Mccoll Center for Art & Innovation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE ENVISION A COMMUNITY WHERE CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS AND AN ENGAGED PUBLIC ENHANCE THEIR CREATIVE CAPACITY THROUGH RELEVANT, DIVERSE, AND ACCESSIBLE EXPERIENCES.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $2.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 61%
- Reserves
- 2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 83%
- Employees
- 38
- Volunteers
- 3
- Highest pay
- $129,591, interim pres
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: 53 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 57% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1561% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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 2520 of 20 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $698,045 spent. STUDIOS, CO-OP, + LABSTHE STUDIOS AT MCCOLL CENTER IS A STUDIO RENTAL PROGRAM DESIGNED TO BUILD A CREATIVE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT EMERGING LOCAL ARTISTS IN THE REGION. OUR STUDIOS ARE AVAILABLE FOR RENT BY ARTISTS AT SUBSIDIZED RATES, WHILE OFFERING ACCESS TO OUR COMMUNAL LABS FOR PRINTMAKING, 3D PRINTING AND LASER CUTTING, DIGITAL MEDIA, CERAMICS, WOODWORKING, AND SCULPTURE FABRICATION. ARTIST STUDIOS AT MCCOLL CENTER MAINTAIN A THRIVING COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC EVENTS, SHARE THEIR PRACTICES AND IDEAS, AND ENRICH FELLOW ARTISTS BOTH WITHIN THE BUILDING AND IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.THE CO-OP PROGRAM IS AN ADDITIONAL WAY TO OFFER TANGIBLE, DIRECT OPTIONS THAT EMPOWER ARTISTS AND CREATIVES TO THRIVE BY OPENING FLEXIBLE ACCESS TO MCCOLL CENTER LABS, TOOLS, SPACE AND RESOURCES. OUR CO-OP PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO GIVE LOCAL ARTISTS ACCESS TO OUR FACILITIES AND JOIN OUR COMMUNITY. WE LOOKED FOR ARTISTS WHO RECEIVED A GRANT AND NEEDED FACILITIES AND SPACE TO CREATE THE WORK, WERE EXPANDING THEIR CURRENT CONCEPT IN SCALE OR MEDIUM, NEEDED TEMPORARY ACCESS TO OUR LABS TO CREATE NEW WORK OR DEVELOP AN IDEA, AND WERE PROFICIENT IN THEIR CHOSEN MEDIUM BUT WANTED TO HAVE ACCESS TO EQUIPMENT LIKE A LARGER PRINTING PRESS OR TABLE SAW TO WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY OR TRY OUT BEFORE THEY PURCHASE ONE FOR THEIR OWN STUDIO.MCCOLL CENTERS CO-OP PROGRAM GIVES CHARLOTTE ARTISTS ACCESS TO OUR COMMUNAL LABS FROM A MONTH-TO-MONTH BASIS WITH 24/7 ACCESS. UNLIKE OUR STUDIO RENTAL PROGRAM, THIS DOES NOT REQUIRE A YEAR-LONG LEASE. THE MCCOLL CENTER IS EQUIPPED WITH A WOODSHOP, CERAMIC LAB, METAL LAB, MEDIA LAB, PRINTMAKING LAB, AND A 3D PRINTING AND LASER CUTTING LAB ALONG WITH VARIOUS TOOLS
- $442,342 spent. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTCREATIVITY CAMPS (JULY-AUGUST 2024, JUNE 2025) ARE A SERIES OF WEEK-LONG, FULL DAY ART CAMPS DESIGNED FOR YOUNG ARTISTS TO SPARK IMAGINATION, ENCOURAGE SELF-DISCOVERY, AND MAKE LIFELONG CONNECTIONS TO MANY EXPRESSIONS OF ART. CAMPS INCLUDED CERAMICS, DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION, MIXED MEDIA, FASHION, SCULPTURE, PRINTMAKING, DRAWING, AND PAINTING.YOUNG ARTIST STUDIO SERIES (6-WEEK SERIES) IS DESIGNED FOR YOUNG ARTISTS IN GRADES 2ND THROUGH 8TH WHO WANT TO DELVE INTO AND MASTER THE BASICS OF A SPECIFIC MEDIUM. PARTICIPANTS CHOSE FROM SEVERAL EXCITING COURSES: FASHION, DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION AND CERAMIC SCULPTURE. TEACHING ARTISTS GUIDED STUDENTS THROUGH THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THEIR CHOSEN MEDIUM; FOSTERING CREATIVITY AND ENCOURAGING EXPLORATION.ADULT ARTIST STUDIO SERIES (6-WEEK SERIES) IS FOR ARTISTS OF ANY SKILL LEVEL WHO WANT TO LEARN NEW TECHNIQUES AND EXPAND THEIR