New England Foundation for the Arts Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
NEFA INVESTS IN ARTISTS AND COMMUNITIES AND FOSTERS EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE ARTS, ENRICHING THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE IN NEW ENGLAND AND THE NATION.
- Income
- $10.4 million
- Spending
- $13.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 10.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 70%
- Employees
- 28
- Volunteers
- 33
- Highest pay
- $238,513, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 33% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 46% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 May 31, 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 (5)
- $2.9 million spent. NATIONAL DANCE PROJECT (NDP) - PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR THE CREATION AND TOURING OF DANCE WORK THROUGH GRANTS TO DANCE ARTISTS AND PRESENTERS; FOSTERS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE; AND THROUGH SPECIAL INITIATIVES, CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR DANCE ARTISTS AT VARIOUS STAGES IN THEIR CAREERS.
- $2.4 million spent. NATIONAL THEATER PROJECT (NTP) - EXPLORES CREATING A SYSTEM OF SUPPORT FOR PROFESSIONAL ARTIST-LED COLLABORATIVE, DEVISED THEATER. MODELED AFTER NEFA'S NATIONAL DANCE PROJECT, THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS ENSEMBLE THEATER DEVELOPMENT AND TOURING IN THE UNITED STATES.
- $3.8 million spent. NEW ENGLAND PRESENTING AND TOURING - PROVIDES FINANCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT TO NEW ENGLAND ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT AND SHARING OF CREATIVE WORK; THE PROGRAM STRIVES TO REACH POPULATIONS FOR WHOM ACCESS IS MORE LIMITED.
- $807,188 spent. CENTER STAGE - AN INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM THAT WILL BRING PERFORMING ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE TO TOUR THROUGHOUT THE U.S. THE PROGRAM IS AN EFFORT TO DEMONSTRATE RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING OF CULTURES BY BRINGING INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING ARTISTS TO THE U.S. SO THAT AMERICANS CAN GROW IN APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF OTHER NATIONS, WHILE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO INTERNATIONAL PERFORMERS.
- $1.2 million spent. PUBLIC ART - PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC ART THROUGH PROGRAMS INCLUDING FUND FOR THE ARTS AND CREATIVE CITY BY GRANT-MAKING THAT PAIRS ARTISTS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND INTEGRATES PUBLIC PARTICIPATION INTO ARTISTIC PROCESS; PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING TO ARTISTSWORKING IN THE PUBLIC REALM.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1976.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.