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Passes our checks

Community Gallery Inc

EIN 23-7394706 · Lebanon, NH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

As a catalyst for creativity, AVA cultivates an openness of space and mind to inspire, nurture, and showcase the artistic spirit. AVA Gallery and Art Center serves its mission by maintaining powerful exhibitions, hosting vibrant artist studios, and offering dynamic educational programming for artists, patrons of the arts, and the general public. All of our work is done with the priority of environmental sustainability and with the recognition that art enriches our lives.

Income
$883,815
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
-0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 45%
Employees
34
Volunteers
101
Highest pay
$86,766, ex. director

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

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 47% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 68% 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (3)
  1. $1.1 million spent. Program Service Accomplishment #1 AVA Gallery and Art Center offers year-round art classes for students of all ages and abilities. AVA has eight dedicated teaching spaces, including a digital art lab, a childrens studio, two flexible art classrooms, a ceramics studio, a woodworking studio, and a metal working shop. During 2025 AVA offered free community classes that reached nearly 200 participants each week, including children on Friday and Saturday mornings, Senior Art Classes once a week for three hours, a high school after school program, and two sessions of classes for adults living with disabilites. In FY25 AVA held 33 childrens classes and 60 camps including vacation and summer sessions that reached a combined youth audience of 721 young people. AVA also held 87 classes for adults that engaged 481 students. We supported 25 students with scholarship awards that totald $8,637. AVAs arts education classes and camps supported 33 instructor livelihoods through $127,998 in wages.
  2. Program Service Accomplishment #2 AVA supports 21 artists directly by providing affordable studio spaces, 45 artist instructors, and another 12 by providing access to tools and equipment through our Bente Torjusen West Sculptural Studies Building. We exhibit more than two dozen professional artists annually and support the livelihoods of another 150 working artists through our Bank Street Artists Gallery. AVA maintains 7 professional galleries and a retail gallery in the Carter Kelsey Building. In FY25 AVA hosted 5 group and 28 solo exhibitions representing over 100 artists in FY25. These shows, curated by AVAs Exhibition Committee, consist of artists, art curators, and art professionals with strong connections to New Hampshire, Vermont, and the greater New England region. AVA also hosts special exhibits in collaboration with community partners that include West Central Behavioral Health and Dartmouth College. All exhibitions are free and open to the public. In total, exhibition programs engage over 6,000 visitors to our galleries and in 2025 these activities generated over $105,000 in economic activity that supports the regions creative economy.
  3. Part III, Line 4c - Other Program Services AVA maintains 19 artist studios that served 23 artists in FY25, a year during which 499 members either joined or renewed their membership. And 101 volunteers contributed 3,406 hours in support of our education, exhibitions, and community outreach programs. Among the improvements made to the facility in FY25 was the creation of new office space for our Education Program team and a dedicated space for our Digital Arts Lab.

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 March 1977.

    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.