ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM

EIN: 860111675 501(c)(3) Arts, Culture & Humanities

TUCSON, AZ

Total Revenue
$16,249,415
Total Expenses
$14,645,596
Total Assets
$66,126,728
Net Assets
$64,092,405
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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
1952
Legal Domicile
AZ
Principal Officer
HOLLIE COLAHAN
Phone
5208831380
Tax Period
2023-10-01 to 2024-09-30

ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM, founded in 1952, is a mid-sized nonprofit in the Arts, Culture & Humanities sector that reported $16.2M in total revenue in fiscal year 2023. Expenses of $14.6M left a modest 10% surplus.

Mission

WE INSPIRE PEOPLE TO LIVE IN HARMONY WITH THE NATURAL WORLD BY FOSTERING LOVE, APPRECIATION, AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE SONORAN DESERT.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $8,947,467 Revenue: $8,091,183

THE ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM IS A WORLD-RENOWNED BIOPARK COMPRISED OF MULTIPLE COMPONENTS, INCLUDING REGIONAL ZOO, BOTANICAL GARDEN, AQUARIUM, RESEARCH ORGANIZATION, ART INSTITUTE, AND NATURAL...

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THE ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM IS A WORLD-RENOWNED BIOPARK COMPRISED OF MULTIPLE COMPONENTS, INCLUDING REGIONAL ZOO, BOTANICAL GARDEN, AQUARIUM, RESEARCH ORGANIZATION, ART INSTITUTE, AND NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM. THE MUSEUM SITS ON 98 ACRES OF LEASED PROPERTY, 21 OF WHICH ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, WITH 2 MILES OF WALKING PATHS WHERE GUESTS VIEW EXHIBITS THAT REALISTICALLY RE-CREATE THE FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE VIBRANT SONORAN DESERT REGION. VISITORS MAY ENCOUNTER MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED ANIMAL SPECIES, CURATED GARDENS WITH OVER ONE THOUSAND VARIETIES OF PLANTS, TWO ART GALLERIES, AND A SIMULATED CAVE WITH A MINERAL GALLERY. THE MUSEUM IS OPEN FOR PUBLIC VISITATION EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. SINCE ITS OPENING IN 1952, OVER 24 MILLION PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD HAVE VISITED THE MUSEUM. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, ATTENDANCE AT THE MUSEUM WAS 389,082 VISITORS AND THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 16,000 MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS.EXHIBITS AND GARDENS: THE MUSEUM HOSTED 389,082 VISITORS IN FY 2024.THE MUSEUM'S LARGEST AND MOST IMPACTFUL PROGRAM IS ITS EXHIBITS AND GARDENS. THE MUSEUM MAINTAINS 21 INTERPRETED ACRES WITH TWO MILES OF WALKING PATHS THROUGH VARIOUS DESERT HABITATS, OVER TWO HUNDRED ANIMAL SPECIES, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PLANT SPECIMENS FROM MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND TAXA, ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL MINERAL COLLECTIONS, AND TWO ART GALLERIES. EXIT SURVEYS REVEAL THE IMPACT OF A DESERT MUSEUM VISIT: VISITORS TELL US THAT THEY LEARN ABOUT NEW SUBJECTS AND ISSUES, THEY FEEL CLOSER TO NATURE, AND THEY HAVE A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR THE SONORAN DESERT AFTER THEIR VISIT.

Program 2
Expenses: $1,987,355 Revenue: $907,381

CONSERVATION, EDUCATION AND SCIENCE PROGRAMSSINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1952, THE ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM HAS PUT CONSERVATION EDUCATION AND SCIENCE AT THE CORE OF ITS MISSION. FROM HELPING TO...

