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Massillon Museum

EIN 34-6001833 · Massillon, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

A CULTURAL HUB WHERE ART AND HISTORY COME TOGETHER.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
10.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 72%
Employees
23
Volunteers
70
Highest pay
$105,194, executive director

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: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.6 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 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 100 out of 100.

  • 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 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)
  1. $1.4 million spent. IN 2024, THE MASSILLON MUSEUM DELIVERED A ROBUST SUITE OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO FOSTER LIFELONG LEARNING, CREATIVITY, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. SIGNATURE OFFERINGS INCLUDED "DO THE MU," A FREE MONTHLY ART AND HISTORY WORKSHOP OPEN TO ALL AGES, AND A WIDE RANGE OF CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS IN CERAMICS, VISUAL ARTS, AND WELLNESS. THE MUSEUM'S FRANK HARRISON CERAMICS STUDIO AND CLASSROOMS HOSTED BEGINNER AND ADVANCED COURSES, INCLUDING OPEN STUDIO SESSIONS FOR INDEPENDENT PRACTICE. YOUTH AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT REMAINED A PRIORITY THROUGH SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS, STUDENT EXHIBITIONS, AND PROGRAMS LIKE "POETRY OUT LOUD," A NATIONAL RECITATION COMPETITION SUPPORTED BY THE OHIO ARTS COUNCIL. ADDITIONAL INITIATIVES SUCH AS BROWN BAG LECTURES, HISTORY GROUP DISCUSSIONS, AND THE SPEAKERS' BUREAU EXPANDED ACCESS TO HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CONTENT FOR DIVERSE AUDIENCES. BY INTEGRATING HANDS-ON LEARNING, PUBLIC DIALOGUE, AND INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING, THE MUSEUM REINFORCED ITS ROLE AS AN EDUCATIONAL ANCHOR IN NORTHEAST OHIO.IN 2024, THE MASSILLON MUSEUM CONTINUED TO FULFILL ITS MISSION OF ENRICHING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ART, HISTORY, AND CULTURE BY PRESENTING A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE SLATE OF EXHIBITIONS. THE YEAR'S PROGRAMMING REFLECTED A COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EDUCATION, AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION, ENGAGING AUDIENCES ACROSS GENERATIONS AND BACKGROUNDS. EXHIBITIONS INCLUDED "KIMBERLY CHAPMAN: THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS," WHICH FEATURED PORCELAIN SCULPTURES EXPLORING THE LIVES OF WOMEN HISTORICALLY LABELED AS "ODDITIES," CHALLENGING SOCIETAL NORMS AND CELEBRATING RESILIENCE. "ON THE RECORD" SHOWCASED ICONIC VINYL ALBUM ARTWORK FROM THE MASSILLON PUBLIC LIBRARY VINYL CLUB, BRIDGING MUSIC HISTORY AND VISUAL CULTURE. "GILDING NORTHEAST OHIO: FASHION AND FORTUNE 18701900," GUEST CURATED BY BRIAN CENTRONE, EXAMINED THE INTERSECTION OF FASHION, CLASS, AND IDENTITY THROUGH GARMENTS FROM REGIONAL COLLECTIONS AND HBO'S THE GILDED AGE. THE MUSEUM ALSO HOSTED "ACCESSIBLE EXPRESSIONS OHIO," A STATEWIDE JURIED EXHIBITION PRESENTED BY ART POSSIBLE OHIO, HIGHLIGHTING THE CREATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ARTISTS WITH DISABILITIES. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NEA BIG READ, THE MUSEUM PRESENTED "HOME AGAIN: THE EMBODIMENT OF AFRICA THROUGH ART AND FABRIC," GUEST CURATED BY DR. TAMEKA ELLINGTON, WHICH FEATURED CONTEMPORARY BLACK ARTISTS AND TRADITIONAL TEXTILES TO FOSTER DIALOGUE AROUND HERITAGE AND IDENTITY. "PRECARIOUS LEGACIES: EXPOSURES OF A FLEETING LANDSCAPE" INVITED REFLECTION ON ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF ANSEL ADAMS AND NELL DORR. ADDITIONAL EXHIBITIONS SUCH AS "KATIE DAVIS: RAW MATERIAL," "EMILY BARTOLONE: ON ITS HEAD, AND MASSILLON'S BASEBALL PROS" EXPLORED THEMES OF DOMESTICITY, ABSTRACTION, AND LOCAL SPORTS HISTORY. THE MUSEUM ALSO PRIORITIZED YOUTH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH EXHIBITIONS LIKE "FAMILY MEANS TO ME," "CELEBRATION IN ART, AND "THE ART & HISTORY OF THE BLACK FAMILY," WHICH SHOWCASED STUDENT ARTWORK AND PHOTOGRAPHY, AMPLIFYING YOUNG VOICES AND FOSTERING INTERGENERATIONAL DIALOGUE.THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE MASSILLON MUSEUM INTEGRATED PUBLIC PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, AND COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO DEEPEN THE IMPACT OF ITS EXHIBITIONS. THESE EFFORTS UNDERSCORED HE MUSEUM'S ROLE AS A CULTURAL HUB AND CATALYST FOR CONNECTION, LEARNING, AND CREATIVE EXPLORATION IN NORTHEAST OHIO. IN 2024, THE MASSILLON MUSEUM'S GIFT SHOP, CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THE MUSEUM'S MISSION BY OFFERING LOCALLY CRAFTED GOODS, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AND EXHIBITION-RELATED MERCHANDISE. THE SHOP FEATURED A ROTATING SELECTION OF HANDMADE CANDLES, SOAPS, JEWELRY, STAINED GLASS, AND POTTERY FROM REGIONAL ARTISTS, AS WELL AS BOOKS ON LOCAL HISTORY, EXHIBITION CATALOGS, PUZZLES, AND CHILDREN'S ITEMS. IT SERVED AS A PLATFORM FOR CONSIGNING ARTISTS AND A RESOURCE FOR VISITORS SEEKING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS TO MASSILLON'S CULTURAL HERITAGE. DISCOUNTS WERE EXTENDED TO MUSEUM MEMBERS, EBT AND SNAP CARDHOLDERS THROUGH THE "MUSEUMS FOR ALL" PROGRAM, AND ACTIVE MILITARY FAMILIES VIA THE BLUE STAR MUSEUMS INITIATIVE. OPEN DURING REGULAR MUSEUM HOURS, THE STORE REINFORCED THE MUSEUM'S ROLE AS A WELCOMING, ACCESSIBLE SPACE FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CULTURAL EXPLORATION.

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 March 1957.

    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.