Marks Project Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Mission: To create and maintain a searchable online database of signatures, marks, work images and biographical information for American mid-20th- and 21st-century studio potters, ceramic artists and artists using the medium of clay working from 1945 onward.Vision: To provide a primary research platform to assist scholars, museum specialists, collectors and creators in the identification and understanding of American studio potters, ceramic artists and artists working in the medium of clay.THE MARKS PROJECT (TMP) IS AN EDUCATIONAL NOT-FOR-PROFIT THAT DOCUMENTS THE WORK, MARKS, AND HISTORIES POST-WAR (1945 ONWARD) OF AMERICAN POTTERS, SCULPTORS AND CONCEPTUAL ARTISTS WHO USE THE MEDIUM OF CLAY (THE MAKERS). ALL IS MADE SEARCHABLE AND FREELY AVAILABLE TO RESEARCHERS, MUSEUM SPECIALISTS AND THE PUBLIC WORLDWIDE VIA WWW.THEMARKSPROJECT.ORG. IN ITS 8TH FULL YEAR ONLINE, THE MARKS PROJECT WEBSITE DOCUMENTS EACH ARTIST BY A UNIQUE WEB-PAGE THAT IS INDEXED THROUGH THE WEBSITE. ARTIST PAGES MAY
- Income
- $72,223
- Spending
- $66,467
- Reserves
- 2.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (1)
- $66,467 spent. IN 2020, WE UNDERTOOK A WEBSITE REDESIGN TO IMPROVE PROCESSING TIME NECESSITATED BY SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN USER PAGE LOAD TIMES AND PROJECTED ADDITIONAL FUTURE WEBSITE TRAFFIC. DURING THIS REDESIGN PROBLEMS AROSE AND, BY EARLY 2022, WE HIRED A NEW DESIGNER WHO WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD WITH BETA TESTING BEGINNING IN THE SUMMER OF 2023. THE NEW WEBSITE WILL UPDATE THE APPEARANCE OF THE WEB PAGES AND WILL REFINE SEARCH FUNCTIONS TO IMPROVE THE USER EXPERIENCE ON ALL DIGITAL DEVICES. THE FIRST PHASE OF THE NEW WEBSITE IS PROJECTED TO LAUNCH IN THE FALL OF 2024. DURING 2023, WE EXPANDED OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND NOW HAVE 10 MEMBERS WITH EXPERTISE IN TECHNOLOGY, FUNDRAISING, WEBSITE MARKETING & PUBLICITY, PROMOTING ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN THE ARTS, AND OUTREACH TO REGIONAL MUSEUMS AND UNIVERSITIES. COMBINED WITH THE ADVISORY BOARD ESTABLISHED IN 2022, WE NOW HAVE A MUCH BROADER REACH AND ENCHANCED EXPERTISE FOR PROMOTING OUR PROGRAMS IN THE GREATER CERAMICS WORLD. WE CONTINUE TO PROMOTE OUR WEBSITE TOOLS VIA PARTICIPATION IN THE ANNUAL NATIONAL COUNCIL ON EDUCATION FOR THE CERAMIC ARTS (NCECA) CONFERENCE. ABOUT 5,000 ARTISTS, DESIGNERS, EDUCATORS AND SCHOLARS ATTENDED THIS YEARS CONFERENCE IN RICHMOND, VA. ADDITIONALLY, WE PUBLISH A BIWEEKLY NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTED TO ABOUT 3,000 SUBSCRIBERS AND PROMOTE OUR NAME VIA ARTICLES IN REGIONAL AND NATIONAL CERAMICS RELATED PUBLICATIONS.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.