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Arts Club of Washington

EIN 53-0029040 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROMOTION OF VISUAL, LITERARY, AND MUSICAL ARTS THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION, STUDY AND PARTICIPATION; AND PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
51%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 41%
Employees
14
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$144,630, general manager

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    51% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 March 31, 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. $420,853 spent. FACILITY AND FOOD SERVICES FOCUS ON MAINTENANCE AND SHOWING OF FORMER PRESIDENT JAMES MONROE'S HOME AND OPENING THE BUILDING TO THE PUBLIC FOR VARIOUS EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES INVOLVING THE ARTS. ALSO, CLUB AND PROGRAM SERVICES FOCUS ON MAINTAINNG THE ART GALLERIES AND PROVIDING A CONCERT SERIES TO SHOW CASE THE WORK OF VARIOUS ARTISTS.
  2. $18,966 spent. THE NATIONAL AWARD FOR ARTS WRITING IS A PROGRAM FUNDED BY ENDOWNMENTS TO ANNUALLY AWARD EXCELLENCE IN WRITING ABOUT THE ARTS FOR A BROAD AUDIENCE. THE AWARD IS GIVEN TO THE AUTHOR OF A BOOK ABOUT ANY ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE PUBLISHED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE AWARD CELEBRATES PROSE THAT IS LUCID, LUMINOUS, CLEAR, AND INSPIRING.
  3. $79,516 spent. THE ARTS CLUB USES FUNDS RECEIVED THROUGH AN AIR RIGHTS LEASING AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT SOME OF OUR OUTREACH COMMUNITY PROGRAMS - EXHIBIT OPENINGS, LITERARY EVENNGS, EVENINGS WITH EXTRAORDINARY ARTISTS, AND FRIDAY NOON CONCERT SERIES. THESE EVETNS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. ALSO, THE FUNDS ARE USED TO MAINTAIN AND RESERVE THE HISTORIC JAMES MONROE HOUSE, WHICH IS LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 March 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 January 1938.

    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.