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Passes our checks

Trust for African Rock Arts

EIN 36-4343908 · Shelburne, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak21 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TARA IS COMMITTED TO RECORDING THE RICH ROCK ART HERITAGE OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT, TO MAKING THIS INFORMATION WIDELY ACCESSIBLE AND, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, SAFEGUARDING THOSE SITES MOST THREATENED BY HUMANS AND NATURE. TO ACHIEVE ITS MISSION, TARA WORKS CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITIES WHERE ROCK ART IS FOUND AS WELL AS WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE BODIES INCLUDING THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE CENTRE.

Income
$127,592
Spending
$96,594
Reserves
-4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 56%

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 21 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 26794% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 (4)
  1. $47,180 spent. EDUCATIONAL SAFARIS, SUCH AS THIS ONE TO ALGERIA, ARE PART OF TARAS ROCK ART AWARENESS, KNOWLEDGE DISSEMINATION AND SURVEY ACTIVITIES. SUCH TRIPS PROVIDE TARA WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE, MONITOR SITES AND SURVEY NEW SITES.
  2. $1,476 spent. THE US AMBASSADORS FUND FOR CULTURAL PRESERVATION PROVIDED FUNDING FOR TARA TO PARTNER WITH LOCAL HERITAGE PROFESSIONALS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND A DIGITAL RECORDING FOUNDATION, FACTUM, TO DOCUMENT ANCIENT ROCK MONOLITHS IN THE CROSS RIVER REGION OF NIGERIA. THE RESULTS WERE PUBLICIZED IN LITERATURE, EXHIBITIONS AND IN EDUCATIONAL VENUES BOTH LOCALLY AND OUTSIDE NIGERIA.
  3. $1,730 spent. THE SAMBURU ROCK ART PROJECT: THIS EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION PROJECT HELPS SUPPORT LOCAL SAMBURU COMMUNITIES TO ENABLE THEM TO SAFEGUARD THEIR ROCK ART TRADITION. TARA PARTNERED WITH LINNAEUS UNIVERSITY, THE KENYA NATIONAL MUSEUMS AND LOCAL NGO, EMPOWER THE NORTHERN FRONTIER TO HOLD A ROCK ART CONFERENCE AND FURTHER ROCK ART TRAINING FOR LOCAL SAMBURU COMMUNITIES.
  4. OTHER VARIOUS PROGRAMS

Source: Form 990EZ 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2014 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2014.

    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 September 2015.

    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.