Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Howard County Arts Council

EIN 52-1219079 · Ellicott City, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENRICH AND UPLIFT OUR COMMUNITIES BY ADVANCING THE ARTS, ARTISTS, AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL.

Income
$3.6 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 85%
Employees
29
Volunteers
276
Highest pay
$190,314, executive 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 87% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (5)
  1. $770,939 spent. GRANT AWARDS - TO ADVANCE AND SUPPORT THE ARTS, THE ARTS COUNCIL ADMINISTERS THE FOLLOWING GRANT PROGRAMS: COMMUNITY ARTS DEVELOPMENT, ARTISTS-IN-EDUCATION, BALTIMORE CITY ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, CREATIVE HOWARD, ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, OUTREACH HOWARD, AND THE JIM ROUSE THEATRE SUBSIDY PROGRAM. ADDITIONAL GRANT PROGRAMS ARE PILOTED AND ACTIVATED FROM TIME TO TIME AS NEEDED. A VOLUNTEER ARTISTIC REVIEW PANEL IS CHARGED WITH EVALUATING ALL GRANT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED FROM ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS VOTES ON THE PANEL'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND HAS FINAL APPROVAL OF THE GRANT AWARDS.
  2. $507,905 spent. ART CENTER - TO ENCOURAGE AN ACTIVE AND SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ARTISTS AND THE PUBLIC, THE ARTS COUNCIL MANAGES A 32,000 SQUARE FEET MULTI-PURPOSE ARTS CENTER, WHICH PROVIDES AFFORDABLE STUDIO AND MEETING SPACE TO ARTISTS, A BLACK BOX THEATRE, AND A DANCE STUDIO FOR PERFORMANCES AND REHEARSALS, CLASSROOMS FOR ARTS EDUCATION, AND TWO EXHIBIT SPACES FOR THE DISPLAY OF VARIOUS FORMS OF VISUAL ARTWORK.
  3. $235,289 spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES - TO FOSTER AND PROMOTE THE ARTS, THE ARTS COUNCIL MAINTAINS A WEBSITE THAT PROMOTES UPCOMING PROGRAMS AND PERFORMANCES, DEVELOPS PARTNERSHIPS TO ADVANCE THE ARTS, PUBLISHES A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER, MAINTAINS AN ACTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE AND ONLINE CALENDAR OF ART EVENTS IN THE COUNTY, OFFERS AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS, AND PROVIDES VARIOUS RESOURCES, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, ADVICE AND GUIDANCE ON ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT AND ART EDUCATION.
  4. $116,635 spent. SPECIAL PROJECTS - TO ENSURE THAT THE ARTS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL CITIZENS, THE ARTS COUNCIL DEVELOPS PROGRAMS THAT REACH OUT TO UNDERSERVED OR NEW AUDIENCES. THESE PROGRAMS MAY BE ONGOING OR ONE-TIME PILOT PROJECTS.
  5. $25,136 spent. LONG REACH - IN JANUARY 2020, THE ARTS COUNCIL WAS INVITED BY THE HOWARD COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO DEVELOP AND MANAGE 16 INDIVIDUAL ARTIST STUDIOS AT THE LONG REACH VILLAGE CENTER AS PART OF THEIR LONG REACH RISING REVITALIZATION EFFORT.

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 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 June 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 1981.

    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.