Zygote Press Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION IS AN ESTABLISHED, NONPROFIT COMMUNITY PRINTMAKING STUDIO, GALLERY, ARCHIVE, AND EDUCATION CENTER THAT SUPPORTS ARTISTS THROUGH RESIDENCY PROGRAMS, STUDIO ACCESS, AND ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT IN A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT OPEN TO ALL.
- Income
- $466,315
- Spending
- $403,245
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 2.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 59%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 34
- Highest pay
- $81,080, executive di
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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 81% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $314,385 spent. PROOF FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN 2021, ZYGOTE LAUNCHED A RESIDENCY PROGRAM FOR BIPOC ARTISTS THAT WAS RENAMED TO PROOF (PRINT RESIDENCY OF OHIO'S FUTURE) FELLOWSHIP IN 2023. THE PROOF FELLOWSHIP PROVIDES ARTISTS WITH A SIX-MONTH RESIDENCY, 500 STIPEND, GROUP WORKSHOPS IN ALL THE PRIMARY PRINTMAKING PROCESSES, INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION OF PRINTMAKING PROCESSES, PROJECT MENTORSHIP, COLLABORATIVE WORK SPACE, YEAR-LONG ARTSPASS MEMBERSHIPS, 24/7 ACCESS TO OUR STATE-OF- THE-ART PRINTMAKING STUDIO, AND STORAGE FOR THE ARTISTS' WORK. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROOF FELLOWSHIP IS TO PROVIDE EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED ARTISTS, CREATIVES, AND EDUCATORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THEIR PRACTICE BY LEARNING A VARIETY OF PRINT TECHNIQUES, INCLUDING SILKSCREEN, MONOPRINT, AND RISO, AND TO BUILD PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS TO ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS. IN 2021, FIVE ARTISTS WERE CHOSEN THROUGH AN OPEN CALL FOR A MONTH-LONG RESIDENCY. THESE FIVE AIRS IN THE PILOT PROGRAM CREATED FALLING THROUGH THE LITTLE EDGES, AN EXHIBITION IN ZYGOTE'S GALLERY THAT INCLUDED THE RESULTS OF THE ARTISTS' COLLABORATION, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL NEW WORK COMPLETED DURING THEIR RESIDENCIES. EXPANDED FROM ONE-MONTH RESIDENCIES, IN 2022, THESE THREE-MONTH RESIDENCIES PROVIDED TIME AND FLEXIBILITY FOR ARTISTS TO HONE THEIR CHOSEN PRINTMAKING TECHNIQUES AND INTEGRATE WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED INTO THEIR LARGER PRACTICE. ADDED TIME PROVIDES DEEPER CONNECTIONS TO THE PRINTMAKING COMMUNITY THROUGH THE RELATIONSHIPS ARTISTS WILL BUILD WHILE WORKING IN THE STUDIO. ARTISTS WORKED IN TWO COHORTS OF THREE, CREATING PEER GROUPS THAT MODEL THE CREATIVE INCUBATOR ENVIRONMENT OF A MASTER OF FINE ARTS PROGRAM. SMALL COHORTS PROVIDE A SOUNDING BOARD FOR PEER REVIEWS AND AN ENVIRONMENT OF SHARING COLLECTIVE CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES. INDICATIVE OF THE PROGRAM'S SUCCESS, PAST AIRS HAVE BEEN CENTRAL TO IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROGRAM AND STAY INVOLVED WITH ZYGOTE AS TEACHING ARTISTS AND JURORS. IN ALL, THE PROGRAM HAS SEEN INCREASING INTEREST. THIRTY ARTISTS APPLIED TO THE SPRING 2024 OPEN CALL. IN 2023 THE SIX PROOF FELLOWS WERE: MCKINLEY WILEY, LACY TALLEY, SYDNEY KAY, CHESTER HOPKINS BEY, LAWRENCE HUDSON, AND CHUDNEY PATTERSON. OPERATING COSTS FOR SHOP MAINTENANCE IN THE SUMMER OF 2021, ZYGOTE REOPENED TO THE PUBLIC WITH EXHIBITIONS, LIMITED WORKSHOP OPPORTUNITIES, AND OPEN ACCESS STUDIO HOURS. IN 2022, OUR WORKSHOPS, EXHIBITIONS, AND OFF-SITE EVENTS GREW RAPIDLY, RETURNING THE ORGANIZATION TO NEARLY PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS OF ACTIVITY. TO ENSURE THAT REOPENING INCLUDED AN EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO CALLS FOR ACTION IN DIVERSITY, EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND INCLUSION (DEAI) AND SAFETY, WE HAVE REVISED SEVERAL STAFF, SHOP, AND PRINTMAKING POLICIES. WE HAVE NEW HANDBOOKS FOR ORGANIZATIONAL OPERATIONS, DEAI, AND SHOP OPERATIONS. WE IMPROVED OUR HANDBOOK FOR HANDLING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. WITH