Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.
Go to
www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
| (i) Name of supported organization | (ii) EIN | (iii) Type of organization (described on lines 1- 10 above (see instructions)) | (iv) Is the organization listed in your governing document? | (v) Amount of monetary support (see instructions) | (vi) Amount of other support (see instructions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | |||||
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Total |
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Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
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(a) 2020 | (b) 2021 | (c) 2022 | (d) 2023 | (e) 2024 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grant.") .. | 87,455,012 | 94,381,987 | 137,234,580 | 127,163,944 | 137,566,833 | 583,802,356 |
| 2 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf .... | 0 | |||||
| 3 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge.. | 39,163,937 | 37,943,307 | 31,836,962 | 11,109,144 | 15,945,041 | 135,998,391 |
| 4 | Total. Add lines 1 through 3 | 126,618,949 | 132,325,294 | 169,071,542 | 138,273,088 | 153,511,874 | 719,800,747 |
| 5 | The portion of total contributions by each person (other than a governmental unit or publicly supported organization) included on line 1 that exceeds 2% of the amount shown on line 11, column (f) .. | 2,164,693 | |||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | 717,636,054 | |||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
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(a) 2020 | (b) 2021 | (c) 2022 | (d) 2023 | (e) 2024 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | 126,618,949 | 132,325,294 | 169,071,542 | 138,273,088 | 153,511,874 | 719,800,747 |
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | 3,119,724 | 2,590,009 | 5,981,012 | 8,328,235 | 8,160,373 | 28,179,353 |
| 9 | Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.. | ||||||
| 10 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.).. | 0 | 91,450 | 249,525 | 223,830 | 352,696 | 917,501 |
| 11 | Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 | 751,129,561 | |||||
Calendar year (or fiscal
year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2020 | (b) 2021 | (c) 2022 | (d) 2023 | (e) 2024 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") . | ||||||
| 2 | Gross receipts from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed, or facilities furnished in any activity that is related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose | ||||||
| 3 | Gross receipts from activities that are not an unrelated trade or business under section 513 ..... | ||||||
| 4 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf... | ||||||
| 5 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge | ||||||
| 6 | Total. Add lines 1 through 5 | ||||||
| 7a | Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons | ||||||
| b | Amounts included on lines 2 and 3 received from other than disqualified persons that exceed the greater of $5,000 or 1% of the amount on line 13 for the year. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 7a and 7b.. | ||||||
| 8 | Public support. (Subtract line 7c from line 6.) | ||||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
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(a) 2020 | (b) 2021 | (c) 2022 | (d) 2023 | (e) 2024 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Amounts from line 6... | ||||||
| 10a | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources.. | ||||||
| b | Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 10a and 10b. | ||||||
| 11 | Net income from unrelated business activities not included on line 10b, whether or not the business is regularly carried on. | ||||||
| 12 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.) .. | ||||||
| 13 | Total support. (Add lines 9, 10c, 11, and 12.).. | ||||||
| Section A - Adjusted Net Income | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Net short-term capital gain | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Other gross income (see instructions) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Add lines 1 through 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Depreciation and depletion | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Portion of operating expenses paid or incurred for production or collection of gross income or for management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for production of income (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Other expenses (see instructions) | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Adjusted Net Income (subtract lines 5, 6 and 7 from line 4) | 8 | ||||
| Section B - Minimum Asset Amount | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Aggregate fair market value of all non-exempt-use assets (see instructions for short tax year or assets held for part of year): | 1 | ||||
| a | Average monthly value of securities | 1a | ||||
| b | Average monthly cash balances | 1b | ||||
| c | Fair market value of other non-exempt-use assets | 1c | ||||
| d | Total (add lines 1a, 1b, and 1c) | 1d | ||||
| e |
Discount claimed for blockage or other factors (explain in detail in Part VI): |
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| 2 | Acquisition indebtedness applicable to non-exempt use assets | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Subtract line 2 from line 1d | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Cash deemed held for exempt use. Enter 0.015 of line 3 (for greater amount, see instructions). | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Net value of non-exempt-use assets (subtract line 4 from line 3) | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Multiply line 5 by 0.035 | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Minimum Asset Amount (add line 7 to line 6) | 8 | ||||
| Section C - Distributable Amount | Current Year | |||||
| 1 | Adjusted net income for prior year (from Section A, line 8, Column A) | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Enter 85% of line 1 | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Minimum asset amount for prior year (from Section B, line 8, Column A) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Enter greater of line 2 or line 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Income tax imposed in prior year | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Distributable Amount. Subtract line 5 from line 4, unless subject to emergency temporary reduction (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| Section D - Distributions | Current Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Amounts paid to supported organizations to accomplish exempt purposes | 1 | |
|
2
Amounts paid to perform activity that directly furthers exempt purposes of supported organizations, in excess of income from activity |
2 | |
| 3 Administrative expenses paid to accomplish exempt purposes of supported organizations | 3 | |
| 4 Amounts paid to acquire exempt-use assets | 4 | |
| 5 Qualified set-aside amounts (prior IRS approval required - provide details in Part VI) | 5 | |
| 6 Other distributions (describe in Part VI). See instructions | 6 | |
| 7Total annual distributions. Add lines 1 through 6. | 7 | |
|
8
Distributions to attentive supported organizations to which the organization is responsive (provide details in Part VI). See instructions |
8 | |
| 9 Distributable amount for 2024 from Section C, line 6 | 9 | |
| 10 Line 8 amount divided by Line 9 amount | 10 | |
| Section E - Distribution Allocations (see instructions) |
(i) Excess Distributions |
(ii) Underdistributions Pre-2024 |
(iii) Distributable Amount for 2024 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Distributable amount for 2024 from Section C, line 6 | ||||
|
2
Underdistributions, if any, for years prior to 2024 (reasonable cause required-- explain in Part VI).
