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Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Foundation Inc

EIN 04-3113688 · North Adams, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MASS MOCA'S MISSION IS TO FOSTER AND PRESENT VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS AND RELATED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC.

Income
$20.2 million
Spending
$21.6 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
247
Volunteers
112
Highest pay
$374,111, executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 29 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    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 September 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 (7)
  1. $4.4 million spent. BUILDING AND GROUNDS - FACILITIES OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF THE ENTIRE MASS MOCA CAMPUS. THE COST OF REALTY OPERATIONS ALLOCABLE TO OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES, SUPPORTING SERVICES, AND AUXILIARY ACTIVITIES HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.
  2. $4.3 million spent. VISUAL ARTS MASS MOCA EXHIBITS - TEMPORARY LARGE SCALE INSTALLATIONS AND EXHIBITIONS
  3. $3.5 million spent. PERFORMING ARTS - MASS MOCA STAGES MULTIPLE PERFORMANCES OF MUSIC, DANCE, THEATER, FILMS AND DOCUMENTARIES
  4. $1.3 million spent. FESTIVALS-MASS MOCA HOLDS VARIOUS FESTIVALS ON ITS CAMPUS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
  5. $1.2 million spent. REAL ESTATE-ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT - MASS MOCA LEASES A PORTION OF ITS BUILDINGS TO COMMERCIAL TENANTS TO GENERATE JOBS AND ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC REDEVELOPMENT
  6. $1.1 million spent. RETAIL - RETAIL SALES OPERATIONS OF MERCHANDISE RELATED TO CONTEMPORARY ART AND MASS MOCA PROGRAMS
  7. $1.0 million spent. SPECIAL PROJECTS-VARYING PROJECTS RELATED TO TOURISM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TENANT FIT OUT, AND COMMUNITY AND YOUTH SERVICES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 September 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 June 1993.

    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.