PHILLIPS COLLECTION

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 July 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

1600 21ST ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20009-1003

Principal officer (990 for 2024)

JOHN DESPRES, 1600 21ST STREET NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20009

Signed the 990

CHERYL NICHOLS, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Phone

(202) 387-2151

Website

WWW.PHILLIPSCOLLECTION.ORG

Return prepared by

GELMAN ROSENBERG & FREEDMAN

Mission

THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION IS THE OLDEST MUSEUM OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART IN THE U.S. IN ADDITION TO PRESENTATION OF WORKS FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION AND SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS, THE MUSEUM MAINTAINS ACTIVE EDUCATIONAL, ACADEMIC, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS, AND NUMEROUS PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER D.C. ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, EMBASSIES, AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. THE PHILLIPS TAKES PRIDE IN ITS HERITAGE AS AN INTIMATE MUSEUM COMBINED WITH AN EXPERIMENT STATION.

Program accomplishments

• DEVELOPMENT AND PRESENTATION OF SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS INCLUDING WORKS FROM THE MUSEUM'S OWN HOLDINGS, LOANS FROM INDIVIDUALS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS, AND COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER VENUES. HIGHLIGHTS FROM FY25 INCLUDE WHERE WE MEET, A LOOK AT THE OVERLAPPING INSTITUTIONAL HISTORIES BETWEEN THE HOWARD UNIVERSITY GALLERY OF ART AND THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION, REVEALING AN EARLY AND EVOLVING RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPED THROUGH A COMMON INTEREST IN COLLECTING, STEWARDSHIP, AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO ART; UP CLOSE WITH PAUL CEZANNE, AN UNVEILING OF TWO RECENTLY CONSERVED WORKS BY PAUL CEZANNE, MONT SAINTE-VICTOIRE (1886-87) AND SELF-PORTRAIT (1878-80), VIEWED IN THE CONTEXT OF FIVE OTHER WORKS BY CEZANNE; MULTIPLICITY: BLACKNESS IN CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN COLLAGE, WHICH CELEBRATED THE BROAD VARIETY AND COMPLEXITY OF BLACK IDENTITY THROUGH EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES, OFFERING POIGNANT EXPRESSIONS OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING FRAGMENTATION AND RECONSTRUCTION, SHARED HISTORY AND MEMORY, CULTURAL HYBRIDITY, GENDER FLUIDITY, AND NOTIONS OF BEAUTY; WILLIAM GROPPER: ARTIST OF THE PEOPLE, A PRESENTATION FEATURING MORE THAN 30 WORKS THAT REVEAL THE ARTIST'S BITING COMMENTARY ON HUMAN RIGHTS, ANARCHY, LABOR, FREEDOM, AND DEMOCRACY; BREAKING IT DOWN: CONVERSATIONS FROM THE VAULT, AN EXPLORATION OF MUSEUM FOUNDER DUNCAN PHILLIPS'S CONCEPT OF "UNITS," GROUPS OF WORKS OF ART THAT REPRESENT KEY ASPECTS OF AN ARTIST'S VISION OR SPIRIT, THROUGH SEVERAL ARTISTS WHO ARE CORNERSTONES OF THE COLLECTION AS WELL AS A GROWING COLLECTION OF WORKS BY TRAILBLAZERS OF OUR TIME; TIMELESS MUCHA: THE MAGIC OF LINE, A SURVEY OF CZECH PAINTER AND DECORATIVE ARTIST ALPHONSE MUCHA, EXPLORING HIS ARTISTIC EVOLUTION, REVOLUTIONARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO GRAPHIC DESIGN, AND THE ENDURING INFLUENCE OF HIS