THESE CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS, ZYGOTE CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE GREENEST PRINTMAKING FACILITIES IN THE COUNTRY. STUDIO STAFF ENGAGE IN ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH IN THE AREA OF GREEN PRINTMAKING IN ORDER TO STAY UP TO DATE ON BEST PRACTICES. ZYGOTE ARTISTS USE INKS, CLEANING PRODUCTS,CHEMICAL FORMULAS THAT ARE FAR LESS HARMFUL TO THE ENVIRONMENT, TO ARTISTS, AND ARE MORE SUSTAINABLE OVERALL. ORGANIZATIONAL POLICIES AND MISSION FOR DEAI, ZYGOTE PRESS PRIORITIZES ANTI-RACIST POLICIES, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION TRAINING, AN UPDATED CODE OF CONDUCT FOR OUR EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK, AND COLLABORATION WITH OUR MEMBERS AND TEACHING ARTISTS TO SUSTAIN AN ATMOSPHERE OF SUPPORT AND INCLUSIVITY. THE BOARD HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING DOCUMENTS AND PROCESSES. FURTHERMORE, AS AN EMPLOYER, WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS ON ADVANCING EQUITY IN THE ARTS IN NORTHEAST OHIO. FOR THE FIRST TIME, IN 2021, WE OFFERED STAFF PAID TIME OFF, AND IN 2022, WITH GUND FUNDING, WE INTRODUCED HEALTH INSURANCE STIPENDS. WE CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS BY INCREASING SALARIES AND BENEFITS. WE GAVE STAFF RAISES AT THE END OF 2023 TO ENSURE RETENTION AND CONTINUITY. WORKING WITH JANUS SMALL ASSOCIATES, WE COMPLETED A THREE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 2023, 2024, AND 2025. THE PLAN INCLUDES BUILDING COMMUNITY AND ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, EXPANDING ZYGOTE'S REACH, INCREASING DIVERSITY AND CAPACITY ON THE BOARD AND STAFF, AND RESEARCHING RELOCATION OPTIONS FOR A LARGER, MORE ACCESSIBLE FUTURE HOME. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN 2023, ZYGOTE CONTINUED TO SEE GROWTH ACROSS ALL SEGMENTS OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, WITH SUBSTANTIAL REVENUE GROWTH IN WORKSHOPS, OFF SITE EVENTS, INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION AND ART SALES. IN 2023, ZYGOTE CONTINUED THE WORK WE HAD STARTED IN 2022 WITH CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY ART HISTORY PROFESSOR, ERIN BENAY, AND HER STUDENTS, ON A SELF-ADVOCACY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE PRINTMAKING EDUCATION PROGRAM TO EMPOWER UNDERREPRESENTED YOUTH IN CLEVELAND'S CLARK-FULTON NEIGHBORHOOD. WITH FUNDING FROM OHIO HUMANITIES COUNCIL, WE PARTNERED WITH THE MUSEUM OF CREATIVE HUMAN ART TO OFFER A 22- WEEK AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM FOR CLEVELAND TEENS, BRIDGING PRINTMAKING AND HUMANITIES. IN 2023, WE PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS EVENTS/FESTIVALS, INCLUDING ASIATOWN CLEVELAND FESTIVAL, SUPERMAN 75 CONVENTION, DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND FEST, COVENTRY VILLAGE STREET FESTIVAL, PARADE THE CIRCLE, AND OTHERS. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS AND OTHERS, EARNED REVENUE INCREASED FROM 100,470 IN 2022 TO 118,285 IN 2023. ZYGOTE'S COMMUNITY OF PARTNERS HAS ALSO GROWN AND CHANGED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. WE WORK WITH LITERARY CLEVELAND, SPACES GALLERY, PRAXIS FIBER WORKSHOP, MIDTOWN CLEVELAND, CUYAHOGA COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, CLEVELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY, CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY, CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, LAND STUDIOS, THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART AND OTHERS. USING ZYGOTE'S MOBILE ART PRESS (MAP), WE BRING FREE, INTERACTIVE PUBLIC ART EXPERIENCES TO THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART, CLEVELAND PRIDE, SLAVIC VILLAGE, UNIVERSITY CIRCLE, WEST PARK KAMM'S CORNERS COVENTRY VILLAGE, AND OTHERS. EXHIBITIONS IN 2023, WE COMPLETED A TOTAL OF 7 EXHIBITIONS. THESE EXHIBITIONS WERE
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2001.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
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