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Metropolitan Regional Arts Council

EIN 41-1684647 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE METROPOLITAN REGIONAL ARTS COUNCIL IMPROVES ARTS ACCESS FOR COMMUNITIES IN THE SEVEN COUNTY METROPOLITAN AREA THROUGH SUPPORT TO ARTISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS.

Income
$6.7 million
Spending
$6.6 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 96%
Employees
12
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$147,323, executive dir.

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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% 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 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 (1)
  1. $6.3 million spent. FLEXIBLE SUPPORT FLEXIBLE SUPPORT - RECEIVED 377 APPLICATIONS, AND AWARDED 213 GRANTS TO GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN ALL 7-METRO COUNTIES TOTALLING $4,836,111. MRAC AWARDED 191 GRANTS TO BIPOC, LGBTQ+ AND/OR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TOTALLING $4,361,988. ARTS IMPACT FOR INDIVIDUALS ARTS IMPACT FOR INDIVIDUALS - RECEIVED 151 APPLICATIONS, AND AWARDED 107 GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS IN ALL 7-COUNTY METRO COUNTIES TOTALLING $529,224. 100% OF THESE AWARDS WENT TO INDIVIDUALS THAT IDENTIFY AS BIPOC, LGBTQ+ AND/OR A PERSON WITH DISABILITIES. NEXT STEP NEXT STEP FUND - RECEIVED 405 APPLICATIONS, AND AWARDED 28 GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS DAKOTA, HENNEPIN, RAMSEY AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES TOTALLING $160,810. 19 GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO INDIVIDUALS THAT IDENTIFY AS BIPOC, LGBTQ+ AND/OR A PERSON WITH DISABILITIES.

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 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 June 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 December 1994.

    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.