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Artists Archives of the Western Reserve

EIN 34-1837357 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ARTISTS ARCHIVES OF THE WESTERN RESERVE PRESERVES REPRESENTATIVE BODIES OF WORK CREATED BY OHIO VISUAL ARTISTS AND, THROUGH ONGOING RESEARCH, EXHIBITION AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, ACTIVELY DOCUMENTS AND PROMOTES THIS CULTURAL HERITAGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC.

Income
$462,875
Spending
$319,626
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
79.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
7
Volunteers
41

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 79.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $252,084 spent. THE ARTISTS ARCHIVES OF THE WESTERN RESERVE (AAWR) SERVES A DIVERSE AND VIBRANT COMMUNITY THROUGH ITS MISSION AND PROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES. EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMMING ARE STRATEGICALLY PLANNED TO UTILIZE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND PROVIDE IMPACTFUL EXHIBITIONS IN OUR HOME GALLERY AS WELL AS VARIOUS SATELLITE LOCATIONS. IN 2024, FEATURED AAWR EXHIBITIONS WERE MENTIONED MULTIPLE TIMES IN OUR MAJOR NEWS PUTLETS, INCLUDUING THE PLAIN DEALER NEWSPAPER, SCENE, COLLECTIVE ARTS NETWORK (CAN) AND CANVAS MAGAZINES. IN 2024, 693 WORKS BY 425 DIFFERENT ARTISTS WERE EXHIBITED, INCLUDING 257 WORKS FROM THE COLLECTION OF 106 ARCHIVED ARTISTS. 257 WORKS BY 66 ARCHIVED ARTISTS, FROM THE COLLECTION WERE ON LOAN TO VARIOUS PARTNERS AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE ANNUAL MEMBERS SHOW CONTINUES TO GROW AND IN 2024 INCLUDED 152 WORKS BY 152 ARTISTS.
  2. PART III, LINE 1: THE ARTISTS ARCHIVES OF THE WESTERN RESERVE IS A UNIQUE ARCHIVAL FACILITY AND REGIONAL MUSEUM THAT PRESERVES REPRESENTATIVE BODIES OF WORK BY OHIO VISUAL ARTS AND THROUGH ONGOING RESEARCH, EXHIBITION, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, ACTIVELY DOCUMENTS AND PROMOTES THIS CULTURAL HERITAGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC.

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 December 1997.

    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.

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