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CONSERVATION, EDUCATION AND SCIENCE PROGRAMSSINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1952, THE ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM HAS PUT CONSERVATION EDUCATION AND SCIENCE AT THE CORE OF ITS MISSION. FROM HELPING TO ESTABLISH PROTECTED ISLANDS AND COASTAL WETLANDS IN THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA, TO BREEDING AND REINTRODUCTION PROGRAMS FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES SUCH AS THE MEXICAN GRAY WOLF, THICK-BILLED PARROT, AND NUMEROUS FISH, AMPHIBIANS, AND REPTILES, TO DOCUMENTING THE BIODIVERSITY THAT HELPED ESTABLISH THE IRONWOOD FOREST NATIONAL MONUMENT, THE MUSEUM'S CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN WIDELY RECOGNIZED FOR MANY DECADES. OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE ARE THE MUSEUM'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS WHICH TOUCH NEARLY A HALF MILLION PEOPLE EACH YEAR, INCLUDING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THESE PROGRAMS HELP TO FOSTER LOVE, APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF OUR DESERT HOME.

Program 3
Expenses: $680,199 Revenue: $210,651

ART INSTITUTETHE MISSION OF THE ASDM ART INSTITUTE IS "CONSERVATION THROUGH ART EDUCATION." WE SEEK TO ENGAGE PEOPLE IN NATURE-FOCUSED ART CLASSES AND INSPIRE NEW CONSERVATION ADVOCATES. TO THIS END...

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ART INSTITUTETHE MISSION OF THE ASDM ART INSTITUTE IS "CONSERVATION THROUGH ART EDUCATION." WE SEEK TO ENGAGE PEOPLE IN NATURE-FOCUSED ART CLASSES AND INSPIRE NEW CONSERVATION ADVOCATES. TO THIS END, WE OFFER ART CLASSES, ART EXHIBITS, AND STEWARDSHIP OF THE MUSEUM'S ART COLLECTION. ART CLASSES: ART PROFESSIONALS TEACH ALL ART CLASSES, AND CLASS CONTENT EMPHASIZES OUR LIVING COLLECTIONS AND SONORAN DESERT SETTING. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE ART INSTITUTE SERVED 1,129 STUDENTS ON-SITE. 25 INSTRUCTORS TAUGHT 159 DIFFERENT ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES. FOUR STUDENTS GRADUATED FROM THE NATURE ART CERTIFICATE PROGRAM AND 102 BRAND NEW STUDENTS ENTERED THE PROGRAM. ON OUR WEBSITE, WE OFFER 10 FREE VIDEOS, VIEWED BY OVER 1,200 PEOPLE. WE ALSO PROVIDE A VIDEO CLASS SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE; IT CURRENTLY HAS 148 SUBSCRIBERS AND 240 VIDEOS.TOTAL AUDIENCE SERVED IN 2024: 2,477PERMANENT COLLECTION:VANISHING CIRCLES IS A PERMANENT ART COLLECTION COMPRISING 92 ORIGINAL PAINTINGS DEPICTING DISAPPEARING WILDLIFE, PLANTS, AND HABITATS OF THE SONORAN DESERT. IN ADDITION, THE MUSEUM HAS A SMALL PERMANENT COLLECTION OF 49 ART PIECES NAMED THE SONORAN COLLECTION. WE ALSO HAVE A COLLECTION OF 73 WORKS BY SHERIDAN OMAN, 108 BY MANABU SAITO, AND 68 BY RHONDA SPENCER. IN 2020, WE ACQUIRED A COLLECTION OF 23 ORIGINAL SCRATCHBOARD PIECES BY PRISCILLA BALDWIN DEPICTING ANIMALS FROM THE MUSEUM. THIS COLLECTION IS NOW ON PERMANENT DISPLAY IN THE BALDWIN BUILDING. IN 2024 WE PURCHASED A SCULPTURE FOR THE GROUNDS CALLED "MORE BEES PLEASE" IT SERVES TO CALL AWARENESS TO OUR POLLINATOR GARDENSTOTAL COLLECTION PIECES IN 2024: 432GALLERY EXHIBITS:WE HOST 8 TO 12 UNIQUE ART EXHIBITS ANNUALLY IN THE IRONWOOD GALLERY AND BALDWIN EDUCATION GALLERY. THESE ART EXHIBITS SERVE THE MISSION OF THE DESERT MUSEUM BY MANIFESTING THE BEAUTY OF THE SONORAN HABITAT AND WILDLIFE TO OUR VISITORS THROUGH VISUAL ARTS. IN 2025, WE HAD 48,575 VISITORS IN OUR IRONWOOD GALLERIES AND 4,800 IN OUR BALDWIN GALLERIES. IN TOTAL, WE PRODUCED AND OPENED TEN UNIQUE ART EXHIBITS. THESE LIVE SHOWS ARE AVAILABLE VIRTUALLY ON OUR WEBSITE, MAKING THEM ACCESSIBLE TO AUDIENCES WORLDWIDE.THIRTY-SIX VOLUNTEERS STAFF OUR GALLERIES. THEIR JOB IS TO FACILITATE ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN GUESTS AND EXHIBITS; THEY HELP VISITORS DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN ART, SCIENCE, AND CONSERVATION.IN 2024, WE HOSTED A MUSEUM WIDE GLASS AND STEEL SCULPTURE EXHIBITION. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE SHOW 2025 ENDED, THE ARTIST PERMANENTLY LOANED US A GLASS AND STEEL SCULPTURE OF MONARCH BUTTERFLIES TO RESIDE IN OUR BUTTERFLY GARDEN. GALLERY ACTIVITY IN 2025: 10 EXHIBITS, 53,375 VISITORS

