Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Walnut Hill Center for the Arts Inc

EIN 04-2103636 · Natick, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak37 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 60 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

WALNUT HILL CENTER FOR THE ARTS TRANSFORMS LIVES, BUILDS COMMUNITY AND EXPANDS CULTURE THROUGH THE ARTS.

Income
$26.9 million
Spending
$26.7 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 85%
Employees
280
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$381,828, head of school

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 37 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 60 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 June 30, 2025, 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. $13.1 million spent. INSTRUCTIONAL EXPENSES RELATED TO EDUCATING STUDENTS IN GRADES 9 THROUGH 12 WHILE AT SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL ENROLLED APPROXIMATELY 274 STUDENTS DURING THE FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS. WALNUT HILL STUDENTS IMMERSE THEMSELVES DEEPLY IN THEIR ART, GUIDED BY HIGHLY ACCOMPLISHED PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE ON THEIR ARTISTIC JOURNEYS. THIS TIME SPENT MASTERING AN ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE IS BALANCED BY ENGAGEMENT IN A RIGOROUS COLLEGE-PREPARATORY CURRICULUM THAT CHALLENGES STUDENTS TO ASK BIG QUESTIONS, SOLVE COMPLEX PROBLEMS, AND EXPLORE TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC SUBJECTS THROUGH INNOVATIVE, HANDS-ON LESSONS.
  2. $6.3 million spent. STUDENT ACTIVITIES, THEATER AND MUSIC PRODUCTIONS, TUTORING, DORM LIFE AND FOOD SERVICE AND STUDENT CLUBS. THE SCHOOL ENROLLED APPROXIMATELY 274 STUDENTS DURING THE FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS. OF THE 274 STUDENTS, APPROXIMATELY 180 STUDENTS LIVED ON-CAMPUS.
  3. $1.2 million spent. SUMMER AND OTHER PROGRAM EXPENSES FOR UNENROLLED STUDENTS, SUCH AS THE COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAM. THE SUMMER PROGRAMS ENROLLED APPROXIMATELY 92 STUDENTS AMONG MANY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS DANCE, VISUAL ARTS, MUSIC, WRITING AND THEATER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 June 2025.

    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 January 1961.

    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 October 21, 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.