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Oxbow

EIN 38-1081760 · Saugatuck, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CONNECT ARTISTS TO A NETWORK OF CREATIVE PEOPLE, RESOURCES, AND IDEAS; TO AN ENERGIZING NATURAL ENVIRONMENT; AND TO A RICH ARTISTIC HISTORY AND TO A VITAL FUTURE.

Income
$3.2 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
-6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
32
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$187,480, 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

Fair: 50 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 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

    13 of 13 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. $2.7 million spent. OX-BOW WAS FOUNDED IN 1910 AND OPERATES AN ART SCHOOL, INCLUDING ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCY PROGRAMS, AND OWNS THE NECESSARY PROPERTY AND BUILDINGS TO CONDUCT THE SAME. OX-BOW'S PURPOSE IS TO CONNECT ARTISTS TO A NETWORK OF CREATIVE PEOPLE, RESOURCES AND IDEAS TO AN ENERGIZING NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND, TO A RICH ARTISTIC HISTORY AND TO A VITAL FUTURE. OX-BOW RECOGNIZES ARTISTS ARE VISIONARIES: THEY CREATE NEW POSSIBILITIES, ADVANCE CULTURE, AND ENABLE OTHERS TO IMAGINE THE UNIMAGINABLE. OUR SCHOOL AND RESIDENCY ARE PROGRAMMED TO SUPPORT AND BUILD ON THOSE SKILLS BY PROVIDING ARTISTS AT ALL STAGES IN THEIR ARTISTIC JOURNEY ACCESS TO A RANGE OF PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, ONLINE AND IN PERSON. AT OX-BOW, A NOURISHED LIFE INCLUDES CONVERSATION, RIGOR, PLAYFULNESS, EXPERIENCING NATURE, IMMERSION INTO A CREATIVE CONTEXT, AND COMMUNALLY ENJOYING DELICIOUS, HEALTHY MEALS. OX-BOW'S STRENGTH IS DRAWN FROM HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE SAUGATUCK/DOUGLAS COMMUNITY, THE SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, PARTNERS SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, AND NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS AND SUPPORTERS. OX-BOW BELIEVES EXPERIENCING A FLOURISHING NATURAL WORLD INVIGORATES A SENSE OF AWE AND CURIOSITY THAT ENABLES THE CREATIVE SPIRIT. CURRENTLY, OX-BOW'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS MADE UP OF 13 INDIVIDUALS. THEIR BACKGROUNDS AND SKILLSETS PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO LAW, ARCHITECTURE, BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND THE ARTS, WITH 2 MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO. THE BOARD IS PASSIONATE ABOUT OX-BOW AND GOVERNS THE ORGANIZATION ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS. THE BOARD ANNUALLY CULTIVATES 2 NEW MEMBERS TO GROW THE BOARD, WITH THE GOAL OF REACHING A COHORT OF 18 MEMBERS. INTEGRAL TO THE OX-BOW EXPERIENCE ARE THE DEDICATED STAFF WHO HELP DEFINE THE CHARACTER OF THE ORGANIZATION. OX-BOW HAS BEEN LARGELY ARTIST RUN FOR THE LAST 112 YEARS, WHICH INFUSES THE LEADERSHIP, MAIN OFFICE, KITCHEN, MAINTENANCE, AND HOUSEKEEPING WITH A CREATIVE AND PLAYFUL SENSIBILITY. OX-BOW'S CLASSES ARE TAUGHT BY LOCAL, NATIONAL, OR INTERNATIONAL RENOWNED AND DISTINGUISHED ARTISTS. IN 2023 OX-BOW OPENED UP ENROLLMENT CAPACITY AFTER 2 YEARS OF RESTRICTED CLASS SIZES TO MITIGATE COVID SPREAD. WE CONTINUED TO ADJUST TO THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THE PANDEMIC, INCLUDING A HIGHER LIVING WAGE, INFLATION ACROSS OUR OPERATIONS COSTS, STAGNANT ENROLLMENT AND PATRON ATTRITION. FOLLOWING THE TRENDS OTHER NONPROFITS AND SCHOOLS ARE