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Boston Public Art Triennial Inc

EIN 04-2712823 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ARTISTS AND THE PUBLIC TO CREATE BOLD PUBLIC ART EXPERIENCES THAT OPEN MINDS, CONVERSATIONS, AND SPACES ACROSS BOSTON, RESULTING IN A MORE OPEN, EQUITABLE, AND VIBRANT CITY.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
24
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$147,966, executive director

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: 58 out of 100. Higher than 29% 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

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $2.0 million spent. IN 2024, THE BOSTON PUBLIC ART TRIENNIAL PREPREPARED FOR A SIX-MONTH PUBLIC ART EXHIBITION TO BE HELD IN 2025 THAT WILL BE DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING ARTISTS AND COMMUNITIES IN PRESENTING BOLD CONTEMPORARY PUBLIC ART THAT OPENS MINDS, CONVERSATIONS, AND SPACES, RESULTING IN A MORE VIBRANT, OPEN, AND EQUITABLE REGION.
  2. $593,884 spent. THE PUBLIC ART ACCELERATOR IS A SKILL-BUILDING AND GRANT-FUNDING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO SUPPORT EARLY-TO-MID-CAREER BOSTON-BASED ARTISTS IN CREATING TEMPORARY PUBLIC ART PROJECTS IN ONE OF BOSTON'S NEIGHBORHOODS. ARTISTS WHO DEMONSTRATE NEED AND INTEREST IN CREATING OBJECT-BASED WORKS FOR BOSTON RECEIVED TRAINING IN THE SKILLS (E.G., BUDGETING, PROJECT MANAGEMENT) AND SENSIBILITIES (E.G., CONSENSUS-BUILDING, EMPATHY, ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE A VISION AND INVOLVE OTHERS CLEARLY) TO SUCCEED IN THE DYNAMIC FIELD OF PUBLIC ART. COHORT-MODEL WORKSHOPS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE SKILLS. FOUR ARTISTS WERE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN APPROXIMATELY 14 WORKSHOPS LED BY THE TRIENNIAL'S CURATORIAL AND PRODUCTION TEAM, ALONGSIDE DIVERSE WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS.
  3. $333,216 spent. LOT LAB IS AN OUTDOOR, 24/7 EXPERIMENTATION ZONE FOR SITE-SPECIFIC CONTEMPORARY PUBLIC ART CREATED WITH THE BOSTON COMMUNITY. ACTIVATING UNDERUSED PARCELS ACROSS BOSTON, LOT LAB PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL AND VISITING ARTISTS TO PRESENT MULTIMEDIA INSTALLATIONS IN A COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE.

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 September 1982.

    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.

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.