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Filing year 2023

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART

Chicago, Illinois·EIN 36-6154098·NTEE A510 · Arts, Culture & Humanities·501(c)(3)
Total revenue
$17.3M
Total assets
$210.4M
Total expenses
$37.7M
Reported officers
79
Mission

THE MCA IS AN INNOVATIVE AND COMPELLING CENTER OF CONTEMPORARY ART WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN DIRECTLY EXPERIENCE THE WORK AND IDEAS OF LIVING ARTISTS, AND UNDERSTAND THE HISTORICAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT OF THE ART OF OUR TIME. THE MUSEUM BOLDLY INTERWEAVES EXHIBITIONS, PERFORMANCES, COLLECTIONS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO EXCITE, CHALLENGE, AND ILLUMINATE OUR VISITORS AND TO PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO THE CREATIVE PROCESS. THE MCA ASPIRES TO ENGAGE A BROAD AND DIVERSE AUDIENCE, CREATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND BE A PLACE FOR CONTEMPLATION, STIMULATION, AND DISCUSSION ABOUT CONTEMPORARY ART AND CULTURE.

Executive compensation, broken down

Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 10 reported individuals · Filing year 2023

Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations nationwide.

Pritzker Director
Officer (Unspecified)
$889k
$985k
Base
$806k
Bonus
$50k
Other
Benefits
$17k
Deputy Director & COO
Director (Operational)
Above 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers in Illinois
$413k
$457k
Base
$352k
Bonus
$32k
Other
Benefits
$13k
Chief Curator (until 04/24)
Highest Compensated Employee
Above 90th percentile
$295k
$327k
Base
$268k
Bonus
Other
Benefits
$27k
Chief Comm. Officer (until 01/24)
Officer (Unspecified)
$278k
$308k
Base
$218k
Bonus
$29k
Other
Benefits
$31k
Sr. Director of People and Culture
Highest Compensated Employee
75th to 90th percentile
$243k
$270k
Base
$195k
Bonus
$19k
Other
Benefits
$20k
Chief Development Officer
75th to 90th percentile
$212k
$235k
Base
$177k
Bonus
Other
$20k
Benefits
$15k
Sr. Director of Audience Experience
Highest Compensated Employee
75th to 90th percentile
$193k
$214k
Base
$175k
Bonus
$4k
Other
Benefits
$6k
Director of Curatorial Affairs
Highest Compensated Employee
75th to 90th percentile
$189k
$210k
Base
$176k
Bonus
Other
Benefits
$4k
Former Chief Instnl Adv Officer
Former Officer/director/trustee
Median to 75th percentile
$166k
$184k
Base
$847
Bonus
Other
$165k
Benefits
CFO
Median to 75th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers in Illinois
$150k
$166k
Base
$122k
Bonus
Other
$15k
Benefits
$13k

Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.

Estimated with Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.

Plus 69 unpaid individuals.

Browse compensation in Arts, Culture & Humanities

Pay in context

Top pay as a share of expenses

In 2023, the highest total compensation at MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART equaled 2% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.

This organization (2023)
2%
Sector median
11%
Middle half of sector
5% to 20%

Based on 17,098 arts, culture & humanities organizations, each measured at its most recent filing year with reported expenses and compensation.

Funded by

Private foundations whose Form 990-PF Part XV grants matched this organization.

Down 13%
from 2022

From $1M in 2022 to $889k in 2023.

$1M
2022
$889k
2023
In today's dollarsEst.
Down 16% in real terms$1.2M to $985k

Estimated with Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.

Pay for the position

Highest Compensated Employee pay rose 62% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue fell 10%.

$182k in 2022 to $295k in 2023.
  • Chief Development Officer pay rose 30% from 2022 to 2023.
  • Chief Financial Officer pay fell 58% from 2022 to 2023.

Pay for the position itself, not any one person. The officeholder may have changed between 2022 and 2023.

Highest reported compensation in each year. Volunteer board members and partial-year payouts are filtered out.

Among peers

Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.

FAQ

Common questions about MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART

What does the Director (Operational) of MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART earn?

In 2023, the Director (Operational) of MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART received $412,598 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Director (Operational) roles among Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in Illinois: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.

How does Director (Operational) pay at MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART compare with similar nonprofits?

Compared with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in Illinois, the 2023 pay of the Director (Operational) at MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART equaled 2% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.

What are MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART's revenue and expenses?

In 2023, MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART reported $17.3M in total revenue and $37.7M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.

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