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Minneapolis College of Art & Design

EIN 41-1607453 · Minneapolis, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MCAD PROVIDES A TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATION WITHIN A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT FOR CREATIVE STUDENTS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO WORK, COLLABORATE, AND LEAD WITH CONFIDENCE IN A DYNAMIC, INTERCONNECTED WORLD.

Income
$40.6 million
Spending
$46.5 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
781
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$403,142, president

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

Financial health

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 35 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 26 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

    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 May 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 (1)
  1. $37.5 million spent. MCAD TRANSFORMS THE WORLD THROUGH CREATIVITY AND PURPOSE BY EDUCATING INDIVIDUALS TO BE PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS, PIONEERING THINKERS, CREATIVE LEADERS, AND ENGAGED GLOBAL CITIZENS. WITH A CURRICULUM THAT IS BASED ON THE BELIEF THAT TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST, DESIGNER, OR VISUALIZER, ONE MUST STUDY THEORY, SKILL, FORM, AND CONTENT, ALL MCAD PROGRAMS CENTER ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF STUDIO AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS THAT ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO THINK CONCEPTUALLY, FORMULATE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS, AND MAKE ART. ALL MCAD PROGRAMS CHALLENGE STUDENTS TO PROGRESS TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AND INTELLECTUAL INVESTIGATION.MCAD'S FOUR-YEAR CURRICULUM INTEGRATES THE LIBERAL ARTS INTO EIGHT BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS DEGREE MAJORS IN ANIMATION, COMIC ART, CREATIVE WRITING, FINE ARTS, GRAPHIC DESIGN, MEDIA ARTS, ILLUSTRATION, AND PRODUCT AND FURNITURE DESIGN, PLUS A FOUR-YEAR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAM IN CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP. STUDENTS CAN MINOR IN ADVERTISING, ANIMATION, ART HISTORY, COMIC ART, CREATIVE WRITING, CURATORIAL STUDIES, ENGAGED AND PUBLIC ARTS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, EXPERIMENTAL GAMES, GRAPHIC DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION, PRINT PAPER BOOK, SOUND, AND TEACHING ARTS.ADVANCED DEGREES OFFERED AT MCAD INCLUDE A TWO-YEAR MASTER OF FINE ARTS DEGREE PROGRAM IN VISUAL STUDIES; A 30-CREDIT ONLINE MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE PROGRAM IN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN; A 30-CREDIT ONLINE MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE PROGRAM IN GRAPHIC AND WEB DESIGN; AND A FIFTEEN-MONTH ONLINE/LOW-RESIDENCY MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE PROGRAM IN CREATIVE LEADERSHIP. MCAD ALSO OFFERS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH ITS CONTINUING EDUCATION, ONLINE LEARNING, AND EXHIBITION PROGRAMS.IN 2023, MCAD EXPANDED ITS CAMPUS BY ACQUIRING A BUILDING ADJACENT TO THE CAMPUS TO EXPAND STUDENT HOUSING CAPACITY. MCAD NOW REQUIRES ON CAMPUS RESIDENCY FOR FIRST- AND SECOND-YEAR STUDENTS THAT IMPROVES THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY. THE PEER MENTOR PROGRAM WAS UPDATED TO INCLUDE MORE ROBUST TRAINING FOR THE MENTORS AS WELL AS MORE STRUCTURE AROUND EVENTS, BRINGING FIRST YEAR STUDENTS TOGETHER. AS THE FOUNDATIONS CORE CURRICULUM CONTINUES TO EVOLVE, ALONG WITH THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT AND THE IMPROVED PEER MENTOR PROGRAM, THERE HAS BEEN A CLEAR POSITIVE IMPACT ON FIRST YEAR RETENTION AND OVERALL STUDENT SUCCESS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1988.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.