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Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art Inc

EIN 54-0893116 · Reston, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood73 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 33% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

PROMOTE INNOVATIVE CONTEMPORARY ART AND THINKING BY PROVIDING A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM OF CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ART EXHIBITIONS. EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES, AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Income
$664,886
Spending
$639,125
Spent on programs
33%
Reserves
4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 54%
Employees
5

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

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    33% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 August 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. $162,705 spent. EVENTS: TEPHRA ICA PRODUCES A NUMBER OF EVENTS THAT EXPORE CONTEMPORARY ART AND OUR CURRENT EXHIBITIONS. THE TEPHRA ICA ARTS FESTIVAL, FORMERLY TITLED THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA FINE ARTS FESTIVAL, IS A NATIONALLY RANKED JURIED, OUTDOOR SHOW OFFERING THE COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY AND PURCHASE SUPPERIOR FINE ART AND FINE CRAFT FROM OVER 200 ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. THE FESTIVAL IS BOTH THE INSTITUTION'S LARGEST FUNDRAISER, AND ITS MOST-ATTENDED EVENT, TYPICALLY ATTRACTING OVER 20,000 PEOPLE TO RESTON TOWN CENTER THAT WEEKEND. THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTRONS TO ENGAGE WITH ART AND ARTISTS, EXPERIENCE INNOVATIVE PERFORMANCES AND ACTIVATIONS, AND FOR FAMILIES TO ENGAGE IN CREATIVE ARTMAKING.
  2. $1,511 spent. EDUCATION: TEPHRA ICA IS COMMITTED TO ITS DIVERSE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT SEEK TO REACH AND ENGAGE A WIDE AND DIVERSE AUDIENCE OF ALL AGES. WE PARTNER WITH EXHIBITING ARTISTS, CURATORS, SCHOLARS AND EDUCATORS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNIQUE PROGRAMS TO SERVE FAMILIES AND TEENS BOTH IN SCHOOL AND IN OUR GALLERIES. OUR WORKSHOPS INVITES PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO PARTICIPATE IN FREE WORKSHOPS EITHER LED OR INSPIRED BY EXHIBITING ARTISTS. OUR EARTH DAY PROGRAMMING OFFERS OUTDOOR, ENVIRONMENTALLY FOCUSED, ARTS WORKSHOPS TO CREATIVES OF ALL AGES. WE ALSO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS INTERESTED IN THE ARTS VIA OUR CAREER SESSIONS AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.
  3. $46,825 spent. EXHIBITIONS: THE INSTITUTION MOUNTS SIX TO EIGHT CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITIONS EACH YEAR, TYPICALLY FEATURING WORK BY EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED REGIONAL AND NATIONAL ARTISTS. THIS INCLUDES SOLO EXHIBITIONS AS WELL AS THEMATIC GROUP SHOWS THAT PRESENT A BROAD RANGE OF CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS WORKING IN A WIDE VARIETY OF MEDIA. EACH EXHIBITION IS AUGMENTED WITH A SERIES OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS, INCLUDING CURATOR TALKS, ARTIST WORKSHOPS, AND OUR CREATIVE RESPONSE PROGRAM, FOR WHICH EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD RESPOND TO THE ARTWORK ON VIEW AND ENGAGE THE AUDIENCE IN CONVERSATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 March 1974.

    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.