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Bayarts

EIN 34-0978368 · Bay Village, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF BAYARTS IS TO PROVIDE A WELCOMING LAKESIDE ENVIRONMENT TO STIMULATE, ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL AND ASPIRING ARTISTS OF ALL AGES THROUGH COLLABORATION, EDUCATION AND EXHIBITION.

Income
$950,369
Spending
$995,297
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
-0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 64%
Employees
10
Volunteers
43
Highest pay
$91,756, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 53 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    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, 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. $834,955 spent. IN 2025, BAYARTS CONTINUED TO THRIVE AS A VIBRANT CULTURAL HUB, DEEPENING ITS IMPACT THROUGH EXPANDING PROGRAMMING, STRONG COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND MEANINGFUL FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS. ATTENDANCE, PARTICIPATION, AND VISIBILITY ALL REFLECTED STEADY GROWTH AND A RENEWED ENTHUSIASM FOR THE ARTS ACROSS OUR REGION. PROGRAMMATIC HIGHLIGHTS OUR ARTS PROGRAMMING CONTINUED TO GROW IN BOTH SCALE AND REACH. THE ANNUAL JURIED SHOW WAS ONE OF OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL TO DATE, RECEIVING OVER 500 ENTRIES IN 2025, UNDERSCORING BAYARTS' REPUTATION AS A RESPECTED REGIONAL ARTS DESTINATION. ADDITIONAL VISUAL ARTS HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED THE ANNUAL CERAMICS SHOW AND THE FALL PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL, EACH DRAWING ARTISTS AND VISITORS FROM ACROSS NORTHEAST OHIO. SIGNATURE COMMUNITY EVENTS REMAINED A CORNERSTONE OF OUR MISSION. THE ART + MUSIC FESTIVAL, THURSDAY MARKETS, AND FREE SUNDAY CONCERTS WELCOMED THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO CAMPUS, FOSTERING ACCESSIBILITY, CREATIVITY, AND CONNECTION IN AN INCLUSIVE OUTDOOR SETTING. OUR SUMMER CAMPS PROGRAM CONTINUED TO BE FOUNDATIONAL TO OUR EDUCATIONAL MISSION, SERVING MORE THAN 1,500 STUDENTS AND OFFERING HIGH-QUALITY, ENGAGING ARTS EXPERIENCES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS. FUNDRAISING AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING EVENTS ALSO FLOURISHED. MOONDANCE, OUR ANNUAL FUNDRAISER, WAS A STANDOUT SUCCESS, AND RENTAL EVENTS-INCLUDING WEDDINGS, BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS, GRADUATION PARTIES, AND PRIVATE GATHERINGS-CONTINUED TO BRING NEW AUDIENCES TO BAYARTS WHILE SUPPORTING OUR SUSTAINABILITY. SEASONAL AND RETAIL SUCCESS THE 2025 HOLIDAY SEASON WAS ONE OF OUR STRONGEST YET. OUR HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA FEATURED A VISIT FROM SANTA, FESTIVE CARRIAGE RIDES, AND A PERFORMANCE BY THE BAY CHORALEERS, CREATING A MEMORABLE COMMUNITY CELEBRATION. THE ACCOMPANYING OPEN HOUSE OF OUR ARTISAN SHOP, SHOWCASING WORK BY MORE THAN 70 LOCAL ARTISTS, WAS EXCEPTIONALLY WELL ATTENDED AND PROVIDED VITAL SUPPORT FOR REGIONAL CREATIVES. FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS WAS MADE ON FACILITY ENHANCEMENTS IN 2025. A NEW ROOF WAS COMPLETED ON THE PLAYHOUSE, NOW PROUDLY KNOWN AS THE BAYARTS CULTURAL CENTER, PRESERVING THIS IMPORTANT HISTORIC STRUCTURE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, NEW CONCRETE WALKWAYS WERE INSTALLED IN THE BAYARTS SENSORY GARDEN, IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY AND SETTING THE STAGE FOR CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THIS UNIQUE SPACE. IN 2025, BAYARTS CONTINUED TO THRIVE AS A VIBRANT CULTURAL HUB, DEEPENING ITS IMPACT THROUGH EXPANDING PROGRAMMING, STRONG COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND MEANINGFUL FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS. ATTENDANCE, PARTICIPATION, AND VISIBILITY ALL REFLECTED STEADY GROWTH AND A RENEWED ENTHUSIASM FOR THE ARTS ACROSS OUR REGION. PROGRAMMATIC HIGHLIGHTS OUR ARTS PROGRAMMING CONTINUED TO GROW IN BOTH SCALE AND REACH. THE ANNUAL JURIED SHOW WAS ONE OF OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL TO DATE, RECEIVING OVER 500 ENTRIES IN 2025, UNDERSCORING BAYARTS' REPUTATION AS A RESPECTED REGIONAL ARTS DESTINATION. ADDITIONAL VISUAL ARTS HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED THE ANNUAL CERAMICS SHOW AND THE FALL PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL, EACH DRAWING ARTISTS AND VISITORS FROM ACROSS NORTHEAST OHIO. SIGNATURE COMMUNITY EVENTS REMAINED A CORNERSTONE OF OUR MISSION. THE ART + MUSIC FESTIVAL, THURSDAY MARKETS, AND FREE SUNDAY CONCERTS WELCOMED THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO CAMPUS, FOSTERING ACCESSIBILITY, CREATIVITY, AND CONNECTION IN AN INCLUSIVE OUTDOOR SETTING. OUR SUMMER CAMPS PROGRAM CONTINUED TO BE FOUNDATIONAL TO OUR EDUCATIONAL MISSION, SERVING MORE THAN 1,500 STUDENTS AND OFFERING HIGH-QUALITY, ENGAGING ARTS EXPERIENCES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS. FUNDRAISING AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING EVENTS ALSO FLOURISHED. MOONDANCE, OUR ANNUAL FUNDRAISER, WAS A STANDOUT SUCCESS, AND RENTAL EVENTS-INCLUDING WEDDINGS, BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS, GRADUATION PARTIES, AND PRIVATE GATHERINGS-CONTINUED TO BRING NEW AUDIENCES TO BAYARTS WHILE SUPPORTING OUR SUSTAINABILITY. SEASONAL AND RETAIL SUCCESS THE 2025 HOLIDAY SEASON WAS ONE OF OUR STRONGEST YET. OUR HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA FEATURED A VISIT FROM SANTA, FESTIVE CARRIAGE RIDES, AND A PERFORMANCE BY THE BAY CHORALEERS, CREATING A MEMORABLE COMMUNITY CELEBRATION. THE ACCOMPANYING OPEN HOUSE OF OUR ARTISAN SHOP, SHOWCASING WORK BY MORE THAN 70 LOCAL ARTISTS, WAS EXCEPTIONALLY WELL ATTENDED AND PROVIDED VITAL SUPPORT FOR REGIONAL CREATIVES. FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS WAS MADE ON FACILITY ENHANCEMENTS IN 2025. A NEW ROOF WAS COMPLETED ON THE PLAYHOUSE, NOW PROUDLY KNOWN AS THE BAYARTS CULTURAL CENTER, PRESERVING THIS IMPORTANT HISTORIC STRUCTURE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, NEW CONCRETE WALKWAYS WERE INSTALLED IN THE BAYARTS SENSORY GARDEN, IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY AND SETTING THE STAGE FOR CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THIS UNIQUE SPACE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 July 1966.

    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.