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The Fabric Workshop and Museum

EIN 23-2018929 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COLLABORATING WITH ARTISTS, REVEALING NEW POSSIBILITIES.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
65
Volunteers
28
Highest pay
$157,200, interim exec dir (til 9/2024)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    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

    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 September 30, 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. $736,013 spent. ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM - FWM COLLABORATES WITH CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS TO CREATE NEW WORKS USING EXPERIMENTAL MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD BY PROVIDING HONORARIUMS AND MATERIALS AND EMPLOYING ITS FACILITIES AND STAFF TO ADDRESS THEIR CREATIVE NEEDS.
  2. $1.1 million spent. EXHIBITIONS - NEW WORK CREATED BY ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE FOR EXHIBITION AT FWM AND IN MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES AROUND THE WORLD. ARTWORKS FROM FWM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION ALSO SERVE AS THE BASIS FOR EXHIBITIONS AT FWM AND ARE LOANED TO PEER INSTITUTIONS.
  3. $169,162 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS - FWM CONDUCTS LECTURES, TOURS, WORKSHOPS, AND PRODUCES PUBLICATIONS IN ORDER TO EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT NEW FORMS OF ART AND EXHIBITION-MAKING. LOCAL YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN FAMILY AND AFTER SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR TRAINING IN SCREENPRINTING AND OTHER ARTISTIC TECHNIQUES. HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, AND POST-GRADUATE APPRENTICE PROGRAMS OFFER STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ALL ASPECTS OF SCREENPRINTING AND OTHER ART PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES, WHILE ALSO PARTICIPATING IN DAILY MUSEUM OPERATIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1977.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.