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WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 131789318 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A510 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Very Large (>$50M) · whitney.org
revenue
$191.4M
expenses
$96.0M
net assets
$1.0B
employees
590
volunteers
111
program ratio
66%
mission · from form 990

THE WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART PRESENTS, COLLECTS, AND INSPIRES DIALOGUE (SEE SCHEDULE O)

profile · synthesized from sources

The Whitney Museum of American Art is a leading institution dedicated to collecting, preserving, and exhibiting 20th- and 21st-century American art, with a strong emphasis on living artists. Located in New York City's Meatpacking District, it houses over 26,000 works in its permanent collection and presents rotating exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives. The museum offers free admission to visitors 25 and under and operates a major biennial survey of contemporary American art.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $6.50M
    CURATORIAL AND RELATED SUPPORTIN FY25, THE WHITNEY CONTINUED ITS ONGOING STUDY INTO THE MORE THAN 27,000 OBJECTS IN THE COLLECTION BY OVER 6,000 ARTISTS. THE WHITNEY CONTINUED THE WORK INITIATED BY THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION STRATEGIC PLAN (CSP), MAKING TARGETED ACQUISITIONS AND IMPLEMENTING DECISION-MAKING STRATEGIES BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF THE CSP. THE MUSEUM CONVENED A WORKING GROUP TO MAKE PLANS FOR THE LONG-TERM STORAGE OF THE WHITNEY'S HOLDINGS, WHICH WILL BE CRUCIAL TO THE CARE AND STEWARDSHIP OF THE PERMANENT COLLECTION IN THE FUTURE. (SEE SCHEDULE O)
  2. #2 $6.66M
    EDUCATION PROGRAMS THE WHITNEY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SERVED A TOTAL OF 71,970 VISITORS IN PERSON AND ONLINE THROUGH SCHOOL, YOUTH, FAMILY, PUBLIC, AND ACCESS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. AN ADDITIONAL 61,597 ASYNCHRONOUS USERS ENGAGED DIGITALLY WITH INTERPRETIVE CONTENT SUCH AS AUDIO GUIDES, RECORDED VIDEOS OF PROGRAMS ON YOUTUBE AND PODCASTS. A TOTAL OF 16,975 OF THESE IN PERSON AND ONLINE VISITORS WERE K-12 STUDENTS. EDUCATION STAFF WORKED WITHIN AND ACROSS PROGRAM AREAS ON ZOOM TO PRESENT DYNAMIC PROGRAMMING THAT EXPLORED CRITICAL QUESTIONS ABOUT AMERICAN ART, CULTURE AND SOCIETY. (SEE SCHEDULE O)
named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Permanent Collection Exhibition
Ongoing display of works from the museum’s collection of over 26,000 pieces, including artists such as Edward Hopper, Jasper Johns, and Jean-Michel Basquiat
Public Programs and Tours
Offers a range of events including guided tours, art-making projects for all ages, lectures, and virtual programs
Whitney Biennial
A major curated exhibition held every two years showcasing living American artists at various stages of their careers
activities · 9 groups

