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North Carolina Pottery Museum Inc

EIN 56-1765000 · Seagrove, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceFair66 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROMOTE POTTERY WITH DEMONSTRATIONS AND WORKSHOPS TO THE PUBLIC, AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE HISTORY OF POTTERY AND ITS VALUE TO OUR HERITAGE.

Income
$394,862
Spending
$480,638
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
5
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$68,195, 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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 73% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    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

    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 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 (3)
  1. $105,217 spent. EXHIBITIONS - THE CENTER'S LONG-TERM EXHIBIT PIECES OF POTTERY, ALONG WITH ARTIFACTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS, TRACING NORTH CAROLINA'S POTTERY HISTORY FROM PREHISTORIC NATIVE AMERICANS TO THE PRESENT. THE CENTER'S OTHER EXHIBITION SPACES SHOWCASE CHANGING EXHIBITS OF HISTORICAL AND/OR CONTEMPORARY WORK. THE CENTER'S ONLINE ECOLLECTIONS PORTAL PROVIDES ACCESS TO OVER 800 PIECES IN THE CENTER'S PERMANENT COLLECTION.
  2. $162,804 spent. EDUCATION - THE CENTER PROMOTES AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION OF NORTH CAROLINA'S RICH POTTERY-MAKING TRADITIONS, PAST AND PRESENT, THROUGH SELF-GUIDED AND GUIDED TOURS, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND CLASSES. THE CENTER ALSO RUNS A TRADITIONAL ARTS IN SCHOOLS (TAPS) PROGRAM, WHICH SUPPORTS TWO ANNUAL SESSIONS OF 5TH-GRADE AFTERSCHOOL POTTERY WORKSHOPS THAT TEACH THE BASICS OF TRADITIONAL WHEEL THROWING, HAND BUILDING, AND GLAZING, ALONG WITH THE HISTORY OF THE AREA. ADDITIONALLY, THE CENTER PLANS, HOSTS, AND IMPLEMENTS AN ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL SYMPOSIUM (CALLED THE NC POTTERS CONFERENCE) FOR POTTERS FROM NC AND OTHER STATES.
  3. $90,569 spent. VISITOR CENTER - THE CENTER PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT THE SEAGROVE AREA, LOCAL SEAGROVE POTTERS, AND THE STATE'S ENTIRE POTTERY COMMUNITY THROUGH MAPS, DIRECTIONS, AND OTHER RESOURCES.

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 November 6, 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 September 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 November 4, 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.