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Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission Inc

EIN 46-3894828 · Columbia, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak46 out of 100GovernanceGood87 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO GROWING ARTS, CULTURE AND COMMUNITY IN MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION AND THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA. AS OWNERS OF MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION, WE WORK TO ENHANCE THIS CULTURAL CENTERPIECE AND THE MAJESTIC WOODLAND PARK THAT SURROUNDS IT THROUGH ARTISTIC AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND STEWARDSHIP. IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT, AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, WE PRODUCE, PRESENT AND PROMOTE ARTISTIC AND LEARNING PROGRAMS AND ENGAGE, UPLIFT, AND INSPIRE.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
-45.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
18
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$190,827, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 17% 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

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 December 31, 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. $2.9 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE OTHE MERRIWEATHER ARTS AND CULTURE CENTER (MACC)FORMERLY THE DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSIONIS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WORKING TO EXPAND ARTISTIC, CULTURAL, CIVIC, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IN AND AROUND MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION AND DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA, MARYLAND. THE 2025 SEASON WAS MACC'S MOST EXPANSIVE SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 2013. ACROSS RESIDENCIES, YOUTH PERFORMANCES, FREE COMMUNITY CONCERTS, MULTICULTURAL FESTIVALS, AND TEEN-LED EVENS, MACC WELCOMING MORE THAN 48,000 ATTENDEES FROM ACROSS HOWARD COUNTY AND THE REGION. OUR PROGRAMS THIS YEAR EMPHASIZED ACCESSIBILITY, COLLABORATION, AND A VIBRANT REPRESENTATION OF GLOBAL AND LOCAL CULTURES-PROVIDING ARTS EXPERIENCES THAT UPLIFT, CONNECT, AND INSPIRE.HIGHLIGHTSKYSHONA RESIDENCY & PERFORMANCE: MACC HOSTED NASHVILLE-BASED SINGER-SONGWRITER AND MUSIC THERAPIST KYSHONA FOR A WEEK-LONG RESIDENCY AT WILDE LAKE HIGH SCHOOL, LONG REACH HIGH SCHOOL, AND LONG REACH MIDDLE SCHOOL. STUDENTS RECEIVED INDIVIDUALIZED FEEDBACK ON COMPOSITION, PRACTICE TECHNIQUES, PERFORMANCE SKILLS, AND STAGE PRESENCE. THE RESIDENCY CULMINATED IN A TICKETED PERFORMANCE AT SLAYTON HOUSE THEATER, FEATURING BOTH KYSHONA AND THE STUDENTS SHE COACHED. SELECTED SCHOOLS WERE INTENTIONALLY THOSE WITH THE GREATEST DEMONSTRATED NEED FOR ARTS ENRICHMENT, HELPING ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HIGH-IMPACT ARTISTIC MENTORSHIP.BATTLE OF THE BOOKS: MACC AGAIN PARTNERED WITH THE HOWARD COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM TO HOST THE BELOVED BATTLE OF THE BOOKS EVENT AT MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION. MORE THAN 3,000 STUDENTS AND JUST AS MANY FAMILY MEMBERS ATTENDED THIS JOYFUL, HIGH-ENERGY CELEBRATION OF READING AND TEAMWORK-ONE OF MACC'S MOST CHERISHED ANNUAL TRADITIONS.BEN FOLDS & THE HOWARD COUNTY YOUTH ORCHESTRA: MACC BROUGHT INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED COMPOSER AND ARTS ADVOCATE BEN FOLDS TO PERFORM WITH THE HOWARD COUNTY YOUR ORCHESTRA AT MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION. THE CONCERT FEATURED IMPROVISATIONAL MOMENTS THAT HIGHLIGHTED STUDENT MUSICIANS' EXCEPTIONAL TALENT AND ARTISTRY. MACC ALSO DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 300 FREE TICKETS TO YOUNGER HCPSS MUSIC STUDENTS.TEEN COUNCIL AND TEEN PROGRAMMING: THE MERRIWEATHER TEEN COUNCIL CONTINUED ITS REMARKABLE GROWTH AND NOW FUNCTIONS AS A YEAR-ROUND LEADERSHIP, ARTS, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM. TEENS LEED THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXECUTION OF MACC'S YOUTH EVENTS, INCLUDING:-TEEN TALENT SHOWCASE AT MERRIWEATHER-TEEN CARNIVAL NIGHT ON THE VENUE GROUNDS-EVENT DESIGN, MARKETING MATERIALS, AUDITION MANAGEMENT, AND ON-SITE SUPPORT-ONGOING