SIGNATURE STYLE ON PSYCHEDELIC ROCK POSTERS, ALBUM COVERS, COMIC BOOKS, AND JAPANESE MANGA; ESSEX HEMPHILL: TAKE CARE OF YOUR BLESSINGS, AN EXPLORATION OF THE INTERDISCIPLINARY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROMINENT WASHINGTON, DC, POET, PERFORMER, EDITOR, AND ACTIVIST ESSEX HEMPHILL'S WRITING - RAW, POLITICALLY CHARGED, AND DEEPLY PERSONAL - AND CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ART BY ARTISTS WHO KNEW OR COLLABORATED WITH HEMPHILL DURING HIS LIFETIME, ALONGSIDE THOSE WHO FOUND INSPIRATION IN HIS ARTISTIC AND POLITICAL VISION DECADES LATER; AND VIVIAN BROWNE: MY KIND OF PROTEST, A SURVEY OF THE MORE THAN FOUR-DECADE CAREER OF ABSTRACT ARTIST VIVIAN BROWNE, FEATURING SEVEN BODIES OF WORK AS WELL AS EPHEMERA THAT HIGHLIGHT BROWNE'S PIONEERING ACTIVISM AND INFLUENTIAL TEACHING CAREER.
  Expenses $4,805,232 · revenue $629,710
• MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION OF NEARLY 6,000 WORKS. WHEN THE MUSEUM OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN 1921 AS THE NATION'S FIRST MUSEUM OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART, THE COLLECTION COMPRISED OVER 200 WORKS ACQUIRED BY DUNCAN PHILLIPS. OUR NEW ACQUISITIONS, ARRIVING THROUGH BOTH GIFT AND PURCHASE, REFLECT THE MUSEUM'S EFFORTS TO CONTINUE PHILLIPS'S LEGACY WITH WORKS THAT DEEPEN OR INTRODUCE NEW GLOBAL VOICES INTO OUR COLLECTION WHILE ENRICHING THE NARRATIVE OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART. OUR DISPLAYS OF THE PERMANENT COLLECTION HAVE BUILT MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH COMMUNITIESFROM LOCAL TO INTERNATIONAL. NOTABLE ACQUISITIONS INCLUDE WORKS BY RUSH BAKER IV, MARTIN CREED, HENRI MATISSE, AND GEORGE SEGAL. COMMENSURATE ACTIVITIES INCORPORATED ONGOING CONSERVATION EFFORTS TO (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE GROWING COLLECTION, AND THE CONTINUANCE OF COLLECTION DIGITIZATION FOR PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATION ON THE MUSEUM'S WEBSITE, ARTSTOR, GOOGLE ARTS & CULTURE, AND THE MULTI-MUSEUM APP BLOOMBERG CONNECTS. MOREOVER, THE HIGH QUALITY OF WORKS IN THE COLLECTION PRESENTED MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION WITH OTHER MUSEUMS BOTH FOR EXHIBITION PARTNERSHIPS AND FOR LENDING WORKS TO ENHANCE PROJECTS AT OTHER VENUES - NOTABLE FY25 BORROWERS INCLUDED BARNES FOUNDATION, PHILADELPHIA, PA; MUSE DE LORANGERIE, PARIS, FRANCE; AND MUSE FABRE, MONTPELLIER, FRANCE. WHILE THE PHILLIPS DID NOT CIRCULATE AN EXHIBITION DRAWN FROM ITS COLLECTION TO OTHER VENUES THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE MUSEUM ORGANIZED BREAKING IT DOWN: CONVERSATIONS FROM THE VAULT. THE EXHIBITION WAS DRAWN ENTIRELY FROM THE PHILLIPS'S COLLECTION AND OFFERED A FRESH EXPLORATION OF SEVERAL ARTISTS WHO ARE CORNERSTONES OF THE COLLECTION, INCLUDING GEORGES BRAQUE, RICHARD DIEBENKORN, ARTHUR DOVE, SAM GILLIAM, PAUL KLEE, AND GEORGIA O'KEEFFE, ALONGSIDE A GROWING COLLECTION OF WORKS BY TRAILBLAZERS OF OUR TIME, INCLUDING SEAN SCULLY, SYLVIA SNOWDEN, RENE STOUT, JOYCE WELLMAN, AND MORE.
  Expenses $3,025,674 · revenue $577,278
• THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION ENGAGED WITH AUDIENCES THROUGH ONSITE PROGRAMS INCLUDING MEMBER ART TOURS, EXHIBITION OPENINGS, AND OTHERS. THROUGH THOUGHTFULLY CURATED PERFORMANCES, PHILLIPS MUSIC, THE MUSEUM'S CONCERT SERIES, CONTINUES TO PRESENT AN OUTSTANDING PROGRAM OF CONCERTS, SHOWCASING A CULTURALLY DIVERSE RANGE OF ARTISTS AND MUSICAL STYLES. THE SEASON HIGHLIGHTED BOTH EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED MUSICIANS, FEATURING COMPOSITIONS CELEBRATING ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE WHILE FOSTERING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN MUSIC AND VISUAL ART. WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER A FULL GUEST EXPERIENCE WITH AMENITIES INCLUDING OUR CAF WHICH IS OPERATED BY A BELOVED LOCAL BAKERY, AND A GIFT SHOP WHICH CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE BEST MUSEUM SHOPS IN THE WORLD. WE CONNECTED WITH BOTH CURRENT AND POTENTIAL MEMBERS AND VISITORS THROUGH (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)OUR WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, E-NEWSLETTERS, LOCAL AND REGIONAL MARKETING AND ADVERTISING, AND OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE BLOOMBERG CONNECTS APP. OUR DYNAMIC AND POPULAR 1ST THURSDAY PROGRAM, PHILLIPS AFTER FIVE, AND OUR 3RD THURSDAY FREE EVENINGS APPEAL TO A WIDE DEMOGRAPHIC. WE CONTINUE TO OFFER OUR MUSEUM AS A UNIQUE AND CAPTIVATING LOCATION FOR EXTERNAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
  Expenses $2,921,062 · revenue $614,388
• THE PHILLIPS PRESENTED A BROAD RANGE OF PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO APPEAL TO THE MUSEUM'S EXPANDING VISITOR DEMOGRAPHIC. EDUCATION PROGRAMS HELP AUDIENCES SEE, CREATE, AND ENGAGE WITH ART IN NEW AND UNEXPECTED WAYS. WE GAVE 875 GUIDED TOURS AND SPOTLIGHTS TALKS TO 6,859 GUESTS. THE PHILLIPS PROVIDES IN-DEPTH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ON ARTS INTEGRATION USING THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION AND ONLINE RESOURCES. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FEATURE ARTWORKS FROM THE PHILLIPS'S SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS AND PERMANENT COLLECTION AND FOCUS ON PRISM.K12, THE MUSEUM'S ARTS INTEGRATION STRATEGIES AND MODEL FOR CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING (HTTPS://WWW.PHILLIPSCOLLECTION.ORG/ PRISMK12-STRATEGIES). PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS ARE DESIGNED FOR TEACHERS TO EASILY INTEGRATE IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS, AND THEY MAY TAKE PLACE AT THE MUSEUM, AT AREA SCHOOLS, OR VIRTUALLY. IN 2023-2024, THE MUSEUM REACHED 712 TEACHERS THROUGH 27 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS, WHICH INCLUDED THREE-HOUR SESSIONS, FIFTEEN-HOUR MULTI-WEEK PROGRAMS, AND A WEEKLONG SUMMER TEACHER INSTITUTE. ADDITIONALLY, THE MUSEUM HAS OVER 50 ONLINE LESSON PLANS AVAILABLE THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE THAT CONNECT ACROSS ALL SUBJECT AREAS. WE REACHED 4,535 PK-12 STUDENTS WITHIN THE DC PUBLIC AND CHARTER SCHOOLS, MARYLAND, AND VIRGINIA DURING THE FISCAL YEAR THROUGH 139 TOURS. 