PRACTICE. WHETHER THEY ARE JUST BEGINNING THEIR JOURNEY OR LOOKING TO TRY A NEW MEDIUM, OUR TEACHING ARTISTS GUIDED THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS AND HELPED THEM MAKE IT THEIR OWN. RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS OR A FINISHED PRODUCT, THESE CLASSES HELPED ARTISTS APPLY NEW SKILLS TO PLAY AND TAKE RISKS AND CREATE WORK IN THEIR OWN VOICE. WE HELD 14 ARTIST STUDIO SERIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.BEYOND THE STUDIO SERIES (2 WORKSHOPS) EXPLORED EVERYTHING AN ARTIST NEEDS TO KNOW BEYOND MAKING ART TO GROW AND EXPAND THEIR PRACTICE. ONE WORKSHOP FOCUSED ON SPREADSHEETS AND ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEMS FOR ARTISTS, INCLUDING DATA MANAGEMENT FOR COLLECTORS, ARCHIVES, AND FINANCES. THE OTHER WORKSHOP FEATURED AN ARTIST WHO WORKS CLOSELY WITH INTERIOR DESIGNERS AND SHARED INSIGHT ON LICENSING ARTWORK, NAVIGATING DESIGN-BASED MARKETS, AND EXPANDING AUDIENCES. THESE WORKSHOPS WERE LED BY ART PROFESSIONALS WHO GUIDED PARTICIPANTS THROUGH THE MANY PATHWAYS OF A CREATIVE CAREER. MCCOLL CENTER AIMED TO HELP ARTISTS CLARIFY WHAT SUCCESS MEANS TO THEM AND SUPPORT THEM IN BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE, LONG-TERM PRACTICE.EACH ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PARTICIPATED IN A UNIQUE AND INTENTIONAL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY, FULFILLING OUR MISSION TO SPARK CREATIVE, RELEVANT, AND ACCESSIBLE EXPERIENCES FOR AN ENGAGED PUBLIC. PROGRAMING INCLUDED A RANGE OF WORKSHOPS, ARTIST TALKS, OPEN STUDIOS, AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES THAT CONNECTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS DIRECTLY WITH CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS AND THEIR PRACTICES.MCCOLL CENTER ALSO HOSTED EIGHT FAMILY DAYS, EACH FEATURING HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES INSPIRED BY THE EXHIBITIONS AND ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE ON VIEW. THESE FREE, MULTIGENERATIONAL EVENTS INVITED TODDLERS, TEENS, AND ADULTS TO CREATE ARTWORKS TOGETHER AND EXPLORE THE GALLERIES THROUGH ACCESSIBLE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY PROGRAMMING.WORKSHOPS INCLUDED SENSORY-INCLUSIVE TEXTILE DYEING WITH RECLAIMED MATERIALS; COLLABORATIVE ART-MAKING EXPLORING NATURE AND CULTURE; TRANSFORMING BATTERY-OPERATED TOYS INTO KINETIC SCULPTURES; AN INTRODUCTION TO WEAVING; A TEEN ZINE WORKSHOP USING HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY IMAGERY OF CHARLOTTE; A SESSION ON RESTARTING AND SUSTAINING AN ART PRACTICE; A MASTER-LEVEL PRINTMAKING WORKSHOP; AND AN ALL-AGES FRANKENSTUFFIES WORKSHOP WHERE PARTICIPANTS DECONSTRUCTED AND REASSEMBLED SOFT TOYS TO CREATE NEW, ORIGINAL CREATURES. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDED MULTIPLE ENTRY POINTS INTO CONTEMPORARY ART AND OFFERED PARTICIPANTS DIRECT INSIGHT INTO ARTISTS PROCESSES.MCCOLL CENTER ALSO HOSTED NINE ARTIST TALKS, INCLUDING THREE SETS FEATURING THE ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE AND ADDITIONAL TALKS FOR EACH EXHIBITION, WITH TWO OFFERED VIRTUALLY TO EXPAND ACCESS.THE CENTER PRESENTED TWO OPEN STUDIO SATURDAYS AND A STUDIO SOCIAL EVENING EVENT, PROVIDING FREE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO VISIT STUDIOS, LEARN ABOUT WORK IN PROGRESS, AND ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH THE ARTISTS.A YOGA WORKSHOP OFFERED IN CONJUNCTION WITH ONE EXHIBITION WAS PROVIDED AT A BELOW-MARKET, ACCESSIBLE RATE TO ENCOURAGE BROADER COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.THE WINTER ART MARKET FEATURED FIFTEEN CHARLOTTE-BASED ARTISTS PRESENTING AFFORDABLE SMALL-SCALE FINE ART, SUPPORTING LOCAL ARTISTS AND INCREASING COMMUNITY ACCESS TO ORIGINAL WORK.