FEEDBACK AND REPRESENTATION AT MACC PROGRAMSALL TEEN PROGRAMS REMAINED FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.AMPED IN THE PARK: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOWARD HUGHES CORPORATION, MACC PROGRAMMED SIX FREE CONCERTS AT COLOR BURST PART, FEATURING MULTICULTURAL AND GENRE-SPANNING ARTISTS INCLUDING:-JOGO PROJECT-LAS KARAMBA-SONS OF MYSTRO-NEW JAZZ UNDERGROUND-ZAR ELECTRIC-BETTER OFF DEADLAKEFRONT LIVE: MACC CONTINUED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COLUMBIA ASSOCIATION TO PROGRAM AND PRODUCE SEVEN FREE CONCERTS AT THE DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA LAKEFRONT, FEATURING ARTISTS SUCH AS:-SHAMARR ALLEN-KYAIRA-DUSTBOWL REVIVAL-ALEXANDER STAR AND THE GOLDEN PEOPLE-PAHUA-NYCHILLHARMONIC-ABA DIOPLAKEFEST: FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR, MACC PROGRAMMED AND PRODUCED THE ENTIRE LAKEFEST WEEKEND AT THE DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA LAKEFRONT. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED:-A JURIED FINE ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW FEATURING MORE THAN 50 ARTISTS SELECTED FROM OVER 250 APPLICANTS-17+ LIVE PERFORMANCES FEATURING ARTISTS FROM THE U.S., CANADA, GUATEMALA, PERU, SYRIA, SUDAN, AND BEYOND-THE PAINTED UMBRELLA PROJECT WITH THE COLUMBIA ART CENTER-FAMILY ACTIVITIES INCLUDING KIDZART, PINOT'S PALETTE, AND COLORING A 16-FOOT MONSTER MURALMERRIWEATHER MOVIE NIGHT: WICKED SING-ALONG-MORE THAN 2,000 ATTENDEES ENJOYED ONE OF MACC'S MOST POPULAR MOVIE NIGHTS IN RECENT YEARS.HOWARD COUNTY HISPANIC HERITAGE FESTIVAL-IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOWARD COUNTY OFFICE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUITY AND LA ALIANZA LATINA COMMISSION, MACC CURATED AND PRODUCED THE FESTIVAL'S CULTURAL PERFORMANCES AT COLOR BURST PART. MORE THAN 30 PERFORMERS PARTICIPATED, AND MORE THAN 2,000 ATTENDEES JOINED THROUGHOUT THE DAY. COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING INITIATIVES:- AMPED IN THE PARK FREE COMMUNITY CONCERT SERIES AT COLOR BURST PARK WITH HOWARD HUGHES CORPORATION- BATTLE OF THE BOOKS IN APRIL AT MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION WITH HOWARD COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM AND PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM- TEEN NIGHTS AT MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION IN JULY AND AUGUST- MUSIC BUSINESS WORKSHOP FOR TEENS IN MAY- MOVIE NIGHTS AT MERRIWEATHER AND COLOR BURST PARK- HISPANIC HERITAGE FESTIVAL AT COLOR BURST PARK, PRODUCING ARTISTIC PERFORMANCES FOR THE HOWARD COUNTY OFFICE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUITY SEASONAL TRADITION: CLOSED THE 2024 SEASON WITH THE ANNUAL SYMPHONY OF LIGHTS HOLIDAY EVENT AT MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION, CONTINUING A BELOVED COMMUNITY TRADITION.STRATEGIC IMPACTMACC'S DIVERSE PROGRAMMING APPROACH REFLECTS ITS COMMITMENT TO CULTURAL INCLUSIVITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH: BALANCING LARGE-SCALE FESTIVALS WITH INTIMATE ARTISTIC EXPERIENCES CREATING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ALONGSIDE ENTERTAINMENT UTILIZING VARIOUS VENUES THROUGHOUT HOWARD COUNTY TO MAXIMIZE COMMUNITY REACH STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS PROVIDING PROGRAMMING FOR ALL AGES WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON YOUTH ENGAGEMENT SUPPORTING BOTH ESTABLISHED TRADITIONS AND NEW CULTURAL INITIATIVESTHROUGH THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, MACC HAS REINFORCED ITS POSITION AS A VITAL CONTRIBUTOR TO HOWARD COUNTY'S CULTURAL LANDSCAPE WHILE FULFILLING ITS MISSION OF EXPANDING ARTISTIC, CULTURAL, CIVIC, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. THE STRONG ATTENDANCE NUMBERS DEMONSTRATE COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND VALIDATE MACC'S ROLE AS A DYNAMIC CULTURAL HUB THAT RESPONDS TO COMMUNITY INTERESTS WHILE INTRODUCING INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING ACCESSIBLE TO ALL RESIDENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 2025.

    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 July 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.

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