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Plains Art Museum

EIN 41-1260780 · Fargo, ND

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PLAINS ART MUSEUM BRINGS PEOPLE AND ART TOGETHER. AS A PUBLIC INSTITUTION WE CELEBRATE THE FINEST OF HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT AND INSPIRE AND ENGAGE DIVERSE AUDIENCES IN THE CREATION, EXHIBITION, COLLECTION, AND PRESERVATION OF ART.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 39%
Employees
124
Volunteers
47
Highest pay
$143,403, director/ceo

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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 43 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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. $490,991 spent. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, PLAINS ART MUSEUM ENGAGED OVER 37,351 PEOPLE THROUGH OUR MISSION OF CONNECTING ART, ARTISTS AND AUDIENCES TO FOSTER CREATIVE, RESILIENT, AND WELCOMING COMMUNITIES. THROUGH OUR PLAINSART4ALL INITIATIVE, THE MUSEUM OFFERED FREE GENERAL ADMISSION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO ALMOST 15 TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS. IN ADDITION, THE MUSEUM FACILITATED 664 EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR ALL AGES - TOURS, WORKSHOPS, TALKS, AND MORE; AND FACILITATED NEW COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, OUTREACH EVENTS, AND OUR EXEMPLARY BUZZ LAB TEEN INTERNSHIP AND THE NORTHERN PLAINS SUMMER ART INSTITUTE PROGRAMS.
  2. $1.1 million spent. IN HOUSE EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE TEACHING ARTISTS LED TOURS, LECTURES, ARTISTS TALKS, ARTIST RESIDENCIES, INTERNSHIPS AND ART CLASSES AND CAMPS FOR ALL AGES. OUTREACH PROGRAMS OFFER ART CLASSES AND ART EDUCATION EXPERIENCES TO RURAL NORTH DAKOTA AND MINNESOTA.
  3. $708,235 spent. MUSEUM BUILDING OPERATIONS FOR STORAGE AND DISPLAY OF THE PERMANENT COLLECTOIN WHICH FOCUSES ON 20TH AND 21ST CENTURY AMERICAN ART, REGIONAL ART, AND WORK BY NATIVE AMERICAN ARTISTS.

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 November 1977.

    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.