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Waterville Creates

EIN 01-0505433 · Waterville, ME

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ARTS EXPERIENCES FOR ALL.

Income
$4.4 million
Spending
$5.0 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
59
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$209,461, president &

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

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 11 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $1.3 million spent. TO ENHANCE THE CREATIVE AND ARTISTIC VITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH OUTSTANDING ARTS EDUCATION AND EXHIBITIONS AND COLLABORATIVE EVENTS AND PROGRAMS. TICONIC GALLERY + STUDIOS INCLUDES A VERSATILE EXHIBITION SPACE THAT PRESENTS 4-5 SHOWS PER YEAR, A DEDICATED CLAY STUDIO THAT OFFERS A RANGE OF CLASSES AS WELL AS AN OPEN MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM, AND A CLASSROOM THAT HOSTS YEAR-ROUND ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS. IN 2024, TICONIC GALLERY PRESENTED FIVE EXHIBITIONS: 45,000 QUILT PROJECT; YOUTH ART MONTH; TOGETHER: HEARING, HOLDING, HEALING; AT PLAY: WORKS BY TOM JESSEN; AND THE HOLIDAY BAZAAR.
  2. $1.8 million spent. TO ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE AND BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH THE PERFORMING ARTS. THE 810-SEAT WATERVILLE OPERA HOUSE PRESENTS LIVE THEATRE, DANCE, CONCERTS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES. IN 2023, THE WATERVILLE OPERA HOUSE (WOH) PRODUCED FOUR PLAYS, INCLUDING DRINKING HABITS, HEAD OVER HEELS, MISS HOLMES RETURNS, AND THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL. IN ADDITION, WOH HOSTED 4 SCHOOL SHOWS, 3 WEEKS OF THEATRE CAMP, AND 35 LIVE PERFORMANCES, INCLUDING TIG NOTARO, CHISTOPHER CROSS, PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND, CIRQUE KALABANTE, AND ELVIS COSTELLO.
  3. $716,127 spent. TO EDUCATE, ENTERTAIN, AND BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH FILM. CELEBRATING THE ART OF CINEMA AND INSPIRING A LOVE FOR FILM, THE MAINE FILM CENTER (MFC) OFFERS DAILY SCREENINGS OF FIRST-RUN ART HOUSE FILMS, HOSTS NUMEROUS SPECIAL SCREENINGS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, INCLUDING FREE SCREENINGS FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS, AND PRESENTS THE 10-DAY MAINE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (MIFF) IN JULY. IN 2024, MFC SCREEN 388 INDIVIDUAL FILMS ACROSS 3,500 SHOWTIMES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1997.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.