John R and Eleanor R Mitchell Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 41% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO GENERATE AWARENESS, UNDERSTANDING, PARTICIPATION, ENJOYMENT, AND SUPPORT FOR HTE ARTS IN MT. VERNON, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND THE SURROUNDING REGION, THROUGH THE PRESENTATION OF DIVERSE EXHIBITIONS AND ARTS-RICH PROGRAMS.
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $2.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 41%
- Reserves
- -42.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 41%
- Employees
- 24
- Volunteers
- 472
- Highest pay
- $124,611, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 43 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1541% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (5)
- $198,860 spent. PRESENTATION OF VISUAL ARTS - AT ITS CORE, THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION CENTERS AROUND LATE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURY PAINTINGS BY NOTABLE ASHCAN SCHOOL ARTISTS THAT WERE COLLECTED AND DONATED BY MUSEUM FOUNDERS JOHN AND ELEANOR MITCHELL. FOUR ADDITIONAL GALLERIES SHOWCASE TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS BY REGIONAL ARTISTS, INCLUDING SEVERAL COMPETITION EXHIBITIONS INTENDED FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, SEMI-, AND PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS LIVING AND WORKING IN THE MIDWEST. THE MUSEUM ALSO BOASTS A CONTEMPORARY OUTDOOR SCULPTURE PARK WITH 60 LARGE-SCALE ARTWORKS SPREAD OVER AN 80-ACRE CAMPUS.
- $206,861 spent. ARTS EDUCATION- A SCHOOL PERFORMING ARTS SERIES PRESENTS LIVE PERFORMANCES, AND VOLUNTEER DOCENTS PROVIDED TOURS AND FACILITATE HANDS-ON ART ACTIVITIES FOR AREA SCHOOLCHILDREN. STAFF ALSO TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE REGION TO DELIVER ART REACH LESSONS DIRECTLY TO THE CLASSROOM. THE BECK FAMILY CENTER AND INTERACTIVE LEARNING STATIONS MAKE THE MUSEUM A FIELD TRIP AND FAMILY DESTINATION YEAR-ROUND. ALSO AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, CEDARHURST'S ON-SITE SHRODE ART CENTER OFFERS HANDS-ON CLASSES AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT SERVE AGES 1.5 TO 100. OPEN STUDIO SPACE ENCOURAGES ONGOING PRACTICE AND INSTRUCTION IN THE CREATIVE ARTS.
- $56,086 spent. PRESENTATION OF PERFORMING ARTS- THE CEDARHURST CONCERT SERIES IS ONE OF THE MUSEUMS LONGEST RUNNING PROGRAMS AND PRESENTS CLASSICAL AND WORLD MUSIC BY PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED AND TOURING ARTISTS. THE MORE CASUAL, THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE SERIES FEATURES OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES BY REGIONAL MUSICIANS EACH WEEK DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.
- $500,253 spent. STRENGTHENING COMMUNITITES THROUGH THE ARTS - THE MUSEUM PRESENTS DIVERSE SPECIAL EVENTS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE ARTS. EXAMPLES ARE PLENTIFUL: THE TRENDY, UPCYCLED FASHION SHOW CHALLENGED PARTICIPANTS TO MAKE WEARABLE GARMENTS OUT OF NONTRADITIONAL MATERIALS, WHILE THE HIGH-END EDIBLE EXHIBITION SHOWCASED THE CULINARY ARTS, USING FOOD TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE MUSEUM'S ART COLLECTION. THE WELL-KNOWN CEDARHURST ART AND CRAFT FAIR FEAUTRED NEARLY 100 VENDORS WHO SOLD THEIR HANDMADE WARES DURING THE CASUAL, FESTIVAL WEEKEND. THE LIGHTS: AN EXIBITION OF HOLIDAY MAGIC IS THE MUSEUM'S LARGEST SPECIAL EVENT, PRESENTING AN ARTFUL DISPLAY OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ALONG A 1-MILE WALKING PATH THROUGH THE SCULPTURE PARK. THE PROGRAM SPANS SIX WEEKENDS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND SEVERS AS THE BACKDROP FOR OTHER SPEICAL EVENTS LIKE THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS VENDOR MARKET.
- STRENGTHENING COMMUNITITES THROUGH THE ARTS - THE MUSEUM PRESENTS DIVERSE SPECIAL EVENTS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE ARTS. EXAMPLES ARE PLENTIFUL: THE TRENDY, UPCYCLED FASHION SHOW CHALLENGED PARTICIPANTS TO MAKE WEARABLE GARMENTS OUT OF NONTRADITIONAL MATERIALS, WHILE THE HIGH-END EDIBLE EXHIBITION SHOWCASED THE CULINARY ARTS, USING FOOD TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE MUSEUM'S ART COLLECTION. THE WELL-KNOWN CEDARHURST ART AND CRAFT FAIR FEAUTRED NEARLY 100 VENDORS WHO SOLD THEIR HANDMADE WARES DURING THE CASUAL, FESTIVAL WEEKEND. THE LIGHTS: AN EXIBITION OF HOLIDAY MAGIC IS THE MUSEUM'S LARGEST SPECIAL EVENT, PRESENTING AN ARTFUL DISPLAY OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ALONG A 1-MILE WALKING PATH THROUGH THE SCULPTURE PARK. THE PROGRAM SPANS SIX WEEKENDS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND SEVERS AS THE BACKDROP FOR OTHER SPEICAL EVENTS LIKE THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS VENDOR MARKET.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1965.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.