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Curationist Foundation Inc

EIN 27-4529328 · Richmond, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceFair66 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 36466 cents.

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

What it says it does

CURATIONIST FOUNDATION CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH GLOBAL CULTURAL RESOURCES AND PERSPECTIVES THROUGH OPEN KNOWLEDGE.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
43.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 97%
Employees
0
Volunteers
2
Highest pay
$117,918, chief of staff

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 43.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 284% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 36466 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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

    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

    0 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 September 30, 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 (1)
  1. $1.4 million spent. IN 2024, THE CURATIONIST FOUNDATION SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED CURATIONIST.ORG INTO A COLLABORATIVE, OPEN-ACCESS HUB FOR ARTS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE. THE REDESIGNED PLATFORM NOW OFFERS FREE ACCESS TO MILLIONS OF PUBLIC-DOMAIN IMAGES FROM MUSEUMS AND ARCHIVES WORLDWIDE, ENABLING USERS TO SEARCH, COLLECT, ANNOTATE, AND SHARE CULTURAL MATERIALS ACROSS DEVICES. IT ALSO FEATURES ENHANCED FUNCTIONALITY FOR USERS TO CONNECT, ENGAGE, AND CO-CURATE THROUGH EDITORIAL INITIATIVES AND INTERACTIVE TOOLS .THE FOUNDATION HAS ALSO STRENGTHENED ITS INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS VIA THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED CURATIONIST MUSEUM SERVICES, WHICH SUPPORTS MUSEUMS, ARCHIVES, AND GLAM ORGANIZATIONS IN EXPANDING METADATA ACCESS, OUTREACH, AND PUBLISHING CAPABILITIES. THE PLATFORM IS ACTIVELY CALLING FOR COLLABORATIVE EDITORIAL FEATURESWELCOMING PROPOSALS FROM ARTS WRITERS, CURATORS, LIBRARIANS, AND ARCHIVISTSFOSTERING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND COMMUNITY-DRIVEN STORYTELLING.IN ADDITION, THE CURATIONIST FELLOWS PROGRAM HAS BEEN RESTRUCTURED FOR 2025: GRADUATE STUDENTS, ACADEMIC FACULTY, LIBRARIANS, AND PUBLIC RESEARCHERS ARE NOW ONBOARDED IN A STAGGERED MODEL TO EVENLY SPACE EDITORIAL SUPPORT AND PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2014 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2014.

    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 September 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 December 2014.

    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.