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Wassaic Project Inc

EIN 27-2691962 · Wassaic, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

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

What it says it does

THE WASSAIC PROJECT, INC. (WASSAIC PROJECT) IS A CONTEMPORARY ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT USES ART AND ARTS EDUCATION TO FOSTER POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE, BUILD LOCAL PRIDE, AND NURTURE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN ARTISTS AND OUR COMMUNITY. LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC HAMLET OF WASSAIC, NY, THE WASSAIC PROJECT PRODUCES YEAR-ROUND ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMMING, EXHIBITIONS, LECTURES, WORKSHOPS, AND PERFORMANCES.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
-2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
9
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$83,600, co-director

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

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 (4)
  1. $330,178 spent. EDUCATIONPRODUCES AND PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING TOURS, LESSONS, LECTURES, AND WORKSHOPS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT CONTEMPORARY FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS. PROGRAMS ARE CONDUCTED ON-SITE IN THE FREE EDUCATION CENTER CALLED THE "ART NEST." PROGRAMS ARE DEVELOPED WITH COMMUNITY AND YOUTH INPUT AND HAVE SERVED OVER 6,000 CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS. TEACHING ARTISTS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR EDUCATION DIRECTOR, ALSO WORK DIRECTLY WITH STUDENTS FROM THE LOCAL PUBLIC MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS YEAR-ROUND ON SITE THROUGH OUR JUNIOR AND SENIOR VARSITY AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM.
  2. $266,838 spent. EXHIBITIONSPRODUCES, CURATES, AND HOSTS YEAR-ROUND EXHIBITIONS OF CONTEMPORARY ART. THE ORGANIZATION'S EXHIBITIONS ARE OPEN WEEKENDS, BY APPOINTMENT, AND ARE FREE OF CHARGE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN A RURAL COMMUNITY UNDERSERVED BY THE ARTS. THE EXHIBITIONS GENERALLY PRESENT A SURVEY OF EMERGING ARTISTS INTEGRATED INTO THE UNIQUE ARCHITECTURE OF THE MAIN FACILITY, THE MAXON MILLS, A RESTORED AND REPURPOSED GRAIN ELEVATOR. TO DATE, THE WASSAIC PROJECT HAS FEATURED THE WORK OF OVER 3,000 ARTISTS IN OUR 8,000+ SQUARE FOOT GALLERY SPACE. THE ORGANIZATION IS ENTIRELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERALL MANAGEMENT OF ITS EXHIBITIONS, INCLUDING THE RECRUITMENT OF ARTISTS, THE PREPARATION OF GROUNDS AND FACILITIES, BUSINESS AND RISK MANAGEMENT, PROMOTION, AND EVENT COORDINATION.
  3. $204,403 spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMMINGPRODUCES AND HOSTS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND SEASONAL EVENTS OF CONTEMPORARY ART AND PERFORMANCE IN THE HAMLET OF WASSAIC. THE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS ARE MOSTLY FREE OF CHARGE AND OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN A RURAL COMMUNITY UNDERSERVED BY THE ARTS. THROUGH SIXTEEN SEASONS, THE PROGRAMS HAVE SERVED OVER 90,000 ATTENDEES AND FEATURED 1000+ ARTISTS, DANCERS, MUSICIANS, AND FILMMAKERS. THE WASSAIC PROJECT IS ENTIRELY RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERALL MANAGEMENT OF THE EVENTS, INCLUDING THE RECRUITMENT OF ARTISTS AND PERFORMERS, THE PREPARATION OF GROUNDS AND FACILITIES, BUSINESS AND RISK MANAGEMENT, AND PROMOTION AND EVENTS COORDINATION.
  4. $134,245 spent. EDITIONS, GALLERY & RESIDENCIES

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 March 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 June 2012.

    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.