAL INSTITUTIONS SPANNING MANY TOPICS AND TARGET AUDIENCES. RPM PRESENTS ROUGHLY 12 TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS EACH YEAR, INCLUDING ONES DRAWN FROM BOTH EXTERNAL SOURCES AND THOSE CURATED FROM OUR PERMANENT COLLECTION. ADDITIONALLY, WORKS OF ART ARE ACQUIRED EACH YEAR BY GIFT AND PURCHASE FOR THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION. AN EVER-INCREASING NUMBER OF OBJECTS FROM THE COLLECTION ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC VIA EMUSEUM AND THE GOOGLE ART PROJECT, WITH SEVERAL HUNDRED MORE ADDED ANNUALLY. TRAVELING EXHIBITS - THE MUSEUM MAKES AVAILABLE INTERNALLY CURATED EXHIBITIONS TO OTHER MUSEUMS AROUND THE WORLD. ALLOWING EXHIBITIONS TO TOUR PROVIDES THE MUSEUM THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND OUR MISSION BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE REGION OF BERKS COUNTY. AMONG THOSE INSTITUTIONS THAT REGULARLY TAKE OUR EXHIBITIONS ARE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUMS, AS WELL AS OTHER ESTABLISHED FINE ART MUSEUMS. RECENT HOSTS OF OUR TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS INCLUDE THE WASHINGTON COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART (HAGERSTOWN, MD) THE MUSEUM OF THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY (WINCHESTER, VA) AND THE MUSEUM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. JOSEPH (HARTFORD, CT). WE ALSO LOAN INDIVIDUAL ARTWORKS FOR EXHIBITION TO MUSEUMS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING SUCH PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AS THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART (CLEVELAND, OH) AND THE MUSEE DORSAY (PARIS, FR).
  Expenses $3,390,104 · revenue $827,705
• CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS:SENSORY EVENTS - SPECIAL PROGRAMMING, AMONG OTHER SENSORY-INCLUSIVE EVENTS, DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH A RANGE OF SENSORY SENSITIVITIES WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE AND ENJOY THE MUSEUM. CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND CAREGIVERS CAN ATTEND EVENTS THAT ARE IN A QUIET, UNCROWDED ENVIRONMENT. SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SCHEDULE O.FAMILY HOLIDAY EVENTS - DESIGNED FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY, THESE EVENTS PROVIDE A SPECIAL PLACE FOR FAMILIES TO CELEBRATE DIFFERENT HOLIDAYS. THERE ARE USUALLY AT LEAST SIX HOLIDAY EVENTS EACH YEAR INCLUDING EASTER AT THE MUSEUM, TRICK OR TREAT AT THE MUSEUM, PICTURES WITH SANTA, AND NOON YEAR'S EVE. THESE PROGRAMS ARE A SAFE SPACE FOR CHILDREN TO CELEBRATE HOLIDAYS AND RECEIVE TAKE-HOME EDUCATIONAL KITS AND TREATS.SUMMER CAMP - MUSEUM DISCOVERY CAMP OFFERS TEN ONE-WEEK CAMP EXPERIENCES FOCUSING ON A DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT EACH WEEK. THE CAMPS KEEP CHILDREN ENGAGED IN LEARNING OVER THE SUMMER BY EXPLORING EACH WEEK'S FOCUS USING THE EXHIBITS AND COLLECTIONS OWNED BY THE MUSEUM AS WELL AS HANDS ON EXPERIMENTS AND CRAFTS. SCOUT WORKSHOPS AND OVERNIGHT STAYS - SCOUT WORKSHOPS AND OVERNIGHTS OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES SET IN A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT. SOME TOPICS INCLUDE SCIENCE, ARBORETUM EXPLORATION, AND SPACE EXPLORATION THROUGH THE PLANETARIUM. IN THE MUSEUM, SCOUTS EXPLORE TOPICS SUCH AS ENGINEERING, ART, AND BOOK-BINDING. THE MUSEUM EVEN OFFERS ITS OWN SCOUT BADGES TO ATTENDEES. HOME SCHOOL DAYS - HOME SCHOOL DAYS ARE OFFERED AT LEAST TWICE A MONTH DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO SUPPLEMENT HOME SCHOOL LEARNING BY PROVIDING ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN VARIOUS SUBJECTS THROUGH SPECIAL MUSEUM TOURS AND HANDS-ON PROJECTS. ADULTS AND CHILDREN:EXHIBITION PREVIEWS - PRIOR TO THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF A NEW EXHIBITION, THE MUSEUM HOLDS A MEMBERS' ONLY PREVIEW PRIOR TO THE MUSEUM OPENING THE EXHIBIT. MEMBERS AND CHILDREN GET FIRST ACCESS TO THE NEW EXHIBITION, OFTEN WITH SPECIAL ASSOCIATED PROGRAMMING DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED FOR THAT SPECIFIC EXHIBITION. STEM SUNDAY - STEM SUNDAYS OFFER SCIENCE RELATED THEMES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS. CONTENT OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDES ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS. THESE PROGRAMS MAY BE OFFERED MULTIPLE TIMES PER YEAR DEPENDING ON AVAILABILITY AND INTEREST.ADULT PROGRAMS:SPECIAL EVENTS - THE MUSEUM HOSTS INTERNAL EVENTS TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY EVERY YEAR. THREE OF THESE SPECIAL EVENTS HAVE BECOME STAPLES IN THE MUSEUM'S CALENDAR AS WELL AS IN THE COMMUNITY: GOLFIN' IN THE GALLERIES, DOGS & BREWS, AND NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM. THESE EVENTS RAISE SIGNIFICANT FUNDS FOR THE MUSEUM AND SOLIDIFY THE RELATIONSHIPS THE MUSEUM HAS BUILT WITH OUR LOCAL SUPPORTERS. SENIOR SERIES - THIS MONTHLY EVENT INVITES SENIORS AND ANYONE INTERESTED TO VISIT THE MUSEUM AND LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT TOPICS. THESE TOPICS TYPICALLY INCLUDE INFORMATION ON CURRENT SPECIAL EXHIBITS, SCREENINGS OF FILMS, LECTURES, AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES GLIMPSES OF THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION. THE EVENT IS FREE WITH PAID MUSEUM ADMISSION OR MEMBERSHIP. ARBORETUM EDUCATION - THIS PROGRAM FEATURES PRESENTATIONS AND LECTURES BY MASTER GARDENERS AND OTHER INDUSTRY SPECIALISTS, UTILIZING THE ARBORETUM AND GREENHOUSE RESOURCES. THEY ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.YOGA UNDER THE STARS - HELD IN THE NEAG PLANETARIUM DOME AND LED BY A CERTIFIED YOGA INSTRUCTOR, PARTICIPANTS RELAX AND EXERCISE UNDER THE VIEWS OF THE PLANETARIUM. EACH SERIES CONSISTS OF 5-6 WEEKLY SESSIONS. BUS TRIPS - TRIPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ALLOW MUSEUM PATRONS TO VISIT OTHER MUSEUMS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND PHILADELPHIA TO EXPERIENCE A SPECIAL EXHIBIT OR JUST A GENERAL VISIT TO EXPERIENCE THAT MUSEUM. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING EACH YEAR WE ALSO OFFER LIMITED OR ONE-OFF PROGRAMS, DESIGNED THROUGH COLLABORATIONS WITH DIFFERENT COMMUNITY GROUPS. PREVIOUS PROGRAMS HAVE INCLUDED THE MEXICAN CHILDREN'S OPERA "THE BEAR PRINCE," CO-ORGANIZED WITH THE BERKS OPERA COMPANY; THE COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS PROGRAM, WHICH TAKES PLACE AT SPECIFIC SCHOOL LOCATIONS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA; AND TEACHER IN-SERVICE & APPRECIATION DAYS WHERE TEACHERS AND OTHER INSTRUCTORS FROM LOCAL AND REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ATTEND AN IN-SERVICE AT THE MUSEUM LEARNING ABOUT SPECIFIC TOPICS, EDUCATION TRENDS, AND MUSEUM PROGRAMS.
  Expenses $365,128 · revenue $159,316

