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National Council for the Traditional Arts

EIN 52-0847374 · Silver Spring, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NCTA IS DEDICATED TO THE PRESENTATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF FOLK AND TRADITIONAL ARTS IN THE UNITED STATES. ITS PROGRAMS CELEBRATE AND HONOR THOSE DEEPLY-ROOTED CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS - MUSIC, DANCE, CRAFTS, STORIES, RITUALS, FOODWAYS AND OTHER (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)PRACTICES THAT ARE PASSED ON THROUGH TIME IN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, AND IN TRIBAL, ETHNIC, REGIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 59%
Employees
13
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$120,917, 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: 69 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

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

    21 of 21 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 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 (4)
  1. $1.0 million spent. SERVICES TO NEA'S FOLK & TRADITIONAL ARTS PROGRAM: FOR 39 YEARS, THE NCTA HAS WORKED WITH THE NEA'S FOLK AND TRADITIONAL ARTS PROGRAM TO COORDINATE AND MANAGE THE EVENTS/ACTIVITIES OF THE ANNUAL NEA NATIONAL HERITAGE FELLOWSHIPS, THE HIGHEST FEDERAL HONOR FOR FOLK AND TRADITIONAL ARTISTS.
  2. $771,828 spent. FOLK AND TRADITIONAL ARTS-FOCUSED PUBLIC PROGRAMS (NATIONAL SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES): FOUNDED IN 1933, THE NCTA IS THE NATION'S OLDEST FOLK ARTS ORGANIZATION. A PRODUCER OF A BROAD RANGE OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS, MOST OF THEM FREE, THE NCTA STRESSES EXCELLENCE AND AUTHENTICITY IN BRINGING TRADITIONAL ARTISTS REPRESENTING THE NATION'S DIVERSE CULTURAL COMMUNITIES TO THE PUBLIC. PROGRAMS INCLUDE: THE TRAVELING NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL, THE NATION'S OLDEST AND LONGEST-RUNNING MULTICULTURAL CELEBRATION OF TRADITIONAL ARTS, TOURS, CONCERTS, WORKSHOPS, DEMONSTRATIONS, CROSS-CULTURAL EXCHANGES, RADIO AND TELEVISION PROGRAMS, EXHIBITIONS, SCHOOL PROGRAMS, RESIDENCIES, RECORDINGS, AMONG OTHERS. NCTA WORKS TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE EVENTS WITH LASTING CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT IN COMMUNITIES AROUND THE NATION.
  3. $323,051 spent. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WORK: FOR 53 YEARS, THE NCTA HAS HAD A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO ASSIST PARKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH THE RESEARCH, PLANNING, PRESENTATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE PROGRAMS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER SPECIAL PROJECTS, AND TO HELP LOCAL NONPROFIT GROUPS ORGANIZE CULTURAL EVENTS IN NATIONAL PARKS. IN 2024, THE NCTA WORKED WITH NINE PARKS IN LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
  4. $18,197 spent. ARCHIVE PRESERVATION: THE NCTA MAINTAINS AN ARCHIVE OF ORIGINAL AUDIO RECORDINGS OF TRADITIONAL MUSIC DATING FROM THE 1930S, WITH EXTENSIVE MATERIALS FROM THE 1960S FORWARD. A MULTIYEAR PROJECT TO PRESERVE, COPY AND DIGITIZE THE ENTIRE COLLECTION IS UNDERWAY. PORTIONS OF THE NCTA COLLECTION THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PRESERVED AND DIGITIZED, (OVER 7,000 HOURS TO DATE), ARE NOW PERMANENTLY HOUSED AT THE AMERICAN FOLKLIFE CENTER OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. EXPENSES INCLUDE STAFF TIME, CONSULTANT FEES, AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MAINTAINING THE ARCHIVE AND PROJECTS DIGITIZING RECORDINGS FROM FESTIVALS AND OTHER PUBLIC PROGRAMS.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 October 1963.

    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.