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Passes our checks

Boston Art Review Inc

EIN 20-4195783 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Arts Programming

Income
$276,312
Spending
$282,901
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
5.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
7
Volunteers
1
Highest pay
$74,906, president

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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 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

    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

    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. $206,261 spent. Boston Art Review continues to expand its editorial output with a commitment to thought-provoking arts writing. In 2024, we published two print issues, produced 8-12 online articles per month, and partnered with institutions to provide workshops on press-readiness and professional development. In 2024, we featured 62 writers and over 120 artists. Our biannual print magazine is a cornerstone of Boston Art Review's mission to amplify the art community in the Greater New England area. In 2024, we published Issue 12: Assembly and Issue 13: Make Believe, which produced scholarship, new works of art, and research on contemporary art and culture. BAR's online publishing platform is an active space for commentary, interviews, features, reviews, and reflections. Through our Weekly Happenings newsletter, we promoted 945 events and 246 artist opportunities in 2024 alone.
  2. $8,353 spent. In its second year, the Boston Art Writing Fellowship provided mentorship, editorial guidance, and publication opportunities for emerging writers. With support from the Wagner Foundation, we expanded our 2024 cohort to three fellows, up from two in 2023. Fellows gain hands-on experience with writers and editors to learn skills necessary to enter the arts journalism field through workshops with editors, curators, and other arts professionals.
  3. $12,000 spent. In 2024, BAR participated in critical conversations across the region, including a panel with Porsha Olayiwola and Yng-Ru Chen on art writing and space-making, and a Fine Arts Work Center panel in Provincetown about affordable creative infrastructure. These talks deepen our commitment to advocacy, collaboration, and amplifying the voices shaping our cultural landscape. BAR has also exhibited at Multiple Formats: a Contemporary Art Book Symposium hosted at Boston University in the spring. In August, Boston Art Review held a weeklong residency at Zone7a Gallery and Books in Provincetown, MA. The pop-up served as a platform to connect with new audiences, sell artwork from our benefit sale, and participate in a panel at the Fine Arts Work Center on artist housing and ecosystem sustainability, attended by over 50 guests. We also began an exciting partnership with Teens in Print, a youth development program working with highschool age youth in Nubian Square to amplify young voices and promote interest in journalism and media while teaching writing and media literacy. In 2024 we were able to mentor thirty-five students through their Summer Journalism Intensive as well as visited eight college/university classrooms. In 2025 we hope to expand our reach.

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 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 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 February 2007.

    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.