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Meetinghouse Arts

EIN 47-5194581 · Freeport, ME

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The mission of Meetinghouse Arts is to cultivate Greater Freeport as a vibrant center for arts and culture by fostering creative collaboration, expanding access to arts and cultural assets, and amplifying the arts and culture as powerful tools to create, strengthen, and connect community.

Income
$277,723
Spending
$331,125
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 42%
Employees
3
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$50,000, executive director

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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (3)
  1. $45,000 spent. In 2024 we increased our community involvement. In 2023 the National Endowment for the Arts awarded us an "Our Town" grant to help finance a project to capture a moment in time in Freeport, ME and in 2024 we accomplished the program. Our Town: A Community Self Portrait brought our community together to create a documentary snapshot of a moment in time in Freeport, photographing and writing about the people, places and activities that make our home town special. These visual and written stories were exhibited primarily at Meetinghouse Arts Gallery and Freeport Historical Society, where local citizens excitedly identified friends, neighbors, and places that have helped define their lives. The images, poems, essays, and musings have since graced the walls at Freeport Town Hall and are now hung in the Augusta State Capitol by the Maine Arts Commission. They'll move to other locations throughout town in the Fall and eventually be archived by the Freeport Historical Society. Community discussions of the project were convened at Meetinghouse Arts.
  2. $38,000 spent. Helping to fulfill our mission, we enhanced the Gallery side of Meetinghouse Arts to support and promote artists of all backgrounds and ages. The youth show featured over 40 school aged artists for two weeks showing their works. We featured a combined show for artists with various challenges alongside our member artists. And we support the local artist community with nearly 100 members regularly participating.
  3. $215,227 spent. Meetinghouse Arts offers a variety of theatrical genres and culturally diverse performances and exhibits for both local and regional artists. These include classical musicians, jazz musicians, dance, mime, spoken word artists, and improv comedy teams. We collaborated with other not-for-profit organizations to bring engaging lectures to our stage as well as musical performances. In 2024 we hosted over 40 performances with more than 4,000 audience members in total.

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 April 2016.

    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.