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Minnesota Center for Book Arts

EIN 41-1455905 · Minneapolis, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF MINNESOTA CENTER FOR BOOK ARTS (MCBA) IS TO IGNITE ARTISTIC PRACTICE, INSPIRE LEARNING, AND FOSTER DIVERSE CREATIVE COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE BOOK ARTS.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
-1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
16
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$114,245, executive di

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

Financial health

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 54% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 April 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. $374,647 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS: MCBA'S ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM OFFERS THE PUBLIC A RANGE OF PRINTING, BOOKBINDING, PAPERMAKING, TYPOGRAPHY, AND DESIGN WORKSHOPS, OFFERED VIRTUALLY AND IN OUR STUDIOS. MCBA OFFERS TWO CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS OF STUDY, TO RECOGNIZE DEDICATED PRACTITIONERS WHO COMPLETE SIGNIFICANT COURSEWORK IN BOOK ARTS AND DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE AND PROFICIENCY ACROSS BOOK ARTS DISCIPLINES. MCBA'S YOUTH AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS ENGAGE YOUTH THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. MCBA REGULARLY PARTNERS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO BRING THE BOOK ARTS TO K-12 STUDENTS THROUGH PROGRAMS OFFERED ONSITE IN MCBA'S STUDIOS, OFFSITE IN SCHOOL CLASSROOMS, AND THROUGH VIRTUAL PLATFORMS. MCBA SERVES VERY YOUNG ARTISTS THROUGH PRESCHOOL AND FAMILY CLASSES, AND ENGAGES OLDER CHILDREN AND TEENS THROUGH SUMMER CAMPS WITH LOCAL ARTS CENTERS AND MUSEUM PARTNERS. EDUCATION PROGRAMS: MCBA'S ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM OFFERS THE PUBLIC A RANGE OF PRINTING, BOOKBINDING, PAPERMAKING, TYPOGRAPHY, AND DESIGN WORKSHOPS, OFFERED VIRTUALLY AND IN OUR STUDIOS. MCBA OFFERS TWO CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS OF STUDY, TO RECOGNIZE DEDICATED PRACTITIONERS WHO COMPLETE SIGNIFICANT COURSEWORK IN BOOK ARTS AND DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE AND PROFICIENCY ACROSS BOOK ARTS DISCIPLINES. MCBA'S YOUTH AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS ENGAGE YOUTH THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. MCBA REGULARLY PARTNERS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO BRING THE BOOK ARTS TO K-12 STUDENTS THROUGH PROGRAMS OFFERED ONSITE IN MCBA'S STUDIOS, OFFSITE IN SCHOOL CLASSROOMS, AND THROUGH VIRTUAL PLATFORMS. MCBA SERVES VERY YOUNG ARTISTS THROUGH PRESCHOOL AND FAMILY CLASSES, AND ENGAGES OLDER CHILDREN AND TEENS THROUGH SUMMER CAMPS WITH LOCAL ARTS CENTERS AND MUSEUM PARTNERS.
  2. $254,103 spent. ARTISTIC PROGRAMS: MCBA'S ARTISTIC PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE CONVERSATION, COLLABORATION, CREATIVITY, AND DISCOVERY. PROGRAMS INCLUDE AN ANNUAL MID- CAREER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM SUPPORTED BY THE MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION, BIENNIAL RESIDENCY AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS FOR EARLY CAREER ARTISTS SUPPORTED BY THE JEROME FOUNDATION, AND A COLLEGIATE FELLOWSHIP SUPPORTING STUDENT RESIDENCIES AT MCBA.
  3. $410,759 spent. EXHIBITION, SHOP, AND STUDIO PROGRAMS: MCBA MEETS THE NEEDS OF WORKING ARTISTS BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO WORKSPACE AND SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT IN OUR PAPERMAKING, PRINTING, AND BOOKBINDING STUDIOS, AND CONNECTIONS TO ARTIST NETWORKS THROUGH BOTH OUR STUDIO LAB PROGRAM FOR LOW-COST STUDIO RENTAL (WEEKLY AND MONTHLY SESSIONS) AND 20-MEMBER ARTIST COLLECTIVE (24/7 ACCESS). MCBA'S EXHIBITIONS INVOLVE, INFORM, AND INSPIRE DIVERSE AUDIENCES BY SHOWCASING BOTH TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY BOOK ART. FOUR TO SIX EXHIBITIONS ARE PRESENTED EACH YEAR IN MCBA'S MAIN GALLERY AND UP TO SIX SITE-SPECIFIC INSTALLATIONS ARE PRESENTED IN THE OUTLOOK GALLERY OVERLOOKING WASHINGTON AVENUE. MCBA SUPPORTS ARTISTS THROUGH REPRESENTATION IN THE SHOP AT MCBA, WHICH CARRIES THE WORK OF OVER 250 ARTISTS FROM MINNESOTA AND BEYOND. EXHIBITION, SHOP, AND STUDIO PROGRAMS: MCBA MEETS THE NEEDS OF WORKING ARTISTS BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO WORKSPACE AND SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT IN OUR PAPERMAKING, PRINTING, AND BOOKBINDING STUDIOS, AND CONNECTIONS TO ARTIST NETWORKS THROUGH BOTH OUR STUDIO LAB PROGRAM FOR LOW-COST STUDIO RENTAL (WEEKLY AND MONTHLY SESSIONS) AND 20-MEMBER ARTIST COLLECTIVE (24/7 ACCESS). MCBA'S EXHIBITIONS INVOLVE, INFORM, AND INSPIRE DIVERSE AUDIENCES BY SHOWCASING BOTH TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY BOOK ART. FOUR TO SIX EXHIBITIONS ARE PRESENTED EACH YEAR IN MCBA'S MAIN GALLERY AND UP TO SIX SITE-SPECIFIC INSTALLATIONS ARE PRESENTED IN THE OUTLOOK GALLERY OVERLOOKING WASHINGTON AVENUE. MCBA SUPPORTS ARTISTS THROUGH REPRESENTATION IN THE SHOP AT MCBA, WHICH CARRIES THE WORK OF OVER 250 ARTISTS FROM MINNESOTA AND BEYOND.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 April 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 September 1983.

    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.