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Mclean Project for the Arts Inc

EIN 52-1374407 · Mclean, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MCLEAN PROJECT FORTHE ARTS (MPA) IS A LEADING CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ARTS NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO CONNECTING ART AND COMMUNITY. OUR COMMUNITY IS ROOTED IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION; OUR MISSION IS TO SERVE ARTISTS AND THE PUBLIC BY EXHIBITING THE WORK OF EMERGINGAND ESTABLISHED ARTISTS, FOSTERING THEUNDERSTANDING OF CONTEMPORARY ART, AND OFFERING ART EDUCATION AND INSTRUCTION FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND POTENTIALS.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
12
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$75,880, 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 71% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 49% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

    36 of 36 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 (4)
  1. $125,172 spent. EXHIBITIONS: MPA HOSTS 8-12 MUSEUM-QUALITY EXHIBITIONS ANNUALLY, FROM CURATED EXHIBITIONS AROUND A CENTRAL THEME TO JURIED SHOWS OF OVER 30 ARTISTS. OUR EXHIBITIONS AND OPENING RECEPTIONS ARE FREE, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND FULLY ACCESSIBLE/ADA COMPLIANT. MPA EXHIBITIONS ARE FREQUENTLY REVIEWED BY THE WASHINGTON POST WITH POSITIVE COMMENTARY ABOUT THEIR ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE. OUR GALLERIES ARE HIGHLY SOUGHT-AFTER EXHIBITION SPACES FOR ARTISTS, HAVING SHOWN THE WORK OF APPROXIMATELY 3,500 ARTISTS OVER 60 YEARS, AND WELCOMING 1,500 IN-PERSON GALLERY VISITORS ANNUALLY. IN RECENT YEARS (IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC), MPA ADDED VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS OF OUR EXHIBITIONS TO OUR WEBSITE AND OFFERED ZOOM EXHIBITION OPENINGS AND ARTIST TALKS, AND INPRINT AND VIDEO PRESENTATIONS, ALL OF WHICH HAVE EXPANDED THE REACH OF THIS ASPECT OF OUR PROGRAMMING. OUR VIRTUAL EXHIBITIONS HAVE BEEN WELL ATTENDED WITH APPROXIMATELY 80 PARTICIPANTS PER SESSION. ALTHOUGH MPA HAS RESUMED ALL IN-PERSON GALLERY TOURS AND PROGRAMMING TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT EXHIBITING ARTISTS, WE INTENTIONALLY CONTINUE TO DELIVER OUR PROGRAMMING ONLINE AND IN OTHER FORMATS TO ENSURE THE BROADEST ACCESSIBILITY POSSIBLE ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY AND COMMONWEALTH.
  2. $292,062 spent. ARTS & EDUCATION CENTER PROJECT: MCLEAN PROJECT FOR THE ARTS IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO PAIR ITS LONGTIME COMMITMENT TO THE ARTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A REGIONAL EPICENTER FOR ARTS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. THE ENVISIONED RESULT IS A VIBRANT, 6,000-SQUARE FOOT FACILITY IN WHICH THE POSSIBILITIES FOR CREATIVITY ARE BOUNDLESS.TO ADVANCE MPA'S ENDURING MISSION OF EXHIBITING, EDUCATING AND INSPIRING, MPA IS WORKING TO CREATE A NEW MPA ARTS AND EDUCATION CENTER. MPA'S EXPANDED PRESENCE WILL COMPLEMENT THE EXISTING GALLERIES AND STUDIO AT THE MCLEAN COMMUNITY CENTER WITH NEW INTERIOR AND EXTERIORSPACES IN DOWNTOWN MCLEAN, VIRGINIA. THE NEW CAMPUS INCLUDES GALLERIES DEDICATED TOEXHIBITING CONTEMPORARYART; STATE-OF-THE ART CLASSROOMS AND CORRESPONDING EQUIPMENTFORDISTINCT MEDIUMS; A CAF FOR ARTISTS AND VISITORS; AND A COURTYARD FOR OUTDOOR LEARNING ANDCOMMUNITY CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS.
  3. $161,736 spent. ART EDUCATION: MPA OFFERS A BROAD VARIETY OF AFFORDABLE ART CLASSES, SUMMER ART CAMPS, AND FREE WORKSHOPS ANNUALLY, EDUCATING OVER 1,200 ART STUDENTS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES. MPA'S DIVERSE FACULTY MEMBERS, EXPERTS IN THEIR CHOSEN MEDIA, TEACH AN EXPANSIVE RANGE OF STYLES AND APPROACHES, AND BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN-STUDIO CLASSES ARE OFFERED.
  4. $154,322 spent. 4.ARTREACH: MPA'S CENTRAL OUTREACH PROGRAM EXTENDS ARTS EDUCATION INTO THE COMMUNITY, FOCUSING RESOURCES ON INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS WITH LIMITED OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT A GALLERY OR ENGAGE WITH WORKING ARTISTS. ARTREACH CENTERS ON MPA'S GALLERY EXHIBITIONS, OFFERING ARTIST-EDUCATOR TOURS AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES WHICH DEMONSTRATE ART PRINCIPLES AND INCORPORATE CONCEPTS OF THE VIRGINIA STANDARDS OF LEARNING (SOLS). MPA'S AWARD-WINNING ARTREACH PROGRAM IS FREE AND SERVES APPROXIMATELY 3,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY. MPA INVESTS FUNDS PURPOSEFULLY TO ENGAGE STUDENTS FROM TITLE I SCHOOLS, TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS FROM UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES, AND INDIVIDUALS FROM SENIOR CENTERS AND COMMUNITY DISABILITY PROGRAMS. MPA OFFERS FREE BUS SERVICE TO OUR GALLERIES TO ALL TITLE I SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS. THE MPA SERVICE AREA EXTENDS FROM DC'S SHAW NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE SOUTHERNMOST AREAS OF FAIRFAX COUNTY, INCLUDING ARLINGTON AND FALLS CHURCH. THROUGH OUR VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING AND THE DISTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS OF OUR EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY FLYERS TIED TO OUR EXHIBITIONS, OUR ARTREACH PROGRAM OFFERS EXTRAORDINARY ACCESS TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. MPA'S PARTNERSHIP WITH SERVICESOURCE, SECOND STORY, AND BEST BUDDIES CONTINUES TO GROW AND MPA CONTINUES TO REACH OUT TO AND ENGAGE NEW VETERAN COMMUNITIES.

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 March 1992.

    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.