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

23-2563964

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

1989

Accounting year ends

December

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Arts, culture and humanities (A50)

Assets (IRS master file)

$14,537,021

Income (IRS master file)

$7,427,210

Filing history

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 23-2563964).

Questions about FOUNDATION FOR THE READING PUBLIC MUSEUM

What is the EIN of FOUNDATION FOR THE READING PUBLIC MUSEUM?

The employer identification number (EIN) of FOUNDATION FOR THE READING PUBLIC MUSEUM is 23-2563964.

Is FOUNDATION FOR THE READING PUBLIC MUSEUM tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1989.

Are donations to FOUNDATION FOR THE READING PUBLIC MUSEUM tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does FOUNDATION FOR THE READING PUBLIC MUSEUM file?

Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.

When is the next return of FOUNDATION FOR THE READING PUBLIC MUSEUM due?

The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did FOUNDATION FOR THE READING PUBLIC MUSEUM last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.

Who is the principal officer of FOUNDATION FOR THE READING PUBLIC MUSEUM?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names GEOFFREY FLEMING.

Who are the officers and directors of FOUNDATION FOR THE READING PUBLIC MUSEUM?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 25 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $175,577 (GEOFFREY FLEMING, EXEC. DIRECTOR & CEO AS OF MARCH).

How much revenue does FOUNDATION FOR THE READING PUBLIC MUSEUM have?

On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $3,988,422, expenses of $4,265,110 and total assets of $14,537,021 at year end.

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