See instructions. |
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| 3 Excess distributions carryover, if any, to 2024: | ||||
| a From 2019....... | ||||
| b From 2020....... | ||||
| c From 2021....... | ||||
| d From 2022....... | ||||
| e From 2023....... | ||||
| fTotal of lines 3a through e | ||||
| g Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| h Applied to 2024 distributable amount | ||||
|
i
Carryover from 2019 not applied (see instructions) |
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| j Remainder. Subtract lines 3g, 3h, and 3i from line 3f. | ||||
| 4Distributions for 2024 from Section D, line 7: | ||||
| $ | ||||
| a Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| b Applied to 2024 distributable amount | ||||
| c Remainder. Subtract lines 4a and 4b from line 4. | ||||
|
5
Remaining underdistributions for years prior to 2024, if any. Subtract lines 3g and 4a from line 2. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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6
Remaining underdistributions for 2024. Subtract lines 3h and 4b from line 1. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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7 Excess distributions carryover to 2025. Add lines 3j and 4c. |
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| 8 Breakdown of line 7: | ||||
| a Excess from 2020..... | ||||
| b Excess from 2021..... | ||||
| c Excess from 2022..... | ||||
| d Excess from 2023..... | ||||
| e Excess from 2024..... | ||||
| Facts And Circumstances Test |
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| Return Reference | Explanation |
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| Schedule A, Part II, Section B, Line 10 | Amounts included in Part II, line 10 represent gross income from fundraising events. 2020: $0, 2021: $91,450, 2022: $249,525, 2023: $223,830 and 2024: $352,696. |
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| Return Reference | Explanation |
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| Part I, Line 1 & Part III, Line 1 | Overview The American Museum of Natural History ("AMNHthe "Museum") is one of the largest natural history museums in the world, located within the approximately 18-acre Theodore Roosevelt Park, across from Central Park in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. Founded in 1869 by a special act of the legislature of the State of New York, the Museum is chartered as an educational institution, and its scientific research, educational programs, and exhibitions are under the auspices of the Board of Regents of the State of New York. The Museum's mission is "to discover, interpret and disseminate-through scientific research and education-knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe." The Museum's research enterprise includes scientists; the Richard Gilder Graduate School, which confers the Ph.D. degree in comparative biology and the Master of Arts in Teaching ("MAT") degree, the only such free-standing degree-granting programs in any museum in the U.S.; scientific collections of more than 30 million specimens and objects that constitute an invaluable record of life on Earth; and one of the largest natural history libraries in the world. Visitors to the Museum are welcomed to more than 40 permanent exhibition halls that showcase scientific collections; special exhibition galleries that display award-winning exhibitions presenting current science in compelling and interactive formats; and theaters for symposia and public programs. The Museum's Rose Center for Earth and Space houses the world-renowned Hayden Planetarium and the Hayden Planetarium Space Theater, which offers live presentations and screens Space Shows. The Museum's Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation includes exhibition galleries, theaters, classrooms, the David S. and Ruth L. Gottesman Research Library and Learning Center, laboratories, and scientific collections storage. Scientific Research The Museum's scientific research is carried out with a full-time scientific staff of approximately 170 researchers who work in physical sciences, anthropology, invertebrate zoology, paleontology, and vertebrate zoology. Museum scientists typically conduct more than 50 expeditions each year around the world and publish their research in peer-reviewed journals. The science effort is led currently by 36 tenured or tenure-track curators whose research publications have earned more than 380,000 citations. The average citation index (h-index) for senior curators is over 50, regarded as an indication of "outstanding" impact characteristics of only top research institutions. The work of scientists and others at the Museum is partially funded by federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation ("NSF") and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ("NASA"). Research facilities include the Museum's collections, natural history library, and state-of-the-art laboratories, as well as offsite research facilities available through university consortia and other partnerships. Additionally, the Museum owns and operates a biological field station in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona, an area of incredible biodiversity, from which it offers classes and accommodations for visiting researchers. The Museum's cross-disciplinary research