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Southwest Minnesota Arts Council

EIN 41-6168522 · Marshall, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceGood89 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE FUNDS AND SERVICES TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT THE ARTS IN THE 18 COUNTIES OF SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 89%
Employees
4

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: 63 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 48% 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

    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.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $815,838 spent. GRANTS PROGRAMS- SMAC RECEIVED FUNDS FROM THE MINNESOTA STATE ARTS BOARD GENERAL FUND AND MINNESOTA ARTS & CULTURAL HERITAGE FUNDS AS APPROPRIATED BY THE MINNESOTA STATE LEGISLATURE, THE MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION AND OTHERS TO REDISTRIBUTE TO INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, UNITS OF GOVERNMENT AND SCHOOLS FOR ARTS PRODUCTION AND SPONSORSHIP ACTIVITIES. GRANT PROGRAMS INCLUDE ART PROJECTS, PUBLIC ART, QUICK SUPPORT FOR ORGANIZATIONS, OPERATING SUPPORT, EQUIPMENT & FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT, ARTS IN THE SCHOOLS, ARTS STUDY OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH, ARTIST GROWTH, ARTIST EQUITY, QUICK SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS, AND THE PRAIRIE DISCIPLE AWARD. A TOTAL OF 111,608 PEOPLE SERVED INCLUDED 27,449 YOUTH AND 2,529 ARTISTS THROUGH 132 GRANTS AWARDED TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, UNITS OF GOVERNMENT (CITIES, SCHOOLS) AND ARTISTS. GRANTS PROGRAMS- SMAC RECEIVED FUNDS FROM THE MINNESOTA STATE ARTS BOARD GENERAL FUND AND MINNESOTA ARTS & CULTURAL HERITAGE FUNDS AS APPROPRIATED BY THE MINNESOTA STATE LEGISLATURE, THE MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION AND OTHERS TO REDISTRIBUTE TO INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, UNITS OF GOVERNMENT AND SCHOOLS FOR ARTS PRODUCTION AND SPONSORSHIP ACTIVITIES. GRANT PROGRAMS INCLUDE ART PROJECTS, PUBLIC ART, QUICK SUPPORT FOR ORGANIZATIONS, OPERATING SUPPORT, EQUIPMENT & FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT, ARTS IN THE SCHOOLS, ARTS STUDY OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH, ARTIST GROWTH, ARTIST EQUITY, QUICK SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS, AND THE PRAIRIE DISCIPLE AWARD. A TOTAL OF 111,608 PEOPLE SERVED INCLUDED 27,449 YOUTH AND 2,529 ARTISTS THROUGH 132 GRANTS AWARDED TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, UNITS OF GOVERNMENT (CITIES, SCHOOLS) AND ARTISTS.
  2. $25,684 spent. ART GALLERY- AN ART GALLERY IN THE SMAC OFFICE SPACE PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REGIONAL ARTISTS TO HAVE A SOLO EXHIBIT IN AN ACCESSIBLE SPACE. SEVEN REGIONAL VISUAL ARTISTS HAD THEIR WORK EXHIBITED IN THE GALLERY IN FISCAL YEAR 2025. EXHIBITS ARE ADVERTISED VIA PRESS RELEASES, E-MAIL, FACEBOOK, AND THE SMAC WEBPAGE. ARTISTS HAD IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL RECEPTIONS. REGIONAL MUSICIANS PERFORMED DURING THE IN-PERSON EXHIBIT RECEPTIONS.