61% OF THOSE WERE DC SCHOOLS. THE MUSEUM'S MULTI-VISIT SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, ART LINKS, REACHED 1,632 STUDENTS FROM 23 SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS. THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION'S WORKSHOP AND GALLERY AT THE TOWN HALL EDUCATION ARTS RECREATION CAMPUS (THEARC) PROVIDES A SPACE TO VIEW, DISCUSS, MAKE, AND EXHIBIT ART. PROGRAMS ARE CO-CREATED WITH OUR PARTNERS AND PARTICIPANTS TO ENCOURAGE AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY DIALOGUE, COMMUNITY PLANNING, AND COMMUNITY ACTION. TO THE EAST WAS A MURAL RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION DRAWING FROM THE ARCHIVES OF DC MURALS AND DC PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND THE ANACOSTIA COMMUNITY MUSEUM; SYDNEY VERNON EXHIBITION INVITED VIEWERS INTO THE WORLD OF SYDNEY VERNON, WHO SUPERIMPOSED AND ALTERED PERSONAL FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS WITH REAL AND IMAGINED HISTORIES OF BLACK AMERICAN CULTURE FOR FURTHER REINTERPRETATION; ZSUDAKA NZINGA: HOME COMING / HOME GOING PRESENTED RECENT WORKS BY NZINGA THAT EXAMINED THE DIVERSE WAYS BLACK AMERICANS FIND, DEFINE, AND ESTABLISH "HOME". DIGITAL INTERSECTIONS WERE CREATED BY 3 REGIONAL ARTISTS AND DISPLAYED FOR ANYONE PASSING BY. FROM ITS VERY INCEPTION, THE PHILLIPS HAS FOCUSED ON THE HEALING POWER OF ART. OUR CREATIVE AGING PARTNERSHIP WITH IONA SENIOR SERVICES, ARTS FOR THE AGING (AFTA), AND SEVERAL OTHER SENIOR CENTERS ACROSS DC SERVED 711 PARTICIPANTS ACROSS 42 SESSIONS. IONA'S NEW CAMPUS NEAR THEARC ALLOWS THE PHILLIPS TO SERVE MORE OLDER ADULTS IN WARDS 7 AND 8. OUR MOST POPULAR VIRTUAL OFFERING WITH AN AVERAGE OF 70 PARTICIPANTS EACH WEEK IS OUR ART-BASED MEDITATION PROGRAM, CONSISTING OF AN ART DISCUSSION LED BY THE PHILLIPS'S HEAD OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND GUIDED MEDITATION LED BY THE MUSEUM'S RESIDENT YOGA TEACHER; 3,749 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED LAST YEAR. WE ALSO SERVED 1,016 PARTICIPANTS THROUGH 22 FAMILY PROGRAMS.
  Expenses $2,125,151 · revenue $145,298

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

IRS record

EIN

53-0204620

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

1963

Accounting year ends

July

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Arts, culture and humanities (A510)

Assets (IRS master file)

$131,831,964

Income (IRS master file)

$32,391,007

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 53-0204620).

Questions about PHILLIPS COLLECTION

What is the EIN of PHILLIPS COLLECTION?

The employer identification number (EIN) of PHILLIPS COLLECTION is 53-0204620.

Is PHILLIPS COLLECTION tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1963.

Are donations to PHILLIPS COLLECTION tax-deductible?

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

Which annual return does PHILLIPS COLLECTION 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 PHILLIPS COLLECTION due?

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

When did PHILLIPS COLLECTION last file with the IRS?

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

Who is the principal officer of PHILLIPS COLLECTION?

The 990 for the year ended July 31, 2025 names JOHN DESPRES.

Who are the officers and directors of PHILLIPS COLLECTION?

The 990 for the year ended July 31, 2025 lists 39 people; 8 received compensation from the organization, the highest $375,556 (JONATHAN BINSTOCK, VRADENBURG DIRECTOR & CEO).

How much revenue does PHILLIPS COLLECTION have?

On its 990 for the year ended July 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $26,569,664, expenses of $17,368,949 and total assets of $131,831,964 at year end.

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