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Canton Museum of Art

EIN 34-0733127 · Canton, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THROUGH CREATIVE EXHIBITIONS, IMAGINATIVE PROGRAMS, AND SHARING AMERICAN ART AND ITS STORES THROUGH OUR COLLECTION, THE MUSEUM IS A CULTURAL RESOURCE THAT ENGAGES, EDUCATES, ENTERTAINS, AND ENRICHES OUR VISITORS AND COMMUNITY. THE CANTON MUSEUM OF ART (CMA) IS ONE OF OHIO'S PREMIER ART MUSEUMS. CMA IS RECOGNIZED FOR POWERFUL EXHIBITIONS FOCUSED ON AMERICAN ART, ITS INFLUENCES AND THEMES THAT ALLOW EVERYONE TO CONNECT WITH CREATIVITY, AMERICAN STORIES, AND CULTURAL HERITAGE. CMA PRODUCES 12 TO 14 EXHIBITIONS EACH YEAR, FEATURING ORIGINAL PRODUCTIONS CURATED BY CMA TO SHOWCASE CELEBRATED AMERICAN ARTISTS AND DIVERSE REGIONAL AND NATIONAL TALENTS, IN PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION WITH OTHER MUSEUMS AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS; AND THEMED EXHIBITIONS THAT MAKE CMA'S COLLECTIONS COME ALIVE WITH STORIES. CMA'S ACCLAIMED COLLECTION, INCLUDING NAMES SUCH AS EDWARD HOPPER, JOHN SINGER SARGENT, ALICE SCHILLE, AND TOSHIKO TAKAEZU, TO NAME A FEW, FOCUSES ON AMERICAN WORKS ON PAPER, PRIMARILY WATERCOLO

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
58%
Reserves
33.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
42
Volunteers
290
Highest pay
$95,000, 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 33.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 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 (2)
  1. $562,324 spent. EXHIBITIONS/COLLECTIONS: AS ONE OF NORTHEAST OHIO'S PREMIER MUSEUMS, THE CANTON MUSEUM OF ART (CMA) IS RECOGNIZED FOR POWERFUL EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMS THAT "CONNECT ART TO LIFE" - CENTERED AROUND AMERICAN ARTWORKS AND THEMES THAT ALLOW AUDIENCES TO EXPLORE SOCIAL TOPICS, HISTORY, AND CULTURAL HERITAGE THROUGH ART. CMA'S ART COLLECTION IS ONE OF THE FINEST COLLECTIONS IN OHIO, WITH OVER 4,000+ PIECES INCLUDING WATERCOLORISTS SUCH AS EDWARD HOPPER, WINSLOW HOMER, AND ANDREW WYETH, AND CERAMIC ARTISTS SUCH AS TOSHIKO TAKAEZU AND PETER VOULKOS. ANNUALLY CMA PROVIDES 12-14 ORIGINAL EXHIBITIONS TO THE PUBLIC, CURATED BY CMA STAFF TO SHOWCASE CELEBRATED AMERICAN ARTISTS AND EMERGING REGIONAL TALENTS, AND FEATURED, THEMED WORKS FROM THE MUSEUM'S OWN COLLECTION. CMA EXHIBITIONS ARE OFTEN IN COLLABORATION WITH PROGRAMMING FROM OTHER ARTS AND CULTURAL PARTNERS ACROSS OUR REGION, AS WELL AS CURATORIAL PROGRAMS INSIDE THE MUSEUM, THAT BRING THE ART AND ITS STORIES TO LIFE.
  2. $404,088 spent. EDUCATION & OUTREACH: EDUCATION IS INTEGRAL TO THE CMA EXPERIENCE, FUELING CREATIVITY IN MINDS OF ALL AGES. THIS INCLUDES OUR FREE MUSEUM TO GO PROGRAM TO STARK COUNTY SCHOOLS, WHICH SUPPORT STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS THROUGH STANDARDS ALIGNED ART INSTRUCTION; IN-MUSUEM GROUP TOURS; AND FREE FAMILY DAYS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND UNDERSERVED AUDIENCES. CMA'S EDUCATION STATION ALLOWS A PLACE WHERE VISTIORS CREATE AND LEARN ABOUT ART CONCEPTS FEATURED IN AN EXHIBITION. EDUCATION STATION ACTIVITIES CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON AND ARE FOCUSED ON BRINGING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN GREATER CONNECTION TO ART AND EACH OTHER. CMA'S SCHOOL OF ART FEATURES CLASS OFFERINGS FOR ALL AGES IN OIL PAINTING, WATERCOLORS, POTTERY, AND MORE. CMA ALSO WORKS WITH COMMUNITY AND HEALTHCARE AGENCIES FOR USING ART AS THERAPY FOR THEIR CLIENTS, SEEING MORE THAN 2,000 PARTICIPANTS EACH YEAR. CMA'S EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS ENABLE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO USE OUR RESOURCES AS A PLACE TO LEARN, PLAY, AND BE INSPIRED BY ART.

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 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 June 2025.

    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 July 1941.

    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.