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Mayo Street Arts

EIN 27-1461543 · Portland, ME

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak36 out of 100GovernanceFair61 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MAYO STREET ARTS STRIVES TO STRENGTHEN ITS NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING A HAVEN FOR THE ARTS THAT IS VIBRANT, SAFE, AND INSPIRING; AND TO ENGAGE AREA YOUTHS OF DIVERSE CULTURAL COMMUNITIES IN ROBUST PARTICIPATION IN THE VISUAL, PERFORMING, AND LITERARY ARTS.

Income
$368,102
Spending
$393,053
Spent on programs
58%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
9
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$75,485, executive director

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

Financial health

Weak: 36 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 43 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (1)
  1. $226,261 spent. MANY INDIVIDUALS INTERACT AT MSA AND FEEL A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP, INCLUDING THESE THREE PRIMARY GROUPS: KENNEDY PARK YOUTH: MSA'S AFTER SCHOOL CLASSES, SCHOOL PERFORMANCES, AND SUMMER CAMP ARE ROOTED IN A TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH. STAFF MEMBERS AND TEACHING ARTISTS ARE PROVIDED WITH ACES TRAINING TO ENSURE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN HEALTHY COPING SKILLS. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT JUST ONE CONSISTENT RELATIONSHIP WITH A CARING ADULT CAN ACT AS A POWERFUL BULWARK AGAINST TRAUMAS WHICH MAY OTHERWISE LEAD TO CRIPPLING OUTCOMES LIKE LOWER LIFE EXPECTANCY AND INCREASED CHANCES OF INCARCERATION, TEENAGE PREGNANCY, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE. TRADITIONAL ARTISTS: WE PRESENT A BROAD ARRAY OF PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING AN INTERNATIONAL OPEN MIC AND AN INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE SERIES CELEBRATING REGIONAL MUSIC AND DANCE TRADITIONS. ARTISTS SELECTED FOR THESE SERIES EMBRACE FOLK AND HERITAGE FORMS, OFTEN EMPLOYING UNIQUE INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS THE KORA, NYCKELHARPA, AND HURDY GURDY. MSA FACILITATES THE TRADITIONAL ARTS NETWORK (TAN) IN COLLABORATION WITH CULTURAL RESOURCES. TAN IS A CONSORTIUM OF TRADITIONAL ARTISTS WHO WISH TO PRESERVE AND SHARE THEIR ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL PRACTICES. TAN IS BUILT AROUND THREE PRINCIPAL PROGRAMS: ARTIST GATHERINGS, MICROGRANTS, AND APPRENTICESHIPS. WE CURATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE MASTER ARTISTS TO LEARN ABOUT WAYS IN WHICH THEY CAN PASS ALONG THOSE TRADITIONS, EARN INCOME, AND SHARE THEIR CULTURE WITH THE GREATER COMMUNITY. PUPPETEERS: OUR LOCAL PUPPETRY COMMUNITY IS SERVED WITH MONTHLY PUPPET SHOWS AND WORKSHOPS; AN AFFINITY GROUP; SEMI-ANNUAL PUPPET SLAMS FOR EXPERIMENTAL, ADULT, AND SHORT-FORM WORKS; AND A BIANNUAL CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF INTERNATIONAL PUPPETRY. THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF OUR SEAT-TO-STAGE MODEL OF ENGAGEMENT: PROVIDING WORLD-CLASS EXAMPLES OF A PERFORMANCE MODALITY, HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN FROM VISITING ARTISTS AT AFFORDABLE WORKSHOPS, AND LOW-BARRIER OPPORTUNITIES TO PERFORM IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE AT OUR PUPPET SLAMS.

Source: Form 990 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 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 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 2010.

    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.