Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

East Central Regional Arts Council

EIN 27-3386367 · Hinckley, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE EAST CENTRAL REGIONAL ARTS COUNCIL'S PURPOSE IS TO PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE ALL OF THE ARTS IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THE ORGANIZATION DOES THIS BY FUNDING GRANT PROPOSALS FROM AREA ARTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, GOVERNMENTAL UNITS, AND INDIVIDUALS. THESE ACTIVITIES ARE FUNDED IN PART BY APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE MINNESOTA STATE LEGISLATURE, WITH MONEY FROM THE STATE'S GENERAL FUND AND ITS ARTS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE FUND. THE FUND WAS CREATED BY A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. THESE ACTIVITIES ARE ALSO FUNDED IN PART BY THE MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION.

Income
$851,375
Spending
$878,712
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 95%
Employees
2
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$101,342, executive director

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: 53 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 61% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 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 (1)
  1. $808,573 spent. THE EAST CENTRAL REGIONAL ARTS COUNCIL'S PROGRAM INCLUDED PROVIDING GRANTS TOTALING $481,923 TO INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS FOR ARTS PROJECTS.THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO GRANTEES AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN THE ARTS THROUGH WORKSHOPS, ART SHOWS, AND THE "ESSENTIAL ARTS" NEWSLETTER. EAST CENTRAL REGIONAL ARTS COUNCIL ALSO WORKED TO IDENTIFY ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LINKS IN THE REGION, PROVIDING INFORMATION, ASSISTANCE, AND REFERRALS ON ARTS ISSUES.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2010.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.