Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Norman Firehouse Art Center Inc

EIN 23-7112097 · Norman, OK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NORMAN FIREHOUSE ART CENTER ENRICHES OUR COMMUNITY BY OFFERING CREATIVE VISUAL ARTS EDUCATION, EXPERIENCES, AND EXHIBITIONS.

Income
$690,294
Spending
$642,491
Spent on programs
51%
Reserves
8.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
9
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$98,287, executive di

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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    51% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 (4)
  1. $58,746 spent. IN A TYPICAL YEAR, THE FIREHOUSE OFFERS IN-HOUSE VISUAL ARTS CLASSES TO 560 CHILDREN THROUGH QUARTERLY CLASS SEMESTERS. CHILDRENS CLASSES ARE OFFERED FOR AGES 2-14 THROUGH OUR ART AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM DURING THE WINTER, SPRING, AND FALL SEMESTERS, AND OUR CHILDRENS SUMMER ART PROGRAM DURING THE SUMMER SEMESTER. THE FIREHOUSE ALSO OFFERS OUR 5TH GRADE ART PROGRAM, ART SPARKS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NORMAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES 5TH GRADE STUDENTS WITH IN-CLASS PRE AND POST VISITS WITH AN ART EDUCATOR AND A FIELD TRIP TO THE FIREHOUSE. THESE PROGRAMS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN THE NORMAN COMMUNITY, AS NORMANS PRIMARY SCHOOLS HAVE NO DEDICATED ART INSTRUCTORS.
  2. $178,898 spent. THE FIREHOUSE OFFERS ADULT VISUAL ARTS CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS TO APPROXIMATELY 780 INDIVIDUALS EACH YEAR. CLASSES ARE OFFERED IN A VARIETY OF MEDIUMS, INCLUDING PAINTING, DRAWING, JEWELRY MAKING, GLASS, PRINTMAKING, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND CERAMICS. THE FIREHOUSES ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAMMING REACHES AN ADDITIONAL 450 INDIVIDUALS AND INCLUDES THE HEALING STUDIO FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES, HEALING OUTREACH FOR INDIVIDUALS AT ASSISTED LIVING HOMES, FIREHOUSE EQUALITY CLUB FOR 2SLGBTQIA+ INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND ART FORCES FOR U.S. MILITARY VETERANS AND ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBERS. THE FIREHOUSE ALSO PROVIDES VISUAL ARTS EXPERIENCES THROUGH OUTREACH AT OKC METRO EVENTS TO ENCOURAGE VISUAL ARTS LEARNING, CREATIVE THINKING, AND SELF-EXPRESSION, REACHING OVER 22,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY. THE FIREHOUSE OFFERS ADULT VISUAL ARTS CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS TO APPROXIMATELY 780 INDIVIDUALS EACH YEAR. CLASSES ARE OFFERED IN A VARIETY OF MEDIUMS, INCLUDING PAINTING, DRAWING, JEWELRY MAKING, GLASS, PRINTMAKING, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND CERAMICS. THE FIREHOUSES ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAMMING REACHES AN ADDITIONAL 450 INDIVIDUALS AND INCLUDES THE HEALING STUDIO FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES, HEALING OUTREACH FOR INDIVIDUALS AT ASSISTED LIVING HOMES, FIREHOUSE EQUALITY CLUB FOR 2SLGBTQIA+ INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND ART FORCES FOR U.S. MILITARY VETERANS AND ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBERS. THE FIREHOUSE ALSO PROVIDES VISUAL ARTS EXPERIENCES THROUGH OUTREACH AT OKC METRO EVENTS TO ENCOURAGE VISUAL ARTS LEARNING, CREATIVE THINKING, AND SELF-EXPRESSION, REACHING OVER 22,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY.
  3. $69,536 spent. THE FIREHOUSE PROVIDES FREE ART EXPERIENCES AND PROGRAMMING THROUGH THE FIREHOUSE GALLERY, WHICH PRESENTS THREE IN-HOUSE EXHIBITIONS AND THREE CULTURALLY RELEVANT EXHIBITIONS EACH YEAR. THE FIREHOUSE ALSO PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS THROUGH ART SALES IN OUR PERMANENT GIFT SHOP, WHICH FEATURES WORK BY A ROTATING LIST OF OVER 50 LOCAL ARTISTS. THE GALLERY AND GIFT SHOP ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND SERVE OVER 2,000 VISITORS EACH YEAR.
  4. $18,976 spent. COMMUNITY EVENTS/OTHER

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 May 1971.

    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.