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Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts Incorporated

EIN 01-0427824 · Edgecomb, ME

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE ARTISTIC EDUCATION BY PROVIDING A RESIDENCY/RETREAT FOR CERAMIC ARTISTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ABROAD WHO CREATE IN CLAY AND PARTICIPATE IN THE CLAY ARTS AS WELL AS PROVIDING COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE MID-COAST MAINE AREA AND NATIONALLY.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
16
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$54,712, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $454,938 spent. SUMMER RESIDENCY: WATERSHED HOSTS THEMED SESSIONS FOR COHORTS OF ~ 18 ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE FOR BETWEEN 2 - 3 WEEKS AND PROVIDES TIME, SPACE, CHEF-PREPARED MEALS, AND STUDIO SUPPORT WHILE THEY EXPLORE IDEAS IN THEIR CREATIVE PRACTICE AND CREATE CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY WITH OTHER ARTISTS.
  2. $99,895 spent. WORKSHOPS/FIRINGS: WATERSHED PROVIDES WORKSHOPS TAUGHT BY NATIONALLY RENOWNED AND LOCAL TEACHING ARTISTS IN VARIOUS CERAMICS TECHNIQUES AND METHODS TO ARTISTS LOOKING TO DEEPEN THEIR ARTISTIC PRACTICE. ADDITIONALLY, WATERSHED IS HOME TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF KILNS (WOOD, GAS, RAKU), WHICH ARE RENTED OUT TO LOCAL CERAMIC ARTISTS, MANY OF WHOM WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ATMOSPHERIC FIRINGS OTHERWISE.
  3. $105,545 spent. FALL RESIDENCY: WATERSHED COLLABORATED WITH THE COLOR NETWORK AGAIN IN 2024 TO HOST AN ARTIST RESIDENCY, PARTIALLY FUNDED WITH A GRANT FROM THE NEA, FOCUSED ON MENTORSHIP FOR 12 CERAMIC ARTISTS OF COLOR FOR ~ 3 WEEKS. WE PROVIDE TIME, SPACE, CHEF-PREPARED MEALS, AND STUDIO SUPPORT WHILE THEY EXPLORE IDEAS IN THEIR CREATIVE PRACTICE AND CREATE CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY WITH OTHER ARTISTS.
  4. $41,731 spent. EDUCATION: WATERSHED PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS TO MAINE K-12 ART EDUCATORS, SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO DEEPEN THEIR SKILLSETS AND PASS ON NEW METHODS AND TECHNIQUES TO THEIR STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE. THESE WORKSHOPS ARE MADE AFFORDABLE FOR TEACHERS THROUGH FUNDING FROM MULTIPLE FOUNDATIONS.
  5. EDUCATION: WATERSHED PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS TO MAINE K-12 ART EDUCATORS, SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO DEEPEN THEIR SKILLSETS AND PASS ON NEW METHODS AND TECHNIQUES TO THEIR STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE. THESE WORKSHOPS ARE MADE AFFORDABLE FOR TEACHERS THROUGH FUNDING FROM MULTIPLE FOUNDATIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1994.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

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