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Washington County Museum of Fine Arts

EIN 52-0607950 · Hagerstown, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION IS IMPLEMENTED THROUGH: INTENTIONAL ART COLLECTING IN THE FOCUS AREAS OF AMERICAN ART AND WORLD CULTURES, BARRIER FREE PUBLIC ACCESS AND FREE ADMISSION TO ART COLLECTIONS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE, VIGILANT PRESERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP OF ART,APPEALING EXHIBITIONS AND

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
92.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
22
Volunteers
71
Highest pay
$154,354, director

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 92.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 51% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% 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

    17 of 18 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 (3)
  1. $314,756 spent. THE MISSION IS IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT, INTERPRETATION AND CARE OF ART COLLECTIONS; CREATION OF ORIGINAL AND EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITIONS; AND PRESENTATION OF INTERPRETIVE LECTURES, CONCERTS, ART INSTRUCTION AND OTHER PROGRAMS TO ENSURE THAT VISITORS GAIN A BETTER APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE FINE ARTS. THE MUSEUM ACTIVELY COLLECTS WORKS OF ART IN THE FIELDS OF AMERICAN ART, WORLD CULTURES, AND ART OF THE REGION. ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS, ADMISSION TO THE MUSEUM IS FREE AND ITS COLLECTION INCLUDES OVER 6,500 WORKS OF ART. OVER EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO, HAGERSTOWN NATIVE, ANNA BRUGH SINGER AND HER HUSBAND, NOTED AMERICAN IMPRESSIONIST PAINTER, WILLIAM HENRY SINGER, ESTABLISHED AN ART MUSEUM AND GAVE IT TO THE COMMUNITY WITH THE PROVISO THAT ADMISSION BE FREE IN PERPETUITY. THEIR LARGESSE AND THE GENEROSITY OF MANY SUBSEQUENT COLLECTORS BUILT A REMARKABLE ART COLLECTION IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.
  2. $771,433 spent. THE PRESENTATION OF ART COLLECTIONS, AND ASSOCIATED INTERPRETIVE ACTIVITIES REQUIRES THE MAINTENANCE OF A SPECIALIZED AND ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT BUILDING AND GROUNDS. THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENCOUNTER HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT WORKS OF ART IN A BEAUTIFUL SETTING, AND WITH SAFETY AND SECURITY ARE IMPORTANT VALUES OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS. THE WASHINGTON COUNTY MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HAS AN ENDURING COMMITMENT TO ARTS EDUCATION AND TO THE SUPPORT OF REGIONAL ARTISTS. THE MUSEUM REGULARLY OFFERS STUDIO ART COURSES, ART HISTORICAL LECTURES, CONCERTS, AND EXHIBITIONS FROM ITS PERMANENT COLLECTION AND TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS.
  3. $316,154 spent. LECTURES, CONCERTS, FAMILY FESTIVALS, WORKSHOPS, DOCENT TOURS AND ART CLASSES ARE PART OF THE ONGOING EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AT THE MUSEUM. THE MUSEUM HAS OFFERED ART CLASSES SINCE ITS FOUNDING; EARLIEST INSTRUCTORS INCLUDED THOMAS DANAHER AND TONY CARNELLI, BOTH WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION (WPA) ARTISTS, AND MISS MARY HARTER, WHO, FROM THE FIRST DAY THE MUSEUM OPENED, TAUGHT THE SATURDAY CHILDREN'S PROGRAM FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.

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 1947.

    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.