- $276,328 spent. ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCEMCCOLL CENTERS NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM PROVIDED SPACE AND TIME TO 13 ARTISTS TO DEVELOP THEIR PRACTICE, TAKE RISKS, AND EXPLORE IDEAS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF CHARLOTTE: IOANNIS ANASTASIOU (POLAND/GREECE), BALAM BARTOLOM (MEXICO), CHAKAIA BOOKER (NY), JEN CLAY (FL), MAJKA DOKUDOWICZ (POLAND), CLAIRE KEISTER (NC), ANDREW LEVENTIS (NC), CATHY MCCLURE (WA), JLIA PONTS (NY/BRAZIL), OSWALDO RUIZ CHAPA (MEXICO), PHIL SANDERS (NC), SEPIDEH TAJALIZADEH DASHTI (TN/IRAN), MICHAEL WEBSTER (NC).IN ADDITION, MCCOLL CENTER PARTNERED WITH THE MINT MUSEUM TO HOST TWO ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE WHO RECEIVED STUDIO SPACE, LAB ACCESS, AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT: MAYA GODED (MEXICO0 AND LAURA WALKINGSTICK (NC).
- EXHIBITIONSMCCOLL CENTER PRESENTED FOURTEEN EXHIBITIONS DURING THE YEAR, ALL OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC WITH NO ADMISSION FEE. THESE EXHIBITIONS SHOWCASED LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS AND PRESENTED A WIDE RANGE OF PERSPECTIVES, MATERIAL APPROACHES, AND THEMES.SUMMER EXHIBITIONS INCLUDED THE 2024 ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE SHOWCASE, FEATURING WORK BY THE PARENT AND EDUCATOR ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE, AND SPLINTER AND SEED, WHICH EXPLORED THE CREATIVE AND CONCEPTUAL POTENTIAL OF WOOD THROUGH THE WORK OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL ARTISTS. LIMINAL DIVINE BROUGHT TOGETHER FELLOWSHIP ARTISTS WORKING IN MEDIA RANGING FROM DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY AND SOUND TO METALWORK, SCULPTURE, AND FIBER, EXAMINING THE SACRED MOMENTS FOUND IN THE EVERYDAY.FALL EXHIBITIONS INCLUDED AMERICAN HONEY, FEATURING TEN QUEER ARTISTS REIMAGINING AMERICANA ACROSS MULTIPLE MEDIA; THE AUDACITY, A GROUP EXHIBITION THAT INTERROGATED THE GOLDILOCKS DILEMMA AND THE CONFLICTING EXPECTATIONS PLACED ON WOMEN; THE FALL 2025 ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE SHOWCASE; AND TWO POP-UP EXHIBITIONS FEATURING ADDITIONAL WORK BY THE ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE.WINTER EXHIBITIONS INCLUDED THE TIES THAT BIND, A PHOTOGRAPHIC SERIES DOCUMENTING MCCOLL CENTER ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE FROM 19992008; THE WINTER 2025 ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE SHOWCASE; AND TWO POP-UP EXHIBITIONS FEATURING IN-PROCESS WORK.SPRING EXHIBITIONS INCLUDED DARK AND DIVINE, A GROUP EXHIBITION CENTERING BLACK DIVINITY, SENSUALITY, AND THE CULTURAL HISTORY OF THE BLACK BODY; SOVEREIGN: BODILY AUTONOMY, AN INTERDISCIPLINARY EXHIBITION ADDRESSING THEMES OF CONSENT, AGENCY, IDENTITY, AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS; AND THE PAGLEES, A COLLECTIVE EXHIBITION OF SOUTH ASIAN DIASPORA ARTISTS EXPLORING DECOLONIAL FEMINIST NARRATIVES. REVERBERATE, PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SECLT, COMMEMORATED THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND THE MOVEMENTS AND CULTURAL SHIFTS THAT FOLLOWED.
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
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 June 2025.
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 1976.
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.
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