Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation
83% goes to programs $20 to raise $100 Strong reserves Growing revenue
Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Los Angeles, California, registered in 2000, with $25,097,609 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 83% of spending to programs.
6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90036 EIN 95-4739699 Since 2000
Revenue (FY2023)
$25.1M
▼ 7.2% vs prior year
Arts & Culture median: $159K
Expenses (FY2023)
$25.7M
Net assets
$166.5M
Employees
236
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
AProgram efficiency40% of the rating83% to programs · $20 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation: 83% to programs · $20 to raise $100 earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
B+Financial health25% of the rating78 mo reserves · -2% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation: 78 mo reserves · -2% margin earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Transparency10% of the rating5 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
To explore and present the history of the automobile and its impact on global life and culture.
What they do
Collections and curatorial programs provide for the acquisition and preservation of collection objects that advance the mission of the museum. these programs include the maintenance and restoration of collection vehicles and other objects. the museum also acquires, preserves, and archives two dimensional objections (printed matter, photographs, diagrams, etc.), books and films related to the automotive world. curatorial staff conduct research and produce written content that interpret these objects for the public as well as for scholars.
Educational programs include museum endeavors to expose and teach children and adults about the automobile and its impact on the world and culture. significant programs include tours for school children in support of their curricula, hands-on training on automotive repair and customization for teens, displaying vehicles in public automotive shows, as well as providing speakers, films, and other experiences for adults and children.
Contact & location
- Address
- 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90036
- City
- Los Angeles
- State
- California
- Category
- Arts, Culture & Humanities
- Subcategory
- Museums
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $18.4M (FY2013) to $25.1M (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $54.2MNet assets $166.5M
Operating margin
-2.4%
Spent more than it raised in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$220.7M
Total liabilities
$54.2M
Net assets
$166.5M
Salaries & benefits
$11.2M
43% of expenses
Board members
19
19 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $25,097,609▼7.2% | $25,688,572▲7.0% | $166,479,517▲3.4% | $220,712,649▲2.3% | 990 |
| 2022 | $27,055,446▲250% | $23,999,947▲351% | $160,998,167▼3.6% | $215,784,582▼3.1% | 990 |
| 2021 | $7,730,255▼48.1% | $5,324,266▼69.9% | $167,047,010▲2.6% | $222,687,653▲1.1% | 990 |
| 2020 | $14,902,170▲14.8% | $17,703,741▼7.7% | $162,800,365▲3.2% | $220,367,728▲2.0% | 990 |
| 2019 | $12,979,755▼47.4% | $19,181,920▼13.7% | $157,697,330▼2.7% | $215,975,396▼2.4% | 990 |
| 2018 | $24,671,330▲51.7% | $22,220,372▲1.5% | $162,048,900▲1.7% | $221,247,321▲0.3% | 990 |
| 2017 | $16,262,161▼19.1% | $21,901,151▲7.0% | $159,411,669▼2.2% | $220,505,505▼2.6% | 990 |
| 2016 | $20,101,333▲227% | $20,476,879▲10.8% | $163,036,497▲1.6% | $226,455,674 | 990 |
| 2015 | $6,153,063▼94.6% | $18,473,532▲90.8% | $160,536,705▼5.8% | $226,409,200▲1.4% | 990 |
| 2014 | $114,960,503▲525% | $9,684,495▲27.3% | $170,371,080▲101% | $223,291,827▲145% | 990 |
| 2013 | $18,396,560 | $7,605,893▲34.3% | $84,942,793▲13.2% | $91,152,142▲18.5% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $5,664,727▲34.2% | $75,057,566▲269% | $76,949,337▲264% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $4,219,950▲5.0% | $20,331,494▼0.1% | $21,158,342▼0.3% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $4,018,844 | $20,348,296 | $21,223,934 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2023)
Highest-paid: Terry Karges — $489,515 (1.91% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terry Karges | Executive Director | 40 | $489,515 |
| Michael Bodell | Chief Operating Officer | 40 | $304,117 |
| Bryan Stevens | Exhibits Director | 40 | $149,709 |
| John Yanez | Controller | 40 | $129,058 |
| Luna Bondesan | Marketing Director | 40 | $121,706 |
| Leslie Kendall | Chief Historian | 40 | $120,048 |
| Sandra Landicho | Chief Financial Officer (end 6/1/23) | 40 | $119,317 |
| Anna Song | Engagement & Ex. Office Director | 40 | $103,711 |
| Tom Torii | Chief Financial Officer (as of 10/2023) | 40 | $39,618 |
| Bobby Rahal | Director | 1 | — |
| Bruce Meyer | Vice-chair/director | 4 | — |
| Charles Nearburg | Director | 1 | — |
| Chip Connor | Director | 1 | — |
| David Sydorick | Vice-chair/director | 4 | — |
| Dr Sabrina Kay | Director | 1 | — |
| Duke of Richmond | Director | 1 | — |
| Franz Von Holzhausen | Director | 1 | — |
| Greg Penske | Director | 1 | — |
| Juan Gonzalez | Director | 1 | — |
| Mark Mitchell | Director | 1 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Freddie George Production Group | Exhibit Design and Production | $643,266 |
| Samson Productions LLC | Audiovisual Services | $395,096 |
| Smart Cleaning Company | Janitorial Services | $388,487 |
| Contech Services Inc | Structural Repair Svcs | $360,000 |
| Town & Country Event Rentals | Event Rentals | $348,105 |
Grants received · $3.6M total
47 grants to Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation totaling $3.6M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
Grants made · $162K in FY2018
2 grants totaling $162K in FY2018. All grants made by Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Henry Ford | General assistance | $150,000 |
| Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History Foundation | General assistance | $12,000 |
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Frequently asked questions
- Is Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 95-4739699, based in Los Angeles, California. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation's EIN?
- Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 95-4739699.
- How much revenue does Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation report?
- Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation reported $25,097,609 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation's spending goes to programs?
- Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation spends about 83% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation have?
- CharityIndex grades Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation's latest Form 990 is $489,515, paid to Terry Karges (Executive Director).
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Data for Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation (EIN 95-4739699) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.