What they do

  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 2 activities
    • Collection Care and Exhibition
      Collects, preserves, and exhibits contemporary American art with a focus on 20th-century and living artists, maintaining a permanent collection of over 26,000 works and displaying rotating selections, including a dedicated presentation of Edward Hopper’s works from a collection of over 3,000 pieces on the seventh floor.
    • Whitney Biennial Exhibition
      Organizes and presents the Whitney Biennial, a biennial survey exhibition of American art in all media that has been ongoing since 1932, with the current format established in 1973; the 82nd edition featured work by 56 artists, duos, and collectives exploring themes of relationality, with the next edition scheduled for March 2026.
  • Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
    • Audio and Podcast Production
      Produces the "Artists Among Us" podcast series and other audio content exploring American art and culture, featuring long-form conversations, interviews with artists and curators, and commentary on works in the museum’s collection and exhibitions.
  • Equitable Access Admission Programs 1 activity
    • Free Admission Programs
      Offers free admission every Friday evening from 5–10 pm and on the second Sunday of each month, including access to exhibitions and special programming; additionally provides free admission every day for visitors aged 25 and under, with tiered access options including the Anytime Pass for ages 19–25 and reserved free tickets for those 18 and under.
  • Indigenous Land Acknowledgment Initiatives 1 activity
    • Land Acknowledgment and Historical Recognition
      Recognizes the historical presence of Sapponckanikan, a Lenape fishing, planting, and trading site, near the museum’s current location.
  • Membership Program Administration 1 activity
    • Membership Program
      Offers a membership program that includes benefits such as free admission and invitations to events.
  • Digital Visitor Engagement via Mobile App 1 activity
    • Online Access and Digital Infrastructure
      Maintains an online archive of current, upcoming, and past exhibitions; provides real-time public access to data on artists, artworks, exhibitions, and events through a public API; and offers free WiFi throughout the building to support digital engagement, including access to the Bloomberg Connects app.
  • Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
    • Public Programs and Educational Activities
      Offers a range of public programs including guided tours, art-making workshops, in-gallery activities, story times, and family-focused events for children and adults of all ages.
  • Artist Legacy Preservation and Documentation 1 activity
    • Research and Publication
      Supports research in American art through archival access and publication, including making available documentation of hundreds of past exhibitions and publishing 52 essays on modern and contemporary American art.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Digital Art and Web-Based Projects
      Maintains artport, an online gallery space for web-based and new-media art, including past commissions such as artist Gate Pages (2001–2006) and current Internet art projects that activate hourly on whitney.org, replacing earlier sunrise/sunset-based digital works.
    • Seasonal and Operational Scheduling
      Operates seven days a week during summer months and occasionally announces special closures, such as early closing at 3 pm on specific dates.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$191.36M
Contributions & grants$50.98M27%
Program service revenue$7.72M4%
Investment income$130.06M68%
Other revenue$2.60M
expenses
Total expenses$96.00M
Program expenses66%
Admin / overhead31%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$46.89M
Grants paid out$567K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.14B
Cash$196.79M
Investments$532.62M
Liabilities$111.13M
Net assets$1.03B
Liquid reserves91.2 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +63.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 13
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
SCOTT ROTHKOPF ALICE PRATT BROWN DIRECTOR 35 $999K
AMY ROTH CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 35 $508K
IDEHEN ARUEDE DEPUTY DIRECTOR 35 $504K
MARILOU AQUINO CHIEF PHILANTHROPIC OFF. (THRU 12/24) 35 $390K
ANGELA RUBIN CHIEF COM & CONTENT OFF. (THRU 12/24) 35 $356K
NICHOLAS S HOLMES GENERAL COUNSEL/ASSISTANT SECRETARY 35 $343K
KIMBERLY CONATY AS OF 0424 NANCY &STEVE CROWN FAM CHIEF CURATOR 35 $325K
ADRIENNE EDWARDS CURATOR & DIR OF CURATORIAL AFFAIRS 35 $310K
ANDREW CONE CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER (THRU 11/25) 35 $289K
MARIA NELISEN CHIEF HR OFFICER (THRU 12/24) 35 $274K
MAURA HEFFNER CHIEF EXHIBITIONS & COLLECTIONS OFF 35 $246K
JAQUELINE WOO CHIEF FINANCIAL OFF. ( AS OF 08/24) 35 $135K
KARAUGH BROWN CHIEF ADV. OFF. (AS OF 08/24) 35 $119K
board members · 12
  • ANNE-CECILIE ENGELL SPEYER — CO-CHAIR OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
  • BENNETT GOODMAN — TRUSTEE
  • BETH RUDIN DEWOODY — TRUSTEE
  • BROOKE GARBER NEIDICH — TRUSTEE
  • CLAUDIA LAVIADA — TRUSTEE
  • DAVID CANCEL — TRUSTEE
  • DAVID CAREY — TRUSTEE
  • DAVID W ZALAZNICK — TRUSTEE
  • FAIRFAX N DORN — TRUSTEE
  • FERN KAYE TESSLER — BOARD PRESIDENT
  • GAURAV K KAPADIA — VICE CHAIRMAN
  • HENRY LOUIS GATES JR — TRUSTEE
relationships · 28

