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Dayton Art Institute

EIN 31-0537480 · Dayton, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE DAYTON ART INSTITUTE IS COMMITTED TO ENRICHING THE COMMUNITY BY CREATING MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES WITH ART THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL.

Income
$5.5 million
Spending
$9.7 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
147
Volunteers
774
Highest pay
$293,337, director and ceo

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 77% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    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. $1.7 million spent. CURATORIAL (INCLUDING COLLECTIONS AND EXHIBITIONS) - CARE, DEVELOPMENT, DISPLAY AND INTERPRETATION OF COLLECTIONS OF MORE THAN 27,000 WORKS OF ART DATING FROM 2500 BC TO PRESENT AND SPANNING CULTURES WORLDWIDE.MAJOR 2024 SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS INCLUDED:THE ARTISTIC LIFE OF AKA PEREYMA RIVETING: WOMEN ARTISTS FROM THE SARA M. AND MICHELLE VANCE WADDELL COLLECTION MERRY GRINCHMAS: ART OF DR. SUESS' HOLIDAY CLASSIC & (B)ART! AMERICA'S FUNNIEST ANIMATED FAMILY.
  2. $557,875 spent. EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION - INTERPRETIVE INITIATIVES RANGING FROM TOURS LED BY MUSEUM GUIDES TO "ART + CORE CONNECTIONS" (MULTIPLE TOURS, ART-MAKING EXPERIENCES AND COMPLEMENTARY IN-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES), EDUCATOR WORKSHOPS, MORE THAN 100 CLASSES, TEEN PROGRAM, FAMILY ACTIVITIES, DROP-IN INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCENTER, LECTURES AND SEMINARS, AND MORE THAN 200 ONLINE COURSES AVAILABLE FOR FREE CONSUMPTION, AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE COLLECTION AVAILABLE ONLINE.
  3. $5.5 million spent. HISTORIC BUILDING - THE DAI'S LANDMARK 1930 ITALIAN REVIVAL STYLE BUILDING, DESIGNED BY E. B. GREENE AND ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, IS ONE OF THE PRIZED ART WORKS THE MUSEUM INTERPRETS. IT SUPPORTS KEY PROGRAMS. EXPENSES FOR THE HISTORIC BUILDING RELATED TO PROGRAM AREAS OF THE MUSEUM AND CONSIST OF OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, DEPRECIATION AND FINANCING RELATED COSTS.

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 October 13, 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 September 1942.

    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 October 21, 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.