Museum finances: Deficit gap shrinks to $960,000

The museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences operated with a deficit of $960,000 in fiscal year 2025, according to financial documents reviewed during a City Council hearing.

This figure contradicts a $4.4 million deficit cited by Drexel University officials earlier this month. The discrepancy stems from how the university categorized its spending. Drexel’s executive director of operations, Melissa Richman, testified that the Academy’s public programs cost $7.7 million while generating $3 million in revenue.

Richman explained that the $4.4 million gap covers all public education activities. This category includes the museum itself, but it also encompasses educational programs, exhibitions, and community partnerships. In contrast, Suzanne Biemiller, chair of the Academy board, presented data isolating just the museum’s operations. Her testimony indicated estimated expenses of $3.66 million against $2.7 million in revenue.

The closure of the nearly two-century-old museum was announced roughly two months ago. Leaders attributed the decision partly to this budget imbalance. The financial dispute came to a head at a hearing held Monday, where council members questioned both Drexel representatives and Academy leadership.

Drexel included several distinct initiatives in its larger $7.7 million budget figure. These costs cover a collaboration with the Robert and Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection for an exhibition titled The Ecology of Fashion. They also include support for the Watershed climate resilience hub in Germantown, a partnership involving Mural Arts and the Philadelphia Water Department. Additionally, the figure accounts for lifelong learning programs, lessons for students at Friends Select School, and work with the Mantua Civic Association, Sloan Street Community Garden, and Lankenau and Olney high schools.

Niki Gianakaris, a spokesperson for Drexel, confirmed that the $7.7 million number encompasses the full range of public activities rather than just the museum’s galleries. She stated that the operational imbalance and capital needs contributed to the decision to close the facility.

Christine Reimert, an Academy spokesperson, noted that the museum can function independently of these community-located programs. She pointed out that Drexel’s public education figures also include the 50-year-old Women in Natural Sciences high school program. That program was consistently fully funded but was spun off as a separate organization in the spring of 2026 at Drexel’s insistence.

Reimert argued that these details support the need for an independent financial analysis. She said a feasibility study is necessary so that decisions can be made based on a single set of accurate numbers.

The William Penn Foundation has offered to cover the amount Drexel has been contributing toward the museum for about a year. This offer would allow time for a long-term solution to be studied. Drexel has neither accepted nor rejected the proposal, though the university has said it is open to discussions. A foundation spokesperson said no talks have happened yet.

Arts consultant Nancy Burd told The Inquirer that the gap is relatively small given the institution’s donor base and community legacy. She described the required funding raise as something the organization could accomplish on a Friday afternoon.

City Council member Jeffrey Young, Jr., expressed surprise at the relatively small amount needed to reopen the museum to five days per week. He noted that the city has a $7 billion budget and contributes millions of dollars to other cultural institutions. Young said the funding level was very doable for the city.

The hearing concluded with council members reviewing the conflicting figures. The next step involves the independent financial analysis mentioned by Academy leadership. No date has been set for when that study will be completed or when Drexel will respond to the William Penn Foundation’s offer.