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Kalamazoo Institute of Arts

EIN 38-1617060 · Kalamazoo, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To provide the residents of southwest Michigan with the opportunity to both appreciate and create visual art.

Income
$8.3 million
Spending
$6.0 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
38.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 62%
Employees
146
Volunteers
305
Highest pay
$210,307, executive director

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

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 38.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 57% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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 August 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 (4)
  1. $1.9 million spent. SCHOOL PROGRAMS INCLUDE CLASSES OF ART CREATION FOR STUDENTS RANGING FROM PRE-SCHOOL TO SENIOR CITIZENS. THE SCHOOL INCLUDES MANY AREAS RANGING FROM TWO-DIMENSIONAL MEDIA INCLUDING DESIGN, DRAWING, PAINTING, PHOTOGRAPHY, WEAVING, AND PRINTMAKING. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES THREEDIMENSIONAL MEDIA INCLUDING GLASS, JEWELRY, SCULPTURE, AND CERAMICS. CREATIVE WRITING AND WELLNESS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE SELECTION OF CLASSES. THE HOLIDAY SALE IS A THREE-DAY EVENT FEATURING CREATIONS OF OVER 170 LOCAL ARTISTS WHO TEACH OR ATTEND THE SCHOOL.
  2. $2.0 million spent. EXHIBITS AND PERMANENT COLLECTION INCLUDE FINE ART EXHIBITS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, FEATURED IN VARIOUS GALLERIES. ALSO ON EXHIBIT ARE WORKS FROM OVER 4,700 PIECES IN THE PERMANENT COLLECTION. THE STRENGTH OF THE KIA'S PERMANENT COLLECTION IS AMERICAN ART, FROM EIGHTEENTH AND NINETEENTH- CENTURY PORTRAITURE AND LANDSCAPE PAINTING TO MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACTION AND FIGURATIVE WORKS.
  3. $457,428 spent. MUSEUM EDUCATION PROMOTES THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE VISUAL ARTS FOR ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS, AND ABILITIES THROUGH TOURS, PROGRAMS, AND A RESEARCH LIBRARY. GUIDED TOURS FOR ALL AUDIENCES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST AND INCLUDE TOURS PLUS A HANDS-ON ART EXPERIENCES AND TOURS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. OTHER PROGRAMS PERTINENT TO EXHIBITIONS AND COLLECTION OBJECTS ON DISPLAY INCLUDE A WEEKLY ARTBREAK SERIES FEATURING SPEAKERS AND VIDEOS ON ART-RELATED TOPICS, A MONTHLY ART DETECTIVES PROGRAMS FOR AGES 4 -8, BOOK DISCUSSIONS, AND COMMUNITYFOCUSED COLLABORATIVE EVENING PROGRAMS. MUSEUM EDUCATION ALSO COORDINATES ANNUAL EXHIBITIONS OF K-8 AND HIGH SCHOOL ART AND AN ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL PORTFOLIO DAY.
  4. $122,005 spent. GALLERY SHOP - SELLS MERCHANDISE RELATED TO TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS, UNIQUE ITEMS CREATED BY LOCAL ARTISTS, BOOKS RELATED TO THE ARTS, CARDS, GIFTS AND OTHER ITEMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 July 1942.

    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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