PALO ALTO HISTORY MUSEUM Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

PALO ALTO HISTORY MUSEUM

EIN 77-0634933 · Historical Organizations (A80)

What they do

THE PALO ALTO MUSEUM WILL BRING to LIFE A HISTORIC LANDMARK AS A VIBRANT PLACE to DISCOVER, CONNECT, and CREATE. SHAPED BY, WITH, and for THE COMMUNITY, THE MUSEUM WILL CELEBRATE OUR PAST, STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY, and INSPIRE A BRIGHTER FUTURE. THROUGH DYNAMIC EXHIBITS, EVENTS, and EXPERIENCES for ALL AGES, WE WILL HELP TURN IDEAS INTO IMPACTFOR PALO ALTO and THE WORLD.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $37.20 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders19 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

2.95%of revenue went to mission work37.2% of expenses · Program services

2.32%of revenue went to fundraising29.2% of expenses

$7.94spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

2.67%of revenue went to management and office costs33.6% of expenses

$57.56in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

98.8%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $150,075 for DIANE MOON (CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$5,875,207

Mission workProgram services$173,6052.95% of revenue37.2% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$156,8242.67% of revenue33.6% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$136,0132.32% of revenue29.2% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$5,408,76592.06% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$466,4427.94% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 37.2% mission · 33.6% management · 29.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 7.94% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 41.3% mission · 30.8% management · 28.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 4.29% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 46.4% mission · 24.2% management · 29.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 8.20% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 0.0% mission · 98.3% management · 1.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 83.09% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 0.0% mission · 99.6% management · 0.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 210.35% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 0.0% mission · 97.7% management · 2.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 127.90% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 0.0% mission · 81.2% management · 18.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 30.35% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 0.0% mission · 92.0% management · 8.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 62.41% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$5,875,207

Expenses$466,442

Annual surplus $5,408,765 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$173,605 · 37.2% of expenses

Management and office costs$156,824 · 33.6% of expenses

Fundraising$136,013 · 29.2% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$5,875,207

Expenses$466,442

Assets$26,849,569

Income$5,875,207

Contributions$5,805,976

Mission work (program services)$173,605

Fundraising$136,013

Management and general$156,824

Accounting fees$78,481

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

DIANE MOONCHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $150,075

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (19)

DIANE MOONCHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

STEVE STAIGERBOARD MEMBER

BARBARA WALLACECORRESPONDING SECRETARY

SERGIO MELLOBOARD MEMBER

ROBERT VILLARREALBOARD MEMBER

RICHARD GREENPRESIDENT

PATRICIA SANDERSVICE-PRESIDENT

NELSON NGRECORDING SECRETARY

MONICA YEUNG ARIMABOARD MEMBER

MEGAN SWEZEY FORGARTYBOARD MEMBER

MARK FLORANTBOARD MEMBER

JOHN W KINGFINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR

JOHN C NORTHWAYBOARD MEMBER

HON TOM DUBOISBOARD MEMBER

HON LANIE WHEELERTREASURER

HON KAREN HOLMANBOARD MEMBER

HON JOSEPH H HUBERBOARD MEMBER

HAL MICKELSONBOARD MEMBER

DOUG KREITZNOMINATING CHAIR, TEEN COU

About this charity

Recognized since: January 2005
Location: 300 HOMER AVE, PALO ALTO, CA 94301-2726
County: Santa Clara
In care of: HON HELENE WHEELER
Primary officer: HON HELENE WHEELER, TREASURER

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(650) 322-3089

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: BRYMAR CPA LLP
NTEE classification: Historical Organizations (A80)
IRS tax category: Historical Organizations