Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) was founded in 1900 by a group of private citizens as the Art Museum of Toronto. Today, AGO is one of the largest art museums in North America, with a physical facility of 583,000 square feet. Its mission is to “bring people together with art to see, experience and understand the world in new ways.” In F2020, AGO acquired 293 new works of art, bringing its total collection to over 100,000 pieces. Two of the most notable works are Reubens' The Massacre of The Innocents and Untilled by Pierre Huyghe. Outside of general operations, AGO runs many public programs.

In F2020, AGO welcomed 844,406 visitors, one of the top ten highest years for attendance in AGO history. The gallery's collection focuses on five main areas: Indigenous and Canadian art, European art, prints and drawings, photography, and modern and contemporary art. In F2020, 144 Indigenous and Canadian works were approved for accessioning as well as three European works and 44 prints and drawings.

Through its public programming, AGO focuses on engaging people to have meaningful experiences with artwork and starting conversations. Much of the AGO’s programming focuses on educational opportunities for children/youth and families. In F2020, the AGO welcomed 23,055 onsite visits by school groups.

Charity Intelligence consolidated the operating charity with its foundation using the foundation’s audited financial statements.

Art Gallery of Ontario received cash donations of $12.3m and donated art worth $13.5m in F2020. AGO's administrative costs are 11% of total revenues (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs are 50% of donations. This results in overhead spending of 61%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 39 cents go to its programs. This is outside Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. AGO has funding reserves of $109.3m of which $80.0m is donor endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds, reserves can cover program costs for around 10 months.

Like other art museums, AGO's vast collection of art is NOT included in its asset values. AGO's collection of 106,338 artworks is carried at a nominal value of $1,000. In F2020, AGO purchased 2,400 works of art at a total cost of $4.0m. Total contributions to the collection in F2020 were 7,380 works with an estimated fair value of $13.5m.

AGO reports using external fundraisers. In F2020, the charity paid $466k to raise $1.5m from external fundraisers for a cost of 31 cents per dollar raised.

Charity Intelligence has sent this update to Art Gallery of Ontario for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on June 21, 2021, by Shira Wine.