Cotuit Center for the Arts Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO SUPPLY THE COMMUNITY WITH AN ARRAY OF PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUAL ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT, EXPLORATION, AND EXPERIMENTATION, AND TO INCREASE AWARENESS, UNDERSTANDING, AND APPRECIATION OF THE CREATIVE PROCESS BY FACILITATING COMMUNICATION AND INTERACTION AMONG ARTISTS AND BETWEEN ARTISTS AND THE PUBLIC.
- Income
- $2.9 million
- Spending
- $2.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- -3.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 47%
- Employees
- 33
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $145,900, executive di
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
Weak: 36 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 43% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 37 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (5)
- $1.8 million spent. PARTICIPATION: THE ORGANIZATION SERVES AS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE FOSTERING PARTICIPATION BY ITS CITIZENS IN ALL AREAS OF PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THEATER, MUSIC, VISUAL ARTS, EDUCATION AND SPECIAL EVENTS. THE ORGANIZATION ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES TO ENGAGE WITH THE CENTER. THIS ENGAGEMENT MIGHT INCLUDE PARTICIPATION AS A PERFORMER, CREW MEMBER, VOLUNTEER, TEACHER, STUDENT, VISUAL ARTIST, MEMBER OR DONOR.
- CREATION: AT THE CORE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS IS THE CREATION OF MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PERFORMANCE AND ART PROGRAMS AND EVENTS TO BE SHARED WITH AND ENJOYED BY THE COMMUNITY. ANNUALLY THE ORGANIZATION PRODUCES SIX TO EIGHT MAJOR THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS, SIX TO TEN BLACK BOX OR EXPERIMENTAL THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS, DOZENS OF SPECIAL EVENTS INCLUDING MUSICAL CONCERTS, FESTIVALS, FILM SCREENINGS, STAGED READINGS AND WORKSHOPS. APPROXIMATELY TWELVE TO FOURTEEN VISUAL ART SHOWS ARE HUNG IN THE GALLERY ANNUALLY AND STUDENTS IN THE VISUAL ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS CREATE ORIGINAL WORKS ON A REGULAR BASIS. OVER A DOZEN ANNUAL COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER LOCAL ARTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS RESULT IN A VARIETY OF ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS AT THE CENTER.
- EDUCATION: THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF MULTI-DISCIPLINARY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. PERFORMANCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE INSTRUCTION FOR ACTING, DANCING, SINGING AND IMPROVISATION. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO OFFERS ROBUST EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR THE CREATION OF NEW WORK INCLUDING SONGWRITING, PLAYWRITING AND THEATER TECH. VISUAL ARTS EDUCATION IS BROAD BASED WITH CLASSES DESIGNATED FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, BEGINNING ADULT CLASSES, MASTER CLASSES AND CLASSES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY DISABLED. ONE OF THE KEY EDUCATIONAL MISSIONS IS TO DEVELOP AN EDUCATIONAL "CREATIVITY CENTER" WHERE SUPERVISED EXPLORATION AND EXPERIMENTATION BY INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS AND FAMILIES IS FOSTERED.
- THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF COLLABORATION AMONG ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, PERFORMERS, THEATRE TECHNICIANS, AUDIANCES AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
- THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF COLLABORATION AMONG ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, PERFORMERS, THEATRE TECHNICIANS, AUDIANCES AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
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
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 October 13, 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 December 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 May 1996.
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 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.