centers include an Institute for Comparative Genomics, which advances basic research in molecular biology and includes three genomics laboratories: an Ancient Biomolecules laboratory for the study of ancient DNA and paleoproteomics; the Ambrose Monell Cryo Collection for molecular and microbial research (a frozen tissue repository of DNA and tissue specimens); and a high-performance computing facility. The Museum's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation ("CBC") surveys and studies biological diversity, provides educational and training programs, and strives to mitigate threats to the Earth's ecosystems through projects based in locations such as Colombia, Vietnam, Ecuador, Norway, Micronesia, and Saudi Arabia. CBC also is working to develop tools to support the professionalization of the global protected area workforce and to incorporate Indigenous and local knowledge into biodiversity assessments. Scientific Collections The Museum's collections total more than 30 million specimens and objects and are among the largest and most comprehensive in the world. The collections constitute an invaluable record of life on Earth and are maintained to facilitate the study and understanding of 4.5 billion years of change in Earth's geology, climate, and the 3.5-billion-year history of its habitats, life forms, and global cultures. In FY25, the collections grew by more than 50,000 new specimens and objects. The Museum provides research material to other institutions, typically lending tens of thousands of specimens each year (more than 300 loans of 17,000 specimens in FY25) and with outstanding loans of hundreds of thousands of specimens at any given time. Its collections are also made available for study on site to research scientists and students. A total of 994 researchers visited the collections in FY25. David S. and Ruth L. Gottesman Research Library and Learning Center The American Museum of Natural History was established as a natural history museum and library in 1869. Since that time, the library has grown into one of the largest natural history libraries in the world, with a collection on topics that span the full range of the natural sciences; a rich archival collection of documents, photography, moving images, art, and memorabilia documenting the history of the Museum, its scientists and staff, scientific expeditions, and research, Museum exhibitions, and educational offerings; and an extensive rare book collection of more than 15,000 volumes, some dating to the 15th century. The library serves and supports the work of the Museum staff of scientists, students, educators, and exhibit developers as well as local students, faculty, researchers, and the general public in addition to scholars nationally and from around the world. Richard Gilder Graduate School ("RGGS") The Museum's Richard Gilder Graduate School, which was authorized in 2006 by the New York State Board of Regents and is currently accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education ("NECHE"), is home to two degree-granting graduate programs: the Ph.D. in Comparative Biology and the Master of Arts in Teaching ("MAT") Earth Science Residency Program. Launched in 2012, the innovative MAT program enjoys a nearly 100 percent job placement rate. As of the close of FY25, the MAT Program has graduated 185 teachers, and approximately 15,000 students are being taught annually by graduates of the program, mainly in high-needs schools in New York. Teacher retention exceeds national averages, particularly for those teaching in high-needs schools. Since its first cohort of Ph.D. students entered in 2008, the RGGS has graduated 47 Comparative Biology Ph.D. program doctoral degree recipients through FY25. To further advance training of the next generation of scientists, RGGS has a collaborative doctoral student training program in partnership with five local universities: The City University of New York, Columbia University, Cornell University, New York University, and Stony Brook University, with about 30 Ph.D. students advised by RGGS faculty members at any given time. The RGGS maintains an active postdoctoral program, with about 30 postdoctoral scholars in residence annually. RGGS also offers two longstanding NSF-supported undergraduate training programs, the Museum's Research Experiences for Undergraduates ("REU") programs, which provide a select group of 16-20 undergraduate students annually with intensive summer research experiences in such subjects as evolutionary biology, Earth and planetary sciences, and astrophysics. |
