NATIONAL BUILDING 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 September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

401 F STREET NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001-2637

Principal officer (990 for 2024)

AILEEN FUCHS, 401 F STREET NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001

Signed the 990

AILEEN FUCHS, PRESIDENT

Phone

(202) 272-2448

Website

WWW.NBM.ORG

Return prepared by

CITRIN COOPERMAN ADVISORS LLC

Mission

THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM INSPIRES CURIOSITY ABOUT THE WORLD WE DESIGN AND BUILD.

Program accomplishments

• EXHIBITIONS:IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM PRESENTED EIGHT EXHIBITIONS THAT EXAMINED AND INTERPRETED THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.HOUSE AND HOME IS A LONG-TERM EXHIBITION PRESENTATION THAT TAKES VISITORS ON A TOUR OF HOUSES BOTH FAMILIAR AND SURPRISING, THROUGH PAST AND PRESENT, CHALLENGING OUR IDEAS ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE AT HOME IN AMERICA.BRICK CITY CELEBRATES ICONIC ARCHITECTURE FROM CITIES AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH CAREFULLY RECREATED CONSTRUCTIONS MADE FROM LEGO BRICKS BY U.K.-BASED ARTIST WARREN ELSMORE. VISITORS WILL TAKE A WORLD TOUR DISCOVERING NEW DESTINATIONS ACROSS ALL SEVEN CONTINENTS THAT INCLUDE: LIVELY STREETSCAPES FROM CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA; MARDI GRAS CELEBRATIONS IN NEW ORLEANS; INTRICATE TEMPLES FROM INDIA TO MEXICO; AND IMAGINATIVE CASTLES FROM MEDIEVAL JAPAN TO MODERN LAS VEGAS.MINI MEMORIES PRESENTS SELECTIONS FROM A ONE-OF-A-KIND COLLECTION OF SOUVENIR BUILDINGS, ON DISPLAY TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME. GENEROUSLY DONATED TO THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM BY ARCHITECTS DAVID WEINGARTEN AND LUCIA HOWARD, ALONG WITH MARGARET MAJUA IN 2019, THE COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 3,000 MINIATURE MEMENTOS, THE MOST EXTENSIVE OF ITS TYPE, REPRESENTS A LIFETIME OF CAREFUL CURATION.BUILDING STORIES IS THE FIRST NATIONAL EXHIBITION TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT'S ROLE AS AN IMPORTANT, AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED, CHARACTER IN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE. BY ACTIVATING THESE STORIES AND THEIR BUILT WORLDS, AND THE EARLY FOUNDATIONS FOR HOW WE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND OUR SURROUNDINGS, BUILDING STORIES ALLOWS VISITORS TO INVESTIGATE THE ROLE THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT PLAYS IN OUR OWN LIVES AND COMMUNITIESAND HOW WE CAN BE AGENTS OF CHANGE FOR ITS MORE SUSTAINABLE, EQUITABLE FUTURE.FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA PRESENTS BOTH REALIZED AND UNREALIZED PROJECTS FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT DESIGNED FOR THE REGION FROM THE 1930S THROUGH THE 1950S. THE EXHIBITION EXAMINES HOW HIS VISION OF THE FUTURE MIGHT HAVE IMPACTED URBAN, SUBURBAN, AND RURAL LANDSCAPES.CAPITAL BRUTALISM EXPLORES THE HISTORY, CURRENT STATE, AND FUTURE OF SEVEN POLARIZING BUILDINGS AND THE WMATA METRO SYSTEM IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THE EXHIBITION USES ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS, DRAWINGS, CONSTRUCTION PHOTOGRAPHS, ARCHITECTURAL MODELS, AND CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHS TO PROVIDE CONTEXT AND SHED LIGHT ON THE BUILDINGS' STORIES.VISIBLE VAULT: OPEN COLLECTIONS STORAGE SHOWCASES A BROAD RANGE OF ARTIFACTS FROM THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION, HIGHLIGHTING AMERICA'S ARCHITECTURAL AND DESIGN HERITAGE. THE EXHIBITION PROVIDES VISITORS WITH A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL OBJECTS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY UNAVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC DUE TO THEIR SIZE, SCOPE, AND MATERIAL. THIS EXHIBITION IS A TESTAMENT TO THE MUSEUM'S COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING AND SHARING THE FASCINATING NARRATIVES OF THE WORLD WE DESIGN AND BUILD.A SOUTH FORTY: CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH AIMS TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT VITALITY OF CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH, THROUGH BOTH ILLUSTRATED PROFILES OF BUILDINGS AND PRACTICES AND STATEMENTS OF PRINCIPLES AND OBSERVATIONS BY THOSE IN PRACTICE IN THE REGION.COMING TOGETHER: REIMAGINING AMERICA'S DOWNTOWNS EXPLORES THE LESSONS LEARNED AND OPPORTUNITIES EMBRACED IN THE WAKE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. AFTER A PERIOD OF ADAPTING AND RESHAPING, CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE COMING TO TERMS WITH LASTING CHANGES IN WORK, HOUSING, MOBILITY, ENTERTAINMENT, AND RECREATION.
  Expenses $3,286,561 · revenue $634,465
