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American Mural Project Inc

EIN 26-3993911 · Winsted, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak20 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 42% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

The American Mural Project (AMP) is a not-for-profit organization established in 2001 whose principal purpose is to celebrate American ingenuity, productivity, and commitment to work. AMP seeks to inspire, to invite collaboration, and to reveal to people of all ages the many contributions they can make to American culture.At the core of AMPs programs and activities is a permanent indoor collaborative artwork so large that one of two former mill buildings owned by AMP has been enlarged and renovated for public display of the artwork. Onsite programs related to the artwork and with the objectives of inspiration and collaboration commenced in 2018. The renovation of the first mill building has been completed, which allowed the exhibit to open to the public with regular hours as of June 2022.AMPs primary activities are connected to its exhibit, education programs and cultural events.

Income
$836,966
Spending
$926,609
Spent on programs
42%
Reserves
-7.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
14
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$84,600, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 20 out of 100. Higher than 1% 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

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 56% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    42% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 90% 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 December 31, 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. $188,869 spent. MURAL AND BUILDING UPDATEFOCUS REMAINS ON PREPARATION AND INSTALLING THE COLLABORATIVE PIECES IN THE GALLERY BEHIND THE MURAL. MORE OF THESE PROJECTS WERE INSTALLED BY THE END OF 2024, AND WORK CONTINUES ON THESE SECTIONS. A NEW COLLABORATIVE ART PROJECT FOR THIS AREA BEHIND THE MURAL WAS BEGUN. IT IS CALLED REGENERATION AND INVOLVES APPROXIMATELY 100 STUDENTS FROM 10 SCHOOLS IN CONNECTICUT WORKING WITH ELLEN DIRECTLY ON CREATIVELY EXPRESSING THEIR SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE. THE PROJECT WILL BE INSTALLED IN 2025.THE ROOF OF THE SECOND MILL BUILDING WAS REPLACED AT THE END OF 2024. PAYMENT FOR WHICH WAS MADE IN 2025. LEAKING AND OTHER ISSUES REQUIRED THIS IMPROVEMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE BUILDINGS INTEGRITY WOULD REMAIN INTACT FOR FUTURE RENOVATIONS.
  2. $106,578 spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMMINGAMP SAW OVER 6,000 PEOPLE COME THROUGH ITS DOORS IN 2024.PUBLIC PROGRAMMING INCLUDES PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE EXHIBIT ON FRIDAYS, SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS; SPECIAL EXHIBIT ACTIVITIES; AND PUBLIC EVENTS OFFERED AS PART OF THE LIVE @AMP SERIES, AMP TALKS, AND OTHER SIMILAR EVENTS. 2024 WAS THE SECOND FULL CALENDAR YEAR DURING WHICH THE EXHIBIT WAS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. THE EXHIBIT WAS ENHANCED WITH THE ADDITION OF THIRTEEN AUDIO STORIES AVAILABLE TO EXHIBIT VISITORS TO LISTEN TO VIA AMPS PODCASTERS OR THEIROWN MOBILE PHONE. WE ALSO PILOTED A MONTHLY FAMILY DAYS PROGRAM AND CONTINUED SUCCESSFUL 2023 INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE MONTHLY TEEN ART STUDIO PROGRAM AND THE HAPPY HOUR PIANO SERIES. EXHIBIT ATTENDANCE GOALS WERE NOT MET FOR THE YEAR, AND WE ASSUME THAT WAS LARGELY DUE TO THE DISCONTINUATION OF THE STATES SUMMER AT THE MUSEUM GRANT PROGRAM WHICH SUPPORTED FREE ADMISSION FOR FAMILIES.THE LIVE @AMP SERIES AND THE PIANO SERIES CONTINUED TO INTRODUCE AMP TO NEW AUDIENCES. WE PRESENTED FOUR LIVE @AMP CONCERTS OF VARIOUS GENRES, HOSTED TALKS BY TWO MURAL SUBJECTS EDWIND RAYMOND AND MELISSA BENNETT - AND PRODUCED A SANDRA BOYNTON CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY EVENT.THE BOARD AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ACKNOWLEDGED THE NEED TO HIRE A FULL TIME DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AND DID SO IN MARCH OF 2024. THE PERSON IN THE ROLE OF DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT HELPED ORIENT THE NEW DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AND TRANSITIONED TO PROGRAMMING CONSULTANT. OTHER STAFF CHANGES INVOLVED THE VISITOR SERVICES/EDUCATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR SHIFTING TO A PART TIME ROLE OF EDUCATION PROGRAM COORINATOR, AND THE HIRING OF A FULL TIME VISITORS SERVICES/MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM COORDINATOR.
  3. $96,703 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMSIN ITS 24-YEAR HISTORY, AMP HAS GROWN THROUGH TWO DISTINCT PHASES, EACH WITH A DIFFERENT FOCUS. THE INITIAL YEARS OF CREATING THE MURAL WERE BUILT ON STRATEGIC CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO CREATE EACH STATES COLLABORATIVE PROJECT. IN RECENT YEARS, AMP HAS FOCUSED PROGRAMMING EFFORTS ON ESTABLISHING ITS IDENTITY AND AS A PLACE IN THE WINSTED COMMUNITY AND SURROUNDING TOWNS WHERE LEARNING OCCURS. LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, LOCAL BUSINESSES AND OTHER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS ARE THE BEDROCK OF AMPS PROGRAM GROWTH. AMP HAS RECRUITED A SMALL, HIGH-CALIBER GROUP OF CONTRACTED TEACHING ARTISTS WHOSE INNOVATIVE IDEAS FOR PROGRAMMING AND PHILOSOPHY OF WORKING WITH STUDENTS REFLECTS AMPS APPROACH TO STUDENT DIRECTED LEARNING AND COLLABORATION.IN 2024, AMP HOSTED AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR WINCHESTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. AMP ALSO PROVIDED WEEKLY SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING, MONTHLY TEEN ART STUDIO SESSIONS, FIELD TRIPS FOR GRADE SCHOOLS AND FOR TRANSITIONAL ACADEMIES SERVING YOUNG ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR EDUCATORS. THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, CONTINUING THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH CT STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE NORTHWESTERN, WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE NOT ONLY INTERNSHIPS IN AMPS EDUCATION PROGRAM DEPARTMENT AND VISITOR SERVICES, BUT IN MARKETING AND EVENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 February 2009.

    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 November 4, 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.