| Part I, Line 1 & Part III, Line 1 (Continued) | Education The Museum's education programs draw on the Museum's collections, exhibitions, and other resources to support science education for all learners. Offerings include courses and programs for students starting in pre-K through high school, including training in science practices and laboratory skills; professional development for teachers, including online and on-site courses and courses for graduate credit; public programs that include lectures for adults and festivals for families; and, through the Richard Gilder Graduate School, graduate programs in comparative biology and science teaching. One of the Museum's signature educational programs for students and teachers, Urban Advantage, is a 22-year-old enrichment program developed by the Museum with the New York City Department of Education and operated by the Museum and seven other science institutions in New York City. In FY25, Urban Advantage reached 74,500 middle school students and 745 teachers in 260 middle schools across all five boroughs in New York City, along with 12,740 elementary school students and 135 teachers in 64 elementary schools. In addition, the Museum is a top field trip destination for New York City school groups and provides resources, including Educators Evenings and online Educator's Guides, to help teachers plan field trips and pre- and post- visit activities. Approximately 291,800 students, teachers, and chaperones visited the Museum as part of organized school or camp groups in FY25. The Museum also produces and distributes curricula, lesson plans, and resource materials for classroom use, as well as for use in libraries and community organizations, to support science teaching and learning in New York City and beyond. These materials are widely available online to communities throughout the state of New York, the U.S., and the world. Temporary Exhibitions In addition to exhibitions in its permanent galleries, the Museum creates and mounts its award-winning exhibitions, and planetarium shows (Space Shows) for display at the American Museum of Natural History as well as for distribution to museums, science centers, and planetariums in numerous venues in more than 25 countries. In FY25, the Museum's content reached approximately 5.8 million visitors at other venues. Touring exhibitions included T. rex: The Ultimate Predator, Unseen Oceans, The World's Largest Dinosaurs, and The Power of Poison. Exhibitions and shows that opened at the Museum in FY25 included: -Life at the Limits: Nature's Superheroes (encore presentation) -Shaping Our Future Through Tradition -Apex Stegosaurus fossil -Eyes on the Universe: Images from Space Telescopes -Cosmic Splendor: Jewelry from the Collections of Van Cleef & Arpels -Hayden Planetarium Space Show Encounters in the Milky Way |
| PART VI, SECTION A, QUESTION 2 | TRUSTEE CHERYL C. EFFRON AND TRUSTEE VALERIE S. PELTIER - BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP TRUSTEE LORNE MICHAELS AND TRUSTEE TINA FEY - BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP |
| PART VI, SECTION A, QUESTION 4 | ON DECEMBER 4, 2024, THE ORGANIZATION AMENDED ITS BY-LAWS TO ALLOW AN EMPLOYEE TO BE ELECTED AS SECRETARY, AND OTHER MINOR CHANGES. THE CHANGES WERE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE ON TRUSTEES & GOVERNANCE AND THE FULL BOARD OF TRUSTEES. |
| PART VI, SECTION B, QUESTION 11A | THE RETURN IS INITIATED BY THE MUSEUM'S OFFICE OF THE CONTROLLER AND THE MATERIAL IS REVIEWED BY RELEVANT OFFICERS OF THE MUSEUM, INCLUDING ITS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND its internal and external LEGAL COUNSEL, AND then PREPARED AND FILED BY GRANT THORNTON, AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTING FIRM. THE RETURN IS MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES PRIOR TO FILING WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. |
| PART VI, SECTION B, QUESTION 12C | THE MUSEUM ANNUALLY DISTRIBUTES TO ITS TRUSTEES THE MUSEUM'S GOVERNANCE POLICY AS WELL AS THE MUSEUM'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY and the museum also HAS SPECIFIC CONFLICTS POLICIES IN ITS INVESTMENT COMMITTEE CHARTER, AS WELL AS ITS PURCHASING MANUAL AND NOTIFIES ALL SUPPLIERS OF THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICIES IN ITS SUPPLIER AUTHORIZATION SUBMITTAL AND IN STANDARD SUPPLIER AGREEMENTS. THE MUSEUM'S EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK INCLUDES THE CONFLICTS POLICY FOR EMPLOYEES AND APPOINTS AN ETHICS OFFICER TO ADVISE AND CONSULT WITH EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE ANY RELATED ETHICS QUESTIONS. On an annual basis, the Museum requires its Trustees, Officers of the Board, and Key Persons to disclose any personal or professional interest in the outcome of a situation involving the Museum. Upon encountering or becoming aware of such a situation, these individuals are advised to disclose it to the Chair of the Audit Committee, through the Museum's General Counsel. |
| PART VI, SECTION B, QUESTION 15 | THE MUSEUM'S PROCESS FOR DETERMINING COMPENSATION OF THE PRESIDENT AND CERTAIN OF THE OFFICERS OF THE MUSEUM INCLUDES 1) GUIDANCE BY INDEPENDENT OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL, 2) PRESENTATION OF COMPARABILITY DATA BY AN INDEPENDENT OUTSIDE COMPENSATION CONSULTANT, typically UPDATED EVERY OTHER YEAR, AND 3) CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY THE INDEPENDENT EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE AND THE INDEPENDENT OFFICERS COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, meeting together. |
| PART VI, SECTION C, QUESTION 19 | THE MUSEUM MAKES ITS GOVERNANCE POLICY, AND ITS CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AS WELL AS THE MUSEUM'S AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE MUSEUM'S WEBSITE, LOCATED AT WWW.AMNH.ORG/ABOUT-THE-MUSEUM. |
| PART XI, QUESTION 9 | CHANGE IN VALUE OF INTEREST RATE EXCHANGE and cap AGREEMENTS OF ($795,181), plus a gain on bond refinancing of $3,671,283, AND OTHER PENSION RELATED ACTIVITIES OF ($7,419,221) EQUALS ($4,543,119). |
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