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Portsmouth Music and Arts Center Inc

EIN 22-3883953 · Portsmouth, NH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ARTS BY PROVIDING ALL PEOPLE WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE THEIR FULL CREATIVE POTENTIAL, REGARDLESS OF THEIR AGE, ABILITY OR ECONOMIC STATUS. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH HIGH QUALITY MUSIC AND VISUAL ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND BY CREATING ENSEMBLE, PERFORMANCE AND EXHIBITON OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, PROFESSIONALS, AND AUDIENCES.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
55%
Reserves
-3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
61
Volunteers
90
Highest pay
$108,522, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 25% 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

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 115% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    55% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 (1)
  1. $921,529 spent. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION IN A WIDE VARIETY OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND VOICE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES, INCLUDING ADULTS. THE CENTER ALSO OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF ART CLASSES AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION. CLASSES ARE IN A VARIETY OF MEDIUMS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DRAWING, PAINTING, PRINTMAKING, COLLAGE, SCULPTURE AND PHOTOGRAPHY.THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS SEVERAL EDUCATIONAL MUSIC ENSEMBLES TAUGHT BY PROFESSIONAL FACULTY. ENSEMBLES INCLUDE YOUTH ORCHESTRA, TEEN JAZZ BAND, YOUTH ROCK BANDS, AND MANY ADULT COMMUNITY ENSEMBLES INCLUDING FLUTE CHOIR, SAXOPHONE ENSEMBLE, BLUEGRASS ENSEMBLE, CONCERT BAND, JAZZ BAND, BIG BAND, BLUES BAND AND MORE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 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 August 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 January 2005.

    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.

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.