Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MoCA Arlington enriches community life by connecting the public with contemporary art and artists through exhibitions, education and public programs, and artist residencies.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 25
- Volunteers
- 24
- Highest pay
- $131,172, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (5)
- $292,867 spent. MOCA ARLINGTON SERVES HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS EACH YEAR THROUGH CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS TAUGHT BY PROFESSIONAL ART INSTRUCTORS YEARROUND. THESE CLASSES SERVE BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS, AND NEW CLASSES ARE OFFERED EACH SEASON INCLUDING SPRING BREAK CAMP AND SUMMER CAMP FOR CHILDREN. MOCA ALSO OFFERS INDIVIDUAL WORKSHOPS AND AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT AT SEVERAL AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. RENTAL SPACE IS AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS AND EVENTS.
- $268,666 spent. MOCA ARLINGTON PRESENTS HIGHLY RESPECTED EXHIBITIONS FEATURING WORK BY LOCAL, REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS WHO ARE PRIMARILY EARLY TO MID-CAREER. EXHIBITIONS IN NINE GALLERIES ROTATE SEASONALLY AND ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC.
- $246,190 spent. Public Programs. The museum's public programs connect the community to contemporary art and artiststhrough a variety of free or low-cost activities, including art-making, community celebrations, performances, and art and wellness programs.
- $191,097 spent. ANNEX
- $32,485 spent. MOCA ARLINGTON'S UNIQUE RESIDENT ARTISTS PROGRAM PROVIDES SUBSIDIZED STUDIO SPACE FOR TWELVE AREA ARTISTS SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS. MOCA OFFERS 10 WORKING STUDIOS, DESIGNED TO ALLOW ARTISTS TO FOCUS UPON AND PRODUCE WORK. ARTISTS ARE ASKED TO OPEN THEIR STUDIOS TO THE PUBLIC PERIODICALLY. RESIDENCIES LAST TWO YEARS WITH AN OPTION TO RENEW TWICE, FOR A TOTAL OF SIX YEARS. THIS ALLOWS STUDIOS TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO A NEW GROUP OF ARTISTS, EXPANDING THE IMPACT OF MOCA ARLINGTON'S RESIDENCY PROGRAM.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1975.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.