  3. $87,555 spent. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE- SERVICES PROVIDED BY SMAC TO SW MINNESOTA ARE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES TO PROMOTE THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ARTISTS, STAFF AND VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE FOR THE ORGANIZATIONAL AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL ARTS GROUPS, AND PRESENTATION OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND NETWORKING CONFERENCES FOR ARTISTS, CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS. INFORMATION IS PROVIDED VIA PHONE, EMAIL, MAIL, WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND IN-PERSON CONTACT. SMAC STAFF TRAVELS THROUGHOUT THE REGION TO MEET WITH CONSTITUENTS ON REQUEST. SMAC STAFF ALSO WORKS WITH STATEWIDE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO COORDINATE WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS WITHIN THE SMAC REGION THAT WILL BENEFIT SMAC REGION RESIDENTS. SMAC'S E-NEWSLETTER CONTAINS FEATURE ARTICLES, GRANT AWARDS, UPCOMING DEADLINES, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. IT CONTAINTS NO ADVERTISEMENTS. THE E-NEWSLETTER WAS SENT VIA EMAIL TO APPROXIMATELY 1,500 PEOPLE PER ISSUE AND IS ALSO POSTED ON THE SMAC WEBSITE. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE- SERVICES PROVIDED BY SMAC TO SW MINNESOTA ARE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES TO PROMOTE THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ARTISTS, STAFF AND VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE FOR THE ORGANIZATIONAL AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL ARTS GROUPS, AND PRESENTATION OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND NETWORKING CONFERENCES FOR ARTISTS, CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS. INFORMATION IS PROVIDED VIA PHONE, EMAIL, MAIL, WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND IN-PERSON CONTACT. SMAC STAFF TRAVELS THROUGHOUT THE REGION TO MEET WITH CONSTITUENTS ON REQUEST. SMAC STAFF ALSO WORKS WITH STATEWIDE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO COORDINATE WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS WITHIN THE SMAC REGION THAT WILL BENEFIT SMAC REGION RESIDENTS. SMAC'S E-NEWSLETTER CONTAINS FEATURE ARTICLES, GRANT AWARDS, UPCOMING DEADLINES, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. IT CONTAINTS NO ADVERTISEMENTS. THE E-NEWSLETTER WAS SENT VIA EMAIL TO APPROXIMATELY 1,500 PEOPLE PER ISSUE AND IS ALSO POSTED ON THE SMAC WEBSITE.
  4. $41,152 spent. CONFERENCE/WORKSHOPS/CONVENINGS- SMAC ALSO GIVES ASSISTANCE TO ARTISTS, ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND EDUCATORS BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INFORMATION, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES IN CONFERENCE OR WORKSHOP SETTINGS TO THE SW MINNESOTA AREA. 70 ARTISTS ATTENDED AN ARTIST RETREAT AT DANEBOD FOLK SCHOOL IN TYLER. 6 VIRTUAL AND 5 IN-PERSON GRANT WORKSHOPS AND Q&A ESSSIONS WERE ATTENDED BY 46 PEOPLE. 26 PEOPLE ATTENDED A TRAINING AND NETWORKING EVENT FOR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS. SMAC'S ANNUAL ARTS CELEBRATION, ATTENDED BY APPROXIMATELY 50 PEOPLE, WAS HELD IN WORTHINGTON, MN AND INCLUDED THEATER AND MUSIC PERFORMANCES AND ART EXHIBITS.
  5. CONFERENCE/WORKSHOPS/CONVENINGS- SMAC ALSO GIVES ASSISTANCE TO ARTISTS, ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND EDUCATORS BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INFORMATION, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES IN CONFERENCE OR WORKSHOP SETTINGS TO THE SW MINNESOTA AREA. 70 ARTISTS ATTENDED AN ARTIST RETREAT AT DANEBOD FOLK SCHOOL IN TYLER. 6 VIRTUAL AND 5 IN-PERSON GRANT WORKSHOPS AND Q&A ESSSIONS WERE ATTENDED BY 46 PEOPLE. 26 PEOPLE ATTENDED A TRAINING AND NETWORKING EVENT FOR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS. SMAC'S ANNUAL ARTS CELEBRATION, ATTENDED BY APPROXIMATELY 50 PEOPLE, WAS HELD IN WORTHINGTON, MN AND INCLUDED THEATER AND MUSIC PERFORMANCES AND ART EXHIBITS.

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 January 1975.

    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.