Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE FINE ARTS WORK CENTER IS AN ARTIST-LED ORGANIZATION BASED IN PROVINCETOWN AND CONNECTED TO THE WORLD. WE SUPPORT ARTISTIC FREEDOM, NURTURE CREATIVE CONNECTIONS, AND MAKE POSSIBLE ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENTS IMPORTANT TO THE LARGER CULTURE.
- Income
- $2.7 million
- Spending
- $2.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 12 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 54%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 48
- Highest pay
- $175,848, executive di
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
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2529 of 29 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $580,546 spent. SUMMER PROGRAM: WITH MORE THAN 60 WEEK-LONG WORKSHOPS OFFERED BY MANY OF THE MOST RENOWNED WRITERS AND ARTISTS WORKING TODAY, THIS YEAR'S SUMMER WORKSHOP PROGRAM PRESENTS CLASSES IN POETRY, FICTION, MEMOIR, NONFICTION, PAINTING, DRAWING, PRINTMAKING, SCULPTURE, PHOTOGRAPHY AND MIXED MEDIA, AS WELL AS A NEW MASTER PRINTER SERIES. THE PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE CLASSES IN PRINTMAKING, PERFORMANCE ART, VIDEO, AND SONGWRITING. COURSES ARE OFFERED AT ALL LEVELS AND WITH AN INTENSIVE COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY OF EXPRESSION. A WRITING LAB AND THE VISUAL ART STUDIOS ARE OPEN, AROUND THE CLOCK, CREATING AN ARTISTICALLY DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMPLETE IMMERSION IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS.
- $717,385 spent. FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: SEVEN-MONTH RESIDENCIES FOR EMERGING WRITERS AND ARTISTS: THE FINE ARTS WORK CENTER IS ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S PREEMINENT LONG-TERM RESIDENCIES, OFFERING A UNIQUE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FOR WRITERS AND VISUAL ARTISTS IN THE CRUCIAL EARLY STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS. THE WORK CENTER PROVIDES SEVEN-MONTH FELLOWSHIPS TO TWENTY FELLOWS EACH YEAR IN THE FORM OF LIVING/WORK SPACE AND A MONTHLY STIPEND. RESIDENCIES RUN FROM OCTOBER 1 THROUGH APRIL 30. FELLOWS PURSUE THEIR WORK INDEPENDENTLY IN A DIVERSE AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY OF PEERS WHILE LIVING IN AN AREA OF SPECTACULAR NATURAL BEAUTY. PAST FELLOWS HAVE WON EVERY MAJOR NATIONAL AWARD AND PRIZE, INCLUDING THE PULITZER, MACARTHUR, WHITING, POLLOCK-KRASNER, TIFFANY, PRIX DE ROME, GUGGENHEIM, NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS AND NATIONAL BOOK AWARD, PUBLISHING HUNDREDS OF BOOKS AND EXHIBITING IN COUNTLESS MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES WORLDWIDE. FINE ARTS WORK CENTER FELLOWS ARE EXPECTED TO LIVE AND WORK IN PROVINCETOWN DURING THE FELLOWSHIP YEAR. OPTIONAL GROUP ACTIVITIES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AS WELL AS VISITING ARTISTS AND WRITERS OF NOTE. FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: SEVEN-MONTH RESIDENCIES FOR EMERGING WRITERS AND ARTISTS: THE FINE ARTS WORK CENTER IS ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S PREEMINENT LONG-TERM RESIDENCIES, OFFERING A UNIQUE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FOR WRITERS AND VISUAL ARTISTS IN THE CRUCIAL EARLY STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS. THE WORK CENTER PROVIDES SEVEN-MONTH FELLOWSHIPS TO TWENTY FELLOWS EACH YEAR IN THE FORM OF LIVING/WORK SPACE AND A MONTHLY STIPEND. RESIDENCIES RUN FROM OCTOBER 1 THROUGH APRIL 30. FELLOWS PURSUE THEIR WORK INDEPENDENTLY IN A DIVERSE AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY OF PEERS WHILE LIVING IN AN AREA OF SPECTACULAR NATURAL BEAUTY. PAST FELLOWS HAVE WON EVERY MAJOR NATIONAL AWARD AND PRIZE, INCLUDING THE PULITZER, MACARTHUR, WHITING, POLLOCK-KRASNER, TIFFANY, PRIX DE ROME, GUGGENHEIM, NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS AND NATIONAL BOOK AWARD, PUBLISHING HUNDREDS OF BOOKS AND EXHIBITING IN COUNTLESS MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES WORLDWIDE. FINE ARTS WORK CENTER FELLOWS ARE EXPECTED TO LIVE AND WORK IN PROVINCETOWN DURING THE FELLOWSHIP YEAR. OPTIONAL GROUP ACTIVITIES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AS WELL AS VISITING ARTISTS AND WRITERS OF NOTE.
- $200,441 spent. ONLINE WRITING PROGRAM: BUILDING ON THE WORK CENTER'S TRADITION OF CREATIVE EXCELLENCE AND COMMUNITY, 24PEARLSTREET OFFERS AN ENGAGING ONLINE LEARNING EXPERIENCE LED BY NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED POETS AND WRITERS. STUDENTS CAN FOCUS ON DOING THEIR BEST WORK UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF EXCEPTIONAL FACULTY, REGARDLESS OF THEIR LOCATION OR SCHEDULE. THE PROGRAM RUNS YEAR ROUND IN THREE GENRES: POETRY, FICTION, AND NONFICTION.
- $622,253 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1971.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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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