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The Center for Photography at Woodstock Inc

EIN 14-1592639 · Kingston, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

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

The Center for Photography at Woodstock (CPW) is a vital cultural hub for the Hudson Valley, a gathering place for critical dialogue and creative discovery in photography and visual culture. Our mission is to effect social and personal transformations through innovative and inspiring programs that explore photography as an adept medium for understanding ourselves, our communities, and our society.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
-13.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
12
Volunteers
26
Highest pay
$130,694, 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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 17% 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

    5 of 20

    It owes 57% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (5)
  1. $571,781 spent. EVERY YEAR CPWS EXHIBITIONS REACH AN AUDIENCE OF AROUND 10,000 VISITORS. EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON REPRESENTING A DIVERSE RANGE OF VOICES AND TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC IN A MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE TOPICS IT CAN COMMUNICATE AS AN ART FORM.
  2. $281,771 spent. CPW OFFERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR ALL LEVELS OF VISUAL THINKERS, FROM BEGINNERS TO PROFESSIONALS, THROUGH WORKSHOPS, COURSES, LECTURES, AND SYMPOSIA. THIS YEAR, CPW WILL PROVIDE OVER 300 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION, MOST OF WHICH WILL BE OFFERED FOR FREE TO STUDENTS AND OTHER RESIDENTS OF KINGSTON AND THE SURROUNDING REGION. THIS PROGRAMMING WILL INSTRUCT STUDENTS NOT ONLY IN THE PRACTICAL AND TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF PHOTOGRAPHY BUT ALSO IN THE HISTORY AND AESTHETICS OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND VISUAL MEDIA. EACH WEEK, THERE IS MEET THE ARTIST LECTURE SERIES. THERE ARE ALSO SELECTED PANEL DISCUSSIONS RELATED TO OTHER PROGRAMMING.
  3. $249,584 spent. CPWS ONE-OF-A-KIND ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM, WOODSTOCK AIR, WAS CREATED IN 1999 TO SUPPORT PHOTOGRAPHY-BASED ARTISTS OF COLOR AND TO EXPAND THE DIALOGUE AROUND DIVERSITY, RACE AND IDENTITY IN THE CONTEXT OF SOCIAL JUSTICE. OVER 160 ARTISTS AND WRITERS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS WORKSPACE RESIDENCY TO DATE. CPWS PROFESSIONAL WORKSPACES INCLUDE A STATE-OF-THE-ART DIGITAL MEDIA LAB AND ASSORTED STUDIO SPACES. THE FACILITIES ADDRESS THE PROFESSIONAL AND CREATIVE NEEDS OF THE GROWING NUMBER OF ARTISTS, WHO LIVE AND WORK IN THE EXTENDED HUDSON VALLEY REGION. THE LAB AND STUDIO SPACE ARE AVAILABLE FOR HOURLY RENTAL AND MAKE EQUIPMENT ACCESSIBLE NOT OTHERWISE AVAILABLE IN THE AREA.
  4. $105,834 spent. EVENTS INCLUDE THE VISION AWARDS GALA AND THE ANNUAL CPW PHOTOBOOK & ZINE FAIR.
  5. EVENTS INCLUDE THE VISION AWARDS GALA AND THE ANNUAL CPW PHOTOBOOK & ZINE FAIR. 105834. 0. 13350.

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 April 1978.

    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.