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Pewabic Society Inc

EIN 38-2277840 · Detroit, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENRICH THE HUMAN SPIRIT THROUGH CLAY, WHICH IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE CREATION OF CERAMIC ART, THROUGH STEWARDSHIP OF THE NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK POTTERY BUILDING, A LIVING MUSEUM, AND THROUGH EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 47%
Employees
70
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$166,293, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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

    15 of 15 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 September 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 (2)
  1. $1.5 million spent. PEWABIC POTTERY CREATES HANDCRAFTED CERAMIC ART. THE POTTERY IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. VISITORS CAN VIEW CERAMIC ARTISTS FABRICATING PEWABIC TILES AND GIFTWARE IN THE SAME NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK BUILDING THAT WAS BUILT AS A POTTERY OVER A CENTURY AGO. PEWABIC TYPICALLY WELCOMES OVER 50,000 ON-SITE VISITORS EACH YEAR, AND OVER 80,000 VISITORS VIEWED THE SOCIETY'S WEBSITE. VISITORS CAN ALSO SEE CERAMIC ARTWORK CREATED BY OVER 75 CERAMIC ARTISTS FROM ALL OVER NORTH AMERICA EXHIBITED AND SOLD IN PEWABIC GALLERIES.
  2. $779,139 spent. THE PEWABIC SOCIETY PROVIDES LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS, THROUGH ON-SITE AND OFF-SITE CLASSES, TOURS, AND WORKSHOPS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 January 1980.

    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.