Art Museums in the United States While there are a few examples of public (e.g., Smithsonian museums) and for-profit (e.g., International Spy Museum) museums, the majority of museums in the United States—especially art museums—are nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) status.[3] This means that most museums in this country are considered charities described under both § 501(c)(3) and § 170(c)(2), receiving most tax benefits among 29… [read post]