Marian and Edward Macdowell Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MACDOWELL'S MISSION IS TO NURTURE THE ARTS BY OFFERING TALENTED INDIVIDUALS AN INSPIRING RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO PRODUCE ENDURING WORKS OF THE IMAGINATION. MACDOWELL WELCOMES ARTISTS ENGAGING IN THE BROADEST SPECTRUM OF ARTISTIC PRACTICE AND THOSE (SEE SCH. O)INVESTIGATING AN UNLIMITED ARRAY OF CREATIVE INQUIRIES AND CONCERNS. MACDOWELL APPLIES THE SAME EGALITARIAN STANDARDS FOR ALL THOSE WHO SERVE THE ORGANIZATION IN A STAFF, VOLUNTEER, OR REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY. MACDOWELL GRANTS FELLOWSHIPS TO AS MANY AS 300 ARTISTS PER YEAR, OFFERING ROOM, BOARD, AND EXCLUSIVE USE OF A STUDIO FOR STAYS UP TO SIX WEEKS. AMIDST THE COMPANY OF A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF PEERS, MACDOWELL FELLOWS' PRODUCTIVITY BENEFITS FROM THESE WEEKS FREED FROM DISTRACTION TOGETHER WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXCHANGE CREATIVE IDEAS AND CONNECTIONS IN A CONVIVIAL SETTING.
- Income
- $8.4 million
- Spending
- $7.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 56%
- Reserves
- 12.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 57%
- Employees
- 76
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $283,745, executive director /asst secretary
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: 88 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1556% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2552 of 52 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
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
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $4.1 million spent. APPLICATION IS OPEN TO ALL ARTISTS NOT CURRENTLY MATRICULATED AS STUDENTS. THE SOLE CRITERION FOR ACCEPTANCE IS THE ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE APPARENT IN A WORK SAMPLE SUBMITTED IN THE APPLICATION AND EVALUATED BY PEER PANEL REVIEW. MACDOWELL DEFINES ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE IN A PLURALISTIC AND INCLUSIVE WAY, ENCOURAGING APPLICATIONS FROM THE WIDEST POSSIBLE RANGE OF PERSPECTIVES, CAREER STAGES, AND DEMOGRAPHICS. WHILE IN RESIDENCE, ARTISTS RECEIVE ROOM, BOARD, AND EXCLUSIVE USE OF A STUDIO FOR UP TO SIX WEEKS. ALL ARTISTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF TRAVEL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH GETTING TO AND FROM MACDOWELL. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND STIPENDS OF UP TO $2,500 ARE AWARDED BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED. IN 2024 A TOTAL OF 80 ARTISTS RECEIVED FINANCIAL AID STIPENDS TOTALING $233,279. (SEE SCH O).EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT PROGRAMS, PUBLICATION, PRESENTATIONS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES HAVE ALLOWED MACDOWELL TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS FOR AN INCLUSIVE PUBLIC AUDIENCE.FOUNDED IN 1907, MACDOWELL WAS AWARDED THE NATIONAL MEDAL OF ARTS IN 1997 FOR "NURTURING & INSPIRING MANY OF THE CENTURY'S FINEST ARTISTS".
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 November 6, 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 2024.
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 April 1923.
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 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.