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Ball & Socket Arts Inc

EIN 45-4079423 · Cheshire, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BALL & SOCKET ARTS IS TRANSFORMING AN ABANDONED INDUSTRIAL CAMPUS INTO AN INNOVATIVE AND DYNAMIC ARTS DESTINATION FOR THE CENTRAL CONNECTICUT REGION (AND BEYOND). BUILT ON THE ETHOS OF SUSTAINABILITY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION, BALL & SOCKET ARTS OFFERS VIBRANT ARTS & CULTURE PROGRAMMING AND PROVIDES ACCESSIBLE AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCES TO A BROAD PUBLIC AUDIENCE.

Income
$3.2 million
Spending
$696,685
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
-72.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 89%
Employees
5
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$47,209, president

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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 78% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 137% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

    11 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 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. $462,371 spent. THE LONG-TERM VISION FOR BALL & SOCKET IS TO TRANSFORM THE HISTORIC FACTORY BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS INTO A WELCOMING HUB FOR ARTS, CULTURE, CREATIVE COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY. BALL & SOCKET ARTS WILL PRESENT CURATED EXHIBITIONS OF CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ARTISTS WITH A FOCUS ON CONTEMPORARY ART IN THE WORKSHOP GALLERY, AND ONCE COMPLETED, INSIDE BUILDING 1. BALL & SOCKET ARTS PRESENTS A RANGE OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS, CULTURE, AND HISTORY PROGRAMMING. ON-SITE SPACES IN BUILDING 1 WILL INCLUDE: A GRAND EXHIBITION HALL; A FLEXIBLE PERFORMANCE VENUE; AN INTERACTIVE HISTORY MUSEUM; AN EDUCATION WING; SPACES FOR PARTNERING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND CREATIVE COMMERCE; AND MORE. OUR PROGRAMMING WILL INCLUDE WORKSHOPS, CLASSES, AND LECTURES FOR ALL AGES, ALONG WITH COMMISSIONED WORKS OF ART FOR OUR EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR SPACES. WE ENVISION VIBRANT, ACCESSIBLE OUTDOOR PUBLIC SPACES AROUND OUR CAMPUS FEATURING ART INSTALLATIONS AND SPACES TO GATHER. OUR SITE FEATURES DIRECT ACCESS TO THE FARMINGTON CANAL LINEAR TRAIL FOR EASY PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST ACCESS, AS WELL AS DIRECT ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. THE LONG-TERM VISION FOR BALL & SOCKET IS TO TRANSFORM THE HISTORIC FACTORY BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS INTO A WELCOMING HUB FOR ARTS, CULTURE, CREATIVE COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY. BALL & SOCKET ARTS WILL PRESENT CURATED EXHIBITIONS OF CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ARTISTS WITH A FOCUS ON CONTEMPORARY ART IN THE WORKSHOP GALLERY, AND ONCE COMPLETED, INSIDE BUILDING 1. BALL & SOCKET ARTS PRESENTS A RANGE OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS, CULTURE, AND HISTORY PROGRAMMING. ON-SITE SPACES IN BUILDING 1 WILL INCLUDE: A GRAND EXHIBITION HALL; A FLEXIBLE PERFORMANCE VENUE; AN INTERACTIVE HISTORY MUSEUM; AN EDUCATION WING; SPACES FOR PARTNERING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND CREATIVE COMMERCE; AND MORE. OUR PROGRAMMING WILL INCLUDE WORKSHOPS, CLASSES, AND LECTURES FOR ALL AGES, ALONG WITH COMMISSIONED WORKS OF ART FOR OUR EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR SPACES. WE ENVISION VIBRANT, ACCESSIBLE OUTDOOR PUBLIC SPACES AROUND OUR CAMPUS FEATURING ART INSTALLATIONS AND SPACES TO GATHER. OUR SITE FEATURES DIRECT ACCESS TO THE FARMINGTON CANAL LINEAR TRAIL FOR EASY PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST ACCESS, AS WELL AS DIRECT ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

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 July 2013.

    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.