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Smack Mellon Studios Inc

EIN 11-3375393 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SMACK MELLON IS A NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN DUMBO, BROOKLYN. SMACK MELLONS MISSION IS TO NURTURE AND SUPPORT EMERGING, UNDER-RECOGNIZED MID-CAREER, AND WOMEN ARTISTS IN THE CREATION AND EXHIBITION OF NEW WORK BY PROVIDING EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES, STUDIO WORKSPACE, AND ACCESS TO EQUIPMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE REALIZATION OF AMBITIOUS PROJECTS. WE SEE OURSELVES AS A VEHICLE WHEREBY UNDER-REPRESENTED ARTISTS CAN CREATE, EXPLORE, AND EXHIBIT THEIR CREATIVE IDEAS OUTSIDE THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMERCIAL ART WORLD, OFFERING MANY ARTISTS THE EXPOSURE AND RECOGNITION THEY DESERVE

Income
$735,010
Spending
$791,030
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
5

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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 64 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $280,024 spent. EXHIBITION PROGRAM AS OUR MOST VISIBLE PROGRAM, SMACK MELLON'S EXHIBITIONS PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS WHO DO NOT HAVE GALLERY REPRESENTATION IN NEW YORK. ARTISTS OFTEN CREATE THEIR MOST AMBITIOUS PROJECTS TO DATE IN OUR CAVERNOUS GALLERIES UTILIZING OUR EQUIPMENT AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE. FOR MANY ARTISTS, A SHOW AT SMACK MELLON IS THEIR FIRST MAJOR SOLO EXHIBITION, PROVIDING IMPORTANT EXPOSURE AT CRITICAL POINTS IN THEIR CAREER. WE WORK WITH ARTISTS AND CURATORS TO DEVELOP EXHIBITIONS EXPLORING CRITICAL SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ISSUES HIGHLIGHTING EXPERIMENTAL AND BOUNDARY-PUSHING PRACTICES.
  2. $326,695 spent. ARTIST STUDIO RESIDENCY PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN 2000, OUR ARTIST STUDIO PROGRAM PROVIDES SIX ARTISTS EACH YEAR WITH A PRIVATE STUDIO, A FELLOWSHIP, AND ACCESS TO A FABRICATION SHOP AND MEDIA LAB WITH EDITING SUITES. WE HOST TWO PUBLIC OPEN STUDIOS EVENTS ANNUALLY, IN ADDITION TO PRIVATE STUDIO VISITS WITH CURATORS, CRITICS, AND GALLERISTS, ALL PROVIDING THE RESIDENTS WITH INVALUABLE EXPOSURE AT AN IMPORTANT POINT IN THE ARTISTS CAREERS.
  3. $60,005 spent. ART READY EDUCATION PROGRAM SMACK MELLON'S EDUCATION PROGRAM, ART READY, CONNECTS UNDERSERVED NYC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH NYC'S MOST INNOVATIVE AND INSPIRING CULTURAL MAKERS INCLUDING PAINTERS, SCULPTORS, FILM AND VIDEO ARTISTS, GRAPHIC AND WEB DESIGNERS, AND ARCHITECTS. ART READY PAIRS THE STUDENTS WITH PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS WHO SERVE AS THEIR MENTORS THROUGH THE PROGRAM. ARTIST MENTORS PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL AND CREATIVE GUIDANCE, TUTOR STUDENTS IN THEIR CREATIVE PROCESS, INTRODUCE THEM TO NEW WAYS OF WORKING, AND ENCOURAGE CRITICAL REFLECTION. THE PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE.

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 October 13, 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 June 1998.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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