Edward Orton Jr Ceramic Foundation

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS, EQUIPMENT AND TESTING SERVICES FOR EVALUATING AND VALIDATING THERMAL PROCESSING OF MATERIALS TO BE A SUSTAINING RESOURCE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE MATERIALS COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION AND RESEARCH.

Income

$7.3 million

Spending

$6.9 million

Spent on programs

88%

Reserves

5 months of spending

Largest source of income

fees for its services, 96%

Employees

37

Volunteers

5

Highest pay

$405,670, secy/gen manager

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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

• Reserves

  20 of 35

  Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

• Debt

  16 of 20

  It owes 21% of what it owns.

• Living within its means

  15 of 15

  Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

• Income trend

  10 of 15

  Income fell 1% on the year before.

• Spending floor

  15 of 15

  88% 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

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

• Independent board

  25 of 25

  5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

• Conflict of interest policy

  0 of 15

  Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

• Whistleblower policy

  0 of 8

  Reports no 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 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.

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

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   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.

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   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. check_circle

   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. check_circle

   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 October 13, 2026.

5. check_circle

   How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

   Recognized by the IRS since December 1972.

   Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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   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.