• SCHOOL PROGRAMMING:WE OFFERED 558 FORMAL PROGRAMS FOR A TOTAL OF 11673 STUDENTS. WE ALSO LAUNCHED HOMESCHOOL DAYS IN FY25 WITH 141 ATTENDEES FOR TWO DATES. WE ALSO HAD A SPECIALTY WORKSHOP WITH 156 HIGH SCHOOL DCPS STUDENTS. OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH (SUMMER CAMP):THE MUSEUM DID NOT OFFER ANY OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH (TEENS) PROGRAMS IN FY25.OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH (SUMMER CAMP):WE RAN THE NBM SUMMER CAMP FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR IN FY25 AND INCREASED THE NUMBER OF SESSIONS OFFERED AND FOR A LARGER RANGE OF AGES (204 ATTENDEES) COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: FAMILIES, EARLY LEARNERS, & ALL AGES PROGRAMMING:WE HOSTED TWO FREE COMMUNITY FESTIVAL, THE BIG BUILD FESTIVAL (4,077 ATTENDEES) AND THE BIG DRAW FESTIVAL (3,082). WE HOSTED THE ANNUAL GINGERBREAD WORKSHOP (268 ATTENDEES). WE INCREASED OUR GIRL SCOUT PROGRAMMING (240 ATTENDEES). WE CONTINUED MONTHLY FREE STEAM SATURDAY (666 ATTENDEES) AND CONTINUED WEEKLY FREE STORYTIME (2,197 ATTENDEES). WE HOSTED CHILD WORKSHOPS AROUND THE SUMMER INSTALLATION PARKOUR (76 ATTENDEES). WE LAUNCHED THREE NEW DROP IN SERIES, JUST DROP IN (276 ATTENDEES), WINTER DROP INS (1,392 ATTENDEES), AND CANSTRUCTION DROP INS (530 ATTENDEES). WE LAUNCHED A NEW FAMILY WORKSHOP SERIES, SCHOOL'S OUT (78 ATTENDEES). WE LAUNCHED A NEW FREE COMMUNITY PROGRAM SERIES, BUILDING READERS CLUB DAYS (693 ATTENDEES). WE LAUNCHED A NEW PROGRAM SERIES MEET A PROFESSIONAL (80 ATTENDEES). THE MUSEUM ALSO PARTICIPATED IN 6 OFFSITE OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN FY25, REACHING 1,815 PEOPLE.ADULTS:THE MUSEUM PRESENTED 32 IN PERSON PROGRAMS AND 5 VIRTUAL PROGRAMS FOR ADULT AUDIENCES, SERVING A TOTAL OF 6,086 ATTENDEES. THE MUSEUM'S HIGH-PROFILE LECTURE SERIES SPOTLIGHT ON DESIGN FEATURED JEANNE GANG, TATIANA BILBAO, JENNIFER BONNER, AND RICK JOY. AS PART OF THE SERIES, THE INAUGURAL EDWARD A. FEINER LECTURE FOR PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE WAS GIVEN BY NADER TEHRANI. IN NOVEMBER, THE MUSEUM'S VINCENT SCULLY PRIZE WAS PRESENTED TO WALTER HOOD AT AN IN-PERSON PROGRAM. THE ANNUAL DARWINA L. NEAL CULTURAL LANDSCAPES LECTURE FEATURED A BOOK TALK BY THOMAS WOLTZ, ON THE LAND IS FULL. THE APGAR PROGRAM WAS ON DANISH DESIGN IN AMERICA. WE HOSTED OUR WINTER GREAT MOVIES IN THE GREAT HALL SERIES FOR THE SECOND YEAR, SHOWING THREE MOVIES. WE OFFERED A NEW SERIES OF HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS CALLED MAKERS' WORKSHOPS INCLUDING WOODWORKING, MOSAICS, AND DRAWING PROGRAMS; WE HOSTED ONE OFF-SITE HARD HAT TOUR OF THE RESERVOIR DISTRICT, AND THREE BUILDING TOURS INCLUDING THE BRUTALISM WALKING TOUR, VIRGINIA TECH INNOVATION CAMPUS, AND THE ARLO HOTEL ADAPTIVE REUSE PROJECT. WE OFFERED A MASTERCLASS ON ECOLOGICAL GARDENING. WE ALSO HOSTED STORYSLAM EVENTS, BOOK TALKS, AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS. WE HOSTED TWO MAJOR LATE-NIGHT EVENTS, ONE IN THE FALL AND ONE IN THE SUMMER, AND AN OPENING RECEPTION FOR THE COMING TOGETHER EXHIBITION. THE MUSEUM HOSTED A NEW VIRTUAL SERIES CALLED FUTURE FRIDAYS.
  Expenses $1,321,531 · revenue $284,429
• MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS:TELLS THE STORY OF THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM - EXHIBITIONS, PROGRAMS, COLLECTIONS, ACTIVITIES, THE MUSEUM SHOP, AND MORE - THROUGH WEBSITE AND ONLINE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ADVERTISING, PRINT COLLATERAL AND DIGITAL MARKETING, EMAIL MARKETING, PUBLIC RELATIONS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
  Expenses $835,205
• OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE GREAT HALL, MUSEUM SHOP, AND COLLECTIONS.
  Expenses $1,812,093 · revenue $3,248,481

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 September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

52-1050999

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

1976

Accounting year ends

September

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Arts, culture and humanities (A500)

Assets (IRS master file)

$13,435,347

Income (IRS master file)

$13,763,206

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 52-1050999).

Questions about NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM

What is the EIN of NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM?

The employer identification number (EIN) of NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM is 52-1050999.

Is NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1976.

Are donations to NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM tax-deductible?

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

Which annual return does NATIONAL BUILDING 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 NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM due?

The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 16, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.

Who is the principal officer of NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM?

The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names AILEEN FUCHS.

Who are the officers and directors of NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM?

The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 49 people; 6 received compensation from the organization, the highest $341,685 (AILEEN FUCHS, PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).

How much revenue does NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM have?

On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $11,722,698, expenses of $8,822,076 and total assets of $13,435,347 at year end.

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