Who they work with

  • AAM Partner — Staff of other museums and members of AAM receive free admission to the Whitney.
  • Art Bridges Funder — Provided relief support during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Bank of America Funder — Provided relief support during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Bloomberg Connects Partner — Provides digital content and visitor resources through the Bloomberg Connects app.
  • Bloomberg Philanthropies Funder — Provided relief support during the COVID-19 pandemic and supported digital content and WiFi upgrades
  • Cool Culture Partner — Members of Cool Culture receive free admission to the Whitney.
  • Dalio Philanthropies Funder — Provided relief support during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Enoch Foundation Funder — Donor to the Whitney's Annual Fund supporting general operations
  • Frenchette Bakery Partner — Operates a bakery within the Museum's ground floor space.
  • Frenchette Bakery Partner — Operates a ground floor restaurant at the Whitney, offering grab-and-go and sit-down dining options.
  • Haudenosaunee Partner — Recognizes ancestral ties of the Haudenosaunee nations to the region now known as New York.
  • Henry Luce Foundation Funder — Provided relief support during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation Funder — Donor to the Whitney's Annual Fund supporting general operations
  • Howard Bayne Fund, Inc. Funder — Donor to the Whitney's Annual Fund supporting general operations
  • ICOM Partner — Members of ICOM receive free admission to the Whitney.
  • Joseph & Sophia Abeles Foundation, Inc. Funder — Donor to the Whitney's Annual Fund supporting general operations
  • Lenape Partner — Recognizes ancestral and ongoing relationship of the Lenape people to the land where the Whitney Museum is located.
  • Leon Levy Foundation Funder — Donor to the Whitney's Annual Fund supporting general operations
  • Manitou Fund Funder — Provided relief support during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Marc Haas Foundation Funder — Donor to the Whitney's Annual Fund supporting general operations
  • New York State Council on the Arts Government — Public funder of the Whitney's general operations
  • Poospatuck Partner — Recognizes ancestral ties of the Poospatuck people to Long Island and the broader New York region.
  • Shinnecock Partner — Recognizes ancestral ties of the Shinnecock people to Long Island and the broader New York region.
  • Terra Foundation for American Art Funder — Provided relief support during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • The Brown Foundation Inc, of Houston Funder — Donor to the Whitney's Annual Fund supporting general operations
  • William Randolph Hearst Foundation Funder — Provided relief support during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • William Talbott Hillman Foundation Funder — Donor to the Whitney's Annual Fund supporting general operations
  • artport.whitney.org Network — Hosts archive of new media exhibitions and artists’ projects from the original artport website launched in 2001 and its 2002 expansion.
strategies · 8

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Critical Contextualization to Deepen Artistic Understanding
    methodology: critical_art_contextualization
    By producing scholarly essays, podcasts, and audio content that critically examine the historical, social, and cultural complexities of American art, the Whitney fosters deeper public understanding and dialogue, because interpretive frameworks transform passive viewing into active, critical engagement.
  • Critical Contextualization to Deepen Understanding of American Art
    methodology: critical_art_contextualization
    By producing scholarly essays, podcasts, and critical audio content, the Whitney fosters deeper public understanding of American art, because contextualizing art within historical, social, and political frameworks enables audiences to engage with its complexities and contradictions more meaningfully.
  • Critical Digital Engagement to Expand Artistic Dialogue
    methodology: digital_access
    By using curated time-based digital art interventions, artist Gate Pages as portals to external projects, and podcasting to critically examine art and culture, the museum deepens public understanding and expands access to new media and complex social themes, because digital platforms enable ongoing, dynamic engagement beyond physical space and time, fostering critical dialogue in accessible formats.
  • Digital Expansion as Curatorial and Engagement Practice
    methodology: digital_access
    By integrating time-based digital art interventions, external artist portals, and enhanced digital content into its platform, the Whitney extends public engagement beyond physical space and time, because digital curation enables ongoing, accessible, and experimental forms of artistic expression and audience interaction.
  • Focus on Living Artists to Reflect Contemporary Cultural Discourse
    methodology: living_artists_focus
    By prioritizing the collection and exhibition of contemporary American art with an emphasis on living artists, the Whitney strengthens public engagement with current cultural and social issues, because art that emerges from present-day contexts resonates more immediately with audiences and reflects the dynamic evolution of American artistic practice.
  • Land Acknowledgment as Foundational Contextual Practice
    methodology: land_acknowledgment
    By grounding its institutional presence in a land acknowledgment that recognizes Indigenous displacement due to settler colonialism, the museum situates its work within historical and ongoing consequences of land dispossession, because this practice fosters critical awareness and ethical responsibility, enabling more honest and inclusive cultural discourse around American art and identity.
  • Reduced-Barrier Access Model to Increase Public Engagement
    methodology: barrier_reduced_access
    By eliminating or reducing financial and logistical barriers to museum visitation—through free admission windows, unlimited access passes, and streamlined entry—the Whitney increases public engagement with American art, because easier access leads to broader and more inclusive audience participation, particularly among younger and historically underserved populations.
  • Visitor Engagement Through Permissive Photography Policies
    methodology: visitor_engagement_through_photography
    By allowing personal photography in galleries, the museum encourages visitor engagement and personal connection to the art, because enabling visitors to capture and share their experiences increases emotional investment and extends the museum’s reach into personal and social networks, while still preserving the integrity of the viewing environment through equipment restrictions.