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Marin Open Studios

EIN 45-3605193 · Sausalito, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MARIN OPEN STUDIOS IS A NON-PROFIT VISUAL ARTS ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING MARIN COUNTY ARTISTS AND THEIR AUDIENCES THROUGH EVENTS, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. MARIN OPEN STUDIOS CHAMPIONS A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY ART EXPERIENCE PROVIDING ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING ARTISTS WITH DIRECT CONNECTIONS TO BAY AREA AUDIENCES AND ART PATRONS.

Income
$212,519
Spending
$208,352
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
2
Volunteers
270
Highest pay
$52,507, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $74,109 spent. AN ARTIST GUIDE FOR THE OPEN STUDIOS EVENT IS PRINTED TO LIST THE LOCATION OF EACH OPEN STUDIO, TO SHOW AN EXAMPLE OF THE ARTIST'S WORK, AND OFFER MAPS TO FIND THE STUDIOS. THE PRINTING OF THE GUIDE IS PARTIALLY FUNDED BY SELLING ADVERTISEMENT SPACE IN THE GUIDE. THIS YEAR MARIN OPEN STUDIOS WAS INCLUDED IN MARIN MAGAZINE'S LOCAL GETAWAYS APP, FEATURING ALL PARTICIPATING ARTISTS.
  2. $63,492 spent. MARIN OPEN STUDIOS OFFERS THE PUBLIC SELF-GUIDED TOURS OF THE STUDIOS OF MARIN COUNTY'S ARTISTS DURING THE FIRST TWO WEEKENDS OF MAY, WITH A LARGE GALLERY OPEN FOR ONE MONTH. THE EVENT INCLUDES AN EXHIBITION OF OVER 250 PARTICIPATING ARTISTS AT THE SAUSALITO CENTER FOR THE ARTS. AN ONLINE YEAR AROUND WEBSITE FEATURING ALL ARTISTS WITH THEIR INDIVIDUAL SEARCHABLE BIO PAGE, IMAGES, AND LINK TO THEIR WEBSITE IS OFFERED AT MARINOPENSTUDIOS.ORG.A PREVIEW GALA RECEPTION AT THE GALLERY IS ATTENDED BY OVER 800 ART LOVERS, GIVING THE PUBLIC THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET ARTISTS AND SAMPLE THEIR ARTWORK. EACH YEAR APPROXIMATELY 30,000 RESIDENTS ARE DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO MARIN OPEN STUDIOS ARTISTS. A 40 PAGE ARTISTS' TOUR GUIDE WITH ENCLOSED MAPS IS DISTRIBUTED TO 35,000 RESIDENTS WITHIN MARIN MAGAZINE AND TO COUNTYWIDE VENUES, ALONG WITH COMPREHENSIVE PRINT, SOCIAL, AND DIGITAL MEDIA COVERAGE.MARIN OPEN STUDIOS OFFERS A SHARED EXHIBITION SPACE PROGRAM FOR ARTISTS WITHOUT STUDIOS, AND THIS YEAR THEY PARTNERED WITH TEN COUNTYWIDE VENUES TO BROADEN THE SUPPORT FOR A VARIETY OF ARTMAKING.
  3. $8,620 spent. THE SHARED STUDIOS PROGRAM WAS EXPANDED TO TEN COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, OFFERING MORE ARTISTS WITHOUT STUDIOS THE ABILITY TO JOIN MARIN OPEN STUDIOS AND GAIN EXPOSURE FOR THEIR ARTWORK AND CAREERS. MARIN OPEN STUDIOS PROVIDED ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT, VOLUNTEERS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE FOR THESE SITES.
  4. DIVERSITY PROGRAMMARIN OPEN STUDIOS CONTINUES A COMMITMENT BEGUN IN 2019 TO INCLUDE DIVERSITY BY PARTNERING WITH CANAL ALLIANCE AND MARIN CITY ARTISTS. MARIN OPEN STUDIOS GIVES SCHOLARSHIPS AND ART SUPPLIES TO THE MARIN CITY ARTS AND CULTURE GALLERY AND ITS MEMBERS LED BY DIRECTOR OSHALLA DIANA MARCUS. THE CANAL ALLIANCE ARTISTS ALSO RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS IN ADDITION TO EXHIBIT SPACES AND AN OPENING RECEPTION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 August 2014.

    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.