EXPERIENCING, THESE EXAMPLES WERE ON TREND BUT SHOWED STEADY, BUT INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENT. HIRING EXPERIENCED, DEDICATED STAFF REMAINED A CHALLENGE AS THE WORKFORCE CONTINUED TO CORRECT ITSELF POST-PANDEMIC. OVERALL, OX-BOW CONTINUES TO OFFER A TWO-WEEK IN-PERSON INTENSIVE IN JANUARY AND 10-WEEKS OF IN-PERSON LEARNING FROM JUNE-AUGUST. THESE CLASSES ARE OFFERED FOR BOTH CREDIT AND NONCREDIT, WITH THE MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS COMING FROM THE SCHOOL OF ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO WITH WHOM WE HAVE AN ONGOING PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. OX-BOW'S SUMMER AND FALL WORKSHOP SERIES, ART ON THE MEADOW, OFFERS DAY WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER FOR CHILDREN, TEENS AND ADULTS. THIS PROGRAM IS A WAY FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND SHORT TERM VISITORS TO ENGAGE IN LIFE AND ARTMAKING AT OX-BOW. CLASSES ARE TIMED TO GIVE PARTICIPANTS CONCENTRATED STUDIO TIME, WHILE STILL ALLOWING FOR THE FLEXIBILITY THAT BUSY SUMMER AND YEAR ROUND SCHEDULES REQUIRE. OUR RESIDENCY PROGRAMS OFFER ARTISTS AND WRITERS, AT VARIOUS STAGES IN THEIR CAREER, THE TIME, SPACE, AND COMMUNITY TO ENCOURAGE GROWTH AND EXPERIMENTATION IN THEIR PRACTICE. RESIDENTS JOIN OX-BOW'S COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WOVEN INTO OUR CAMPUS ALONGSIDE STUDENTS, FELLOWS, FACULTY AND STAFF FOR PERIODS OF 2 WEEKS UP TO 1 MONTH. THE SELECTION PROCESS CONSISTS OF AN ONLINE APPLICATION REVIEW FOLLOWED BY AN IN PERSON PANEL MEETING FOCUSING ON THE MERIT OF THE APPLICANT'S WORK AS WELL AS RESPONSES TO THE STATEMENTS OF PRACTICE, PURPOSE AND INTEREST. OX-BOW CONTINUALLY REINVENTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO VISIT OUR CAMPUS WE HOST OPEN STUDIO NIGHTS AT THE END OF JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST, "TASTE OF OX-BOW" COMMUNITY DINNERS, CABIN AND STUDIO RENTAL, PRIVATE CLASSES, OUR ANNUAL HALLOWEEN FAMILY AND ADULT EVENTS, A WINTER MARKET AT OX-BOW HOUSE THAT FEATURES REGIONAL ARTISTS, AND OTHER TALKS, DINNERS AND PROGRAMS THAT ENGAGE OUR STUDIOS AND LANDSCAPE. AS A HISTORICALLY ARTIST-RUN ORGANIZATION, OX-BOW CONTINUALLY WORKS TO BENEFIT THOSE WHOSE ARTMAKING IS A PRIMARY COMPONENT OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL CAREER. OUR PROGRAMS SEEK TO BE A SOURCE OF BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT. OVER THE PAST FIFTEEN YEARS, OX-BOW HAS WELCOMED ARTISTS FROM THE PHILIPPINES, TRINIDAD, NIGERIA, CHINA, FRANCE, SOUTH KOREA, PAKISTAN, IRAN, JAPAN, THE UK, AND CANADA. OUR NATIONAL REPRESENTATION IS EQUALLY DIVERSE, PULLING TALENTED ARTISTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. ALUMNI FROM THE RESIDENCY PROGRAM HAVE EXEMPLIFIED OX-BOW'S COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY AND INTENSIVE ARTMAKING, GARNERING EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITIES FOLLOWING THEIR STAY. STUDENT AND RESIDENT ALUMS HAVE GONE ON TO WORK WITH IMPORTANT CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS, AND SHOW IN MUSEUMS, INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED ART EXHIBITIONS, AND GALLERIES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

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 November 6, 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 June 1972.

    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 November 4, 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.