Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

John L Severance

EIN 34-6506884 · Brooklyn, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceWeak25 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GRANTS ARE MADE ACCORDING TO THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OFJOHN L SEVERENCE DATED JANUARY 31, 1935 IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TRUST AGREEMENT DATED DECEMBER 23, 1915 AND THE OPERATING AGREEMENT DATED APRIL 30, 2009. IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TRUST DOCUMENT, KEYBANK AS TRUSTEE, MAKES GRANTS TO THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART TO BE USED TO PURCHASE WORKS OF ART. UNDER THE OHIO INSTITUTIONAL TRUST FUNDS ACT OF 1999, THE BENEFICIARY HAS CHOSEN TO RECEIVE THE MAXIMUM OF INCOME BASED ON THE GREATER OF 5% OF AFV OR TRADITIONAL INCOME.KEYBANK MAINTAINS A RESPONSIVENESS TO THE NEEDS AND ACTIVITIES OF THEBENEFICIARIES ORGANIZATION IN THE ATTAINMENT OF ITS MISSION. PLEASE NOTE THE CHARITY HAS A RIGHT TO DIRECT OR APPROVE INVESTMENTS AND THETRUSTEE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO AMEND THE DOCUMENT TO INSURE THECONTINUATION TO QUALIFY AS A 509(A)(3).

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$4.7 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 100%
Employees
0
Highest pay
$420,652, trustee

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 71% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 79% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs.

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

Governance

Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    0 of 25

    0 of 1 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $4.2 million spent. GRANTS MADE TO THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART TO BE USED IN THE PURCHASE OF WORKS OF ART.

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 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 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 May 1971.

    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.