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Rochester Art Center

EIN 41-0799310 · Rochester, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ROCHESTER ART CENTER OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND AND VALUE THE ARTS THROUGH INNOVATIVE EXPERIENCES WITH CONTEMPORARY ART. THROUGH WORLD-CLASS EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMS, WE PRESENT A WELCOMING, INTEGRATED, AND DIVERSE EXPERIENCE THAT ENCOURAGES QUESTIONING, CREATIVITY, AND CRITICAL THINKING. THESE EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO REFLECT THE DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ART AND SOCIETY. THEY EDUCATE, CHALLENGE, AND CONNECT INDIVIDUALS TO OUR WORLD IN COMPELLING NEW WAYS. WE ARE COMMITTED TO BEING A CULTURAL CENTER IN OUR COMMUNITY AND TO ENHANCING OUR REGION AS A DESTINATION FOR CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION. WE PROVIDE VALUE THROUGH ENGAGEMENT WITH BROAD COMMUNITIES, STRONG COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, AND A HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE.

Income
$811,871
Spending
$936,667
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 48%
Employees
21
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$75,821, exectuive director

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 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 (3)
  1. $623,960 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE ART CENTER'S MISSION. IN FY 2025 WE PROVIDED 479 HOURS OF PUBLIC PROGRAMMING. ARTIST TALKS, CREATIVE STUDIO AND MULTIPLE WEEKLY GUIDED TOURS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VISITORS TO ENHANCE THEIR UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE EXHIBITIONS. TOTAL ARTS DAY CAMP OFFERED VALUABLE HANDS-ON ART EXPERIENCES FOR 194 YOUTH UNDER THE DIRECTION OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS AND GUEST ARTISTS. FREE FAMILY DAYS REACHED THOUSANDS OF VISITORS WHO EXPERIENCED EXHIBITIONS, LIVE PERFORMANCES, ART ACTIVITIES, AND TOURS AT NO COST. PROGRAMS ARE PLANNED AND ADMINISTERED BY PROFESSIONAL STAFF WHO COORDINATE WITH ARTISTS AND INSTRUCTORS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY EXPERIENCES FOR PARTICIPANTS.
  2. $61,205 spent. ROCHESTER ART CENTER PRESENTED 14 EXHIBITIONS THAT FEATURED 389 ARTISTS. EXHIBITING ARTISTS REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE INCLUDING MINNESOTANS OF ALL AGES. EXHIBITIONS MOUNTED IN FY2025 INCLUDE EXTRAORDINARY ELSEWHERE, AGELESS ART: ROCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS K-12, SE MN HIGH SCHOOL ART SHOW, RELICS: CAMRON ZEBRUN, MOUDHI ALHAJRI: QATARI HERITAGE, CELEBRATIONS IN FIBER: ZUMBRO RIVER FIBER ARTS GUILD, ASCEND: ALYSSA BAGUS AND ERIN SHARKEY, RIMA: PASSAGES IN SEPHARDIC SCULPTURE BY ROTEM TAMIR, A WORLD THAT BREATHES BEHIND ITSELF: MELANIE PANKAU, STILL WE RISE, JEALOUSY/SWAY, PRIMORDIAL SHIFT: MICHAEL MEILAHN, KATHLEEN HAWKES: THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS YOU MISSED, AND MAC MITZUK: NOSTALGIC ESCAPISM.
  3. $9,334 spent. ROCHESTER ART CENTER'S PUBLIC ART PROGRAM, ART4TRAILS, HOLDS A CALL FOR ART EACH YEAR AND INSTALLS TEMPORARY ARTWORK ALONG THE BIKE TRAILS IN DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER, MN. DURING THE SPRING, NEW ARTWORK IS INSTALLED AND CELEBRATED WITH A GUIDED WALKING AND BIKE TOUR. WEEKLY GUIDED TOURS ARE OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE WARM SEASONS IN ADDITION TO ARTIST TALKS.

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

  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 June 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 December 1947.

    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.