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Northern Clay Center

EIN 41-1616650 · Minneapolis, 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

NORTHERN CLAY CENTER'S MISSION IS TO ADVANCE THE CERAMIC ARTS FOR ARTISTS, LEARNERS, AND THE COMMUNITY, THROUGH EDUCATION, EXHIBITIONS, AND ARTIST SERVICES. ITS GOALS ARE TO CREATE AND PROMOTE HIGH-QUALITY, RELEVANT, AND PARTICIPATORY CERAMIC ARTS EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES; CULTIVATE AND CHALLENGE CERAMIC ARTS AUDIENCES THROUGH EXTRAORDINARY EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMMING; SUPPORT CERAMIC ARTISTS IN THE EXPANSION OF THEIR ARTISTIC AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS; EMBRACE MAKERS FROM DIVERSE CULTURES AND TRADITIONS IN ORDER TO CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE CLAY COMMUNITY; AND EXCEL AS A NON-PROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATION.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
9.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 72%
Employees
26
Volunteers
107
Highest pay
$77,647, exec dir thr

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

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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

    10 of 11 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 December 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 (5)
  1. $788,091 spent. EDUCATION: CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, AND OUTREACH PROGRAMMING FOR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS OFFER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. SERVED CONSTITUENTS AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH IN-PERSON AND REMOTE OPPORTUNITIES.
  2. $404,386 spent. SALES GALLERY PROVIDES REPRESENTATION FOR 176 CERAMIC ARTISTS, OFFERING ANOTHER SOURCE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR CRAFTSPEOPLE.
  3. $348,841 spent. ARTIST SERVICES INCLUDE AFFORDABLE STUDIO SPACE, ACCESS TO SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, EXHIBITION AND SALES OPPORTUNITIES, INDIVIDUAL GRANTS, AND A COMMUNICATION NETWORK.
  4. $418,148 spent. 1) EXHIBITIONS PROMOTE PUBLIC APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE CERAMIC ARTS THROUGH DISPLAYS OF REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS' WORK. THROUGH VIRTUAL TOURS AND DECREASED CAPACITIES FOR IN-PERSON VIEWING, NCC PRESENTED THE INSTALLED WORK OF EXHIBITING ARTISTS TO THE PUBLIC IN VARIOUS WAYS. 2) THE AMERICAN POTTERY FESTIVAL (APF) IS AN ANNUAL SPECIAL EVENT - A WEEKEND OF ARTIST LECTURES AND DEMONSTRATIONS, COLLECTOR TOURS, AND SALE OF POTS - DESIGNED TO EXPAND AND EDUCATE THE LOCAL AUDIENCE FOR NATIONAL AND REGIONAL POTTERS AND GENERATE REVENUE FOR BOTH NCC AND THE ARTISTS.
  5. 1) EXHIBITIONS PROMOTE PUBLIC APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE CERAMIC ARTS THROUGH DISPLAYS OF REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS' WORK. THROUGH VIRTUAL TOURS AND DECREASED CAPACITIES FOR IN-PERSON VIEWING, NCC PRESENTED THE INSTALLED WORK OF EXHIBITING ARTISTS TO THE PUBLIC IN VARIOUS WAYS. 2) THE AMERICAN POTTERY FESTIVAL (APF) IS AN ANNUAL SPECIAL EVENT - A WEEKEND OF ARTIST LECTURES AND DEMONSTRATIONS, COLLECTOR TOURS, AND SALE OF POTS - DESIGNED TO EXPAND AND EDUCATE THE LOCAL AUDIENCE FOR NATIONAL AND REGIONAL POTTERS AND GENERATE REVENUE FOR BOTH NCC AND THE ARTISTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 November 6, 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 December 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 October 1993.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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