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Morro Bay Art Association

EIN 23-7136223 · Morro Bay, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A VENUE TO DISPLAY AND SELL ART BY LOCAL ARTISTS AND TO PROVIDE ART EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY. OUR GALLERIES SERVE ABOUT 200 LOCAL ARTISTS AND WELCOME ABOUT 3,000 GUESTS PER YEAR. ART DEMONSTRATIONS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC PROVIDE EDUCATION TO 25 OR MORE PEOPLE PER MONTH. PUBLIC RECEPTIONS WELCOME 25 - 60 GUESTS AND MEMBERS PER SHOW, NINE TO TEN TIMES PER YEAR. ART IN THE PARK IS ATTENDED BY THOUSANDS EVERY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, JULY 4TH WEEKEND, AND LABOR DAY WEEKEND. OUR CHILDREN'S PROGRAM SERVES ABOUT 75 CHILDREN PER YEAR, AND OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PRESENTS AWARDS TO ABOUT FORTY HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS.

Income
$199,494
Spending
$148,011
Reserves
29.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 72%

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

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 29.1 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 26% of income.

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

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 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 (3)
  1. $52,148 spent. MORRO BAY ART ASSOCIATION OFFERS NINE GALLERY EXHIBITS A YEAR, WITH EACH EXHIBIT HANGING FOUR TO FIVE WEEKS. EACH SHOW OFFERS MEMBERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW AND SELL WORK. IN ADDITION, WITH EACH SHOW, MEMBERS OR LOCAL ARTIST GROUPS ARE DESIGNATED AS "FEATURED ARTISTS." EACH INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP OF FEATURED ARTISTS ADVERTISES THE EXHIBIT THROUGHOUT THE REGION. RECEPTIONS FOR SHOWS ARE USUALLY ATTENDED BY FIFTY OR MORE MEMBERS AND OTHER VISITORS. DURING MOST OF THE YEAR THE GALLERY IS OPEN DAILY FROM NOON UNTIL FOUR. INTERESTED COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, MEMBERS, AND TOURISTS VISIT TO VIEW SHOWS OR PURCHASE ART. A NOMINAL % OF EACH SALE PROVIDES REVENUE FOR GALLERY OPERATING EXPENSES AND STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS.
  2. $2,846 spent. ART IN THE PARK PROVIDES MEMBERS AND REGIONAL ARTISTS A VENUE TO SELL THEIR ART AND THE COMMUNITY WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW AND PURCHASE ART. REVENUE FROM THIS EVENT PROVIDES OPERATING FUNDS FOR THE GALLERY AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE STUDENT ARTISTS' COMPETITION. THESE FUNDS ALLOW US TO CARRY OUT OUR MISSION THROUGH DEMONSTRATION, CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, AND EXHIBITS. AT ART IN THE PARK, APPROXIMATELY ONE HUNDRED VENDORS SET UP BOOTHS AND SELL ART AND HANDMADE CRAFTS FOR THREE DAYS, THREE TIMES A YEAR.
  3. $21,586 spent. CHILDREN'S CLASSES ARE OFFERED AT LEAST ONCE YEARLY, USUALLY IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. THESE CLASSES ARE FREE TO FIFTEEN STUDENTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 7 AND 14. AT ALMOSTANY GIVEN TIME, AT LEAST ONE ARTIST IS OFFERING ON-GOING WEEKLY CLASSES. OTHER WORKSHOPS, CLASSES, AND DEMONSTRATIONS ARE OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS REQUESTED OR WHEN ARTISTS VOLUNTEER TO TEACH. SOME DEMONSTRATIONS (IN ADDITION TO OUR REGULAR MONTHLY DEMONSTRATIONS) ARE FREE TO MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC. MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO OFFER ECONOMICAL CLASSES TO THE MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNITY. NON-MEMBERS ARE ALSO INVITED TO TEACH WORKSHOPS OR CLASSES.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 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 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 December 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 April 1986.

    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.

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