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

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Financial Overview (2023)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $5,712,960
Program Service Revenue $8,095,876
Investment Income $629,258
Other Revenue $1,811,321
TOTAL REVENUE $16,249,415

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0
Salaries & Benefits $8,627,356
Fundraising Expenses $428,740
Program Expenses $11,615,021
Other Expenses $6,018,240
TOTAL EXPENSES $14,645,596

Year-over-Year Comparison

2023 2022 Change
Revenue $16,249,415 $15,241,912 +0.1%
Expenses $14,645,596 $13,451,999 +0.1%
Net Income $1,603,819 $1,789,913 -0.1%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Governance

Voting Members
17
Independent Members
15
Employees
236
Volunteers
582

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
9
$645,891
Total Directors
23
$213,983
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
2
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
CAROLYN CARSON CFO THROUGH OCT 2023 40.00
Officer
$203,366 $15,330 $218,696
CRAIG IVANYI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00
Officer Director
$183,461 $29,542 $213,003
BRIAN DENHAM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 40.00
Officer
$127,199 $19,683 $146,882
LYNNAE WENKER DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY 40.00
Highest
$123,113 $13,077 $136,190
STEPHANE POULIN DIRECTOR OF COLLECTIONS AND EXHIBITS 40.00
Highest
$109,155 $19,603 $128,758
BRENT KAMINSKY INTERIM CFO, OCT-JAN 40.00
Officer
$66,330 $0 $66,330
ANNA HEYER VICE CHAIR 2.00
Officer Director
$980 $0 $980
CHERYL CHARLES TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CHRISTINE FLANAGAN TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
RUSKIN HARTLEY TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ABBY HUNGWE TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KELSEY DAYLE JOHN TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
HEATHER KANTOR TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
FAITH LISTON TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
LEE MCLAUGHLIN TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
BEN MINTEER TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JOAQUIN MURRIERTA-SALDIVAR TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ROBERT OJEDA TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
BOBBY PRESENT TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MARY PRICE TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CAITLIN RIGGS TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ALEXANDER SCHAUSS TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
DAVID SMALLHOUSE TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
R JAY TEJERA TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
STEPHEN BRIGHAM IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
LISA HARRIS CHAIR 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
DAVID BAKER TREASURER 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
JANA SUTTON SECRETARY 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
AMANDA PERKINS CFO AS OF JAN 2024 40.00
Officer
$0 $0 $0
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2024 $16,249,415 $14,645,596 $66,126,728 $1,603,819
2023 $15,241,912 $13,451,999 $56,729,954 $1,789,913
2022 $28,343,419 $12,733,839 $51,306,918 $15,609,580
2021 $19,725,526 $9,766,868 $40,175,504 $9,958,658
2020 $11,636,364 $10,335,527 $30,740,049 $1,300,837
2019 $11,651,195 $11,357,898 $28,529,202 $293,297
2018 $12,985,043 $10,627,964 $28,513,346 $2,357,079
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