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Minnetrista Cultural Foundation Inc

EIN 35-1628916 · Muncie, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MINNETRISTA MUSEUM & GARDENS FOSTERS A LOVE OF LEARNING ACROSS GENERATIONS AND ENGAGES THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE BEAUTY OF NATURE, THE RICHNESS OF ART, AND THE HERITAGE OF EAST CENTRAL INDIANA.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$5.3 million
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
14.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
106
Volunteers
80
Highest pay
$182,710, pres/ceo/tru

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: 77 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

    23 of 24 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 (5)
  1. $1.0 million spent. (CONTINUED) MAJESTIC MOUNTAINS AT BOB ROSS EXPERIENCE; OPEN SPACE: ART ABOUT THE LAND; AND IMAGINE IN GLASS. THE MINNETRISTA HERITAGE COLLECTION INCLUDES ARTIFACTS, ART, AND ARCHIVAL MATERIAL THAT DOCUMENT THE PEOPLE, PLACES, ORGANIZATIONS, EVENTS, AND BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES OF EAST CENTRAL INDIANA. A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE COLLECTION IS BALL FAMILY MATERIAL AND BALL CORPORATION BUSINESS RECORDS. SEVERAL ACQUISITIONS WERE RECEIVED IN 2024. THEY INCLUDED MATERIALS AND OBJECTS THAT DOCUMENT THE BALL FAMILY, BALL CORPORATION, AND LOCAL HISTORY. THE MINNETRISTA HERITAGE COLLECTION, BOTH ON-SITE AND ON- LINE, IS ALSO A DESTINATION FOR RESEARCHERS. IN 2024, THERE WERE MORE THAN 164 REMOTE AND IN-PERSON RESEARCH REQUESTS AND APPOINTMENTS. BY THE END OF 2024, THERE WERE MORE THAN 8,295 OBJECTS ONLINE, 6,278 PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTIONS, AND OVER 2,559 ARCHIVAL RECORDS FROM THE MINNETRISTA HERITAGE COLLECTION ON-LINE. THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL RECORDS WERE AVAILABLE ONSITE TO RESEARCHERS THROUGH OUR COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF SEARCHES OF THE ON-LINE COLLECTION IN 2024. (CONTINUED) MAJESTIC MOUNTAINS AT BOB ROSS EXPERIENCE; OPEN SPACE: ART ABOUT THE LAND; AND IMAGINE IN GLASS. THE MINNETRISTA HERITAGE COLLECTION INCLUDES ARTIFACTS, ART, AND ARCHIVAL MATERIAL THAT DOCUMENT THE PEOPLE, PLACES, ORGANIZATIONS, EVENTS, AND BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES OF EAST CENTRAL INDIANA. A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE COLLECTION IS BALL FAMILY MATERIAL AND BALL CORPORATION BUSINESS RECORDS. SEVERAL ACQUISITIONS WERE RECEIVED IN 2024. THEY INCLUDED MATERIALS AND OBJECTS THAT DOCUMENT THE BALL FAMILY, BALL CORPORATION, AND LOCAL HISTORY. THE MINNETRISTA HERITAGE COLLECTION, BOTH ON-SITE AND ON- LINE, IS ALSO A DESTINATION FOR RESEARCHERS. IN 2024, THERE WERE MORE THAN 164 REMOTE AND IN-PERSON RESEARCH REQUESTS AND APPOINTMENTS. BY THE END OF 2024, THERE WERE MORE THAN 8,295 OBJECTS ONLINE, 6,278 PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTIONS, AND OVER 2,559 ARCHIVAL RECORDS FROM THE MINNETRISTA HERITAGE COLLECTION ON-LINE. THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL RECORDS WERE AVAILABLE ONSITE TO RESEARCHERS THROUGH OUR COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF SEARCHES OF THE ON-LINE COLLECTION IN 2024.
  2. $1.1 million spent. AS THE HOME OF THE BALL JAR, MINNETRISTA CONTINUES TO SERVE AS A LEGACY SITE AND GATHERING PLACE FOR EAST CENTRAL INDIANA. VISITORS COME TO EXPLORE, RECHARGE, AND CONNECT. IN 2024, APPROXIMATELY 100,000 LOCAL, REGIONAL,NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL VISITORS ENJOYED PROGRAMS LIKE PAINTING WORKSHOPS, GLASS WORKSHOPS, SCHOOL TOURS, SUMMER CAMPS, FAMILY DAYS, AND MANY OTHER PROGRAMS AT MINNETRISTA. FAMILIES ATTENDED OUR SIGNATURE EVENTS LIKE FARMERS MARKET, GARDEN FAIR, FAERIES SPRITES & LIGHTS, AND ENCHANTED LUMINARIA WALK.
  3. $500,099 spent. MINNETRISTA IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EAST CENTRAL INDIANA BY OFFERING A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION IN THE MIDDLE OF MUNCIE. WITH A SIX-ACRE NATURE AREA, 23 ACRES OF THEMED AND HISTORIC GARDENS, AND A STRETCH OF THE WHITE RIVER GREENWAY, MINNETRISTA SERVES AS GREEN SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY. THIS SPACE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE INVALUABLE RESPITE TO OUR COMMUNITY DURING 2024 AS THE VISITORS SOUGHT WAYS TO GET PHYSICAL AND FIND MENTAL RELIEF FROM LIFE STRESSES CAUSED BY BOTH PERSONAL AND NATIONAL FACTORS LIKE ECONOMICS AND POLITICAL PRESSURES.
  4. $569,472 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: THE BREAKDOWN OF THE REMAINING 569,472 IN PROGRAM EXPENSES IS AS FOLLOWS: 465,277 DEPRECIATION EXPENSE; 86,265 IT EXPENSE; 17,930 ADVERTISING.
  5. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: THE BREAKDOWN OF THE REMAINING 569,472 IN PROGRAM EXPENSES IS AS FOLLOWS: 465,277 DEPRECIATION EXPENSE; 86,265 IT EXPENSE; 17,930 ADVERTISING.

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 April 1987.

    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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