Carolina Art Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE GIBBES MUSEUM OF ART IS TO ENHANCE LIVES THROUGH ART BY ENGAGING PEOPLE OF EVERY BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE WITH ART AND ARTISTS OF ENDURING QUALITY; COLLECT AND PRESERVE THE ART THAT TOUCHES CHARLESTON; AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN, TO DISCOVER, TO ENJOY, AND TO BE INSPIRED BY THE CREATIVE PROCESS.
- Income
- $6.0 million
- Spending
- $5.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- -1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 61%
- Employees
- 33
- Volunteers
- 126
- Highest pay
- $232,485, president/ceo
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: 61 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 2540 of 44 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $1.2 million spent. COLLECTIONS/EXHIBITIONS/SCHOLARSHIP: THE ART COLLECTION HOUSED AT THE GIBBES CONSTITUTES THE SINGLE GREATEST CULTURAL ASSET IN THE LOWCOUNTRY REGION OF SOUTH CAROLINA. FEW COLLECTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES MATCH ITS DEPTH, BREADTH AND QUALITY IN AMERICAN ART THAT TOUCHES CHARLESTON. THE GIBBES AIMS TO PRESENT AN INNOVATIVE SERIES OF SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS AND PERMANENT COLLECTION INSTALLATIONS OF SUPERIOR QUALITY, VARIETY, AND SCOPE. EXHIBITIONS ARE DESIGNED AS AN EXPERIMENTAL PLATFORM FOR ENGAGING WITH ART IN NEW AND EXCITING WAYS AND CHALLENGING ESTABLISHED INTERPRETATIONS. THE PROGRAM STRIVES TO PROMOTE CREATIVITY, INTRODUCE NEW ART FORMS, PROVIDE PERSPECTIVE ON LARGER COMMUNITY ISSUES, ENCOURAGE FREEDOM OF THOUGHT, AND CONNECT WITH THE BROADEST POSSIBLE AUDIENCE.
- $2.0 million spent. EDUCATION/PUBLIC PROGRAMS: EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS ARE CENTRAL TO THE MISSION AND VISION OF THE GIBBES AND STEM FROM THE MUSEUM'S PURPOSE TO CONNECT PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO IDEAS AND CREATIVITY THROUGH ART. WE WORK TO PROVIDE A CULTURAL EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE BY CONNECTING ARTISTS, THE CREATIVE PROCESS, AND WORKS OF ART TO IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND STIMULATE DIALOGUE AND INNOVATION. THE GIBBES IS COMMITTED TO: PROVIDING HIGH- UALITY TRAINING TO ALL STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY INVOLVES IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS POLICY; ENCOURAGING ACCESS TO THE CURATORIAL DEPARTMENT AND INDUSTRY LEADERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF STUDY AND TRAINING; IMPLEMENTING NATIONAL AND REGIONAL STANDARDS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MUSEUM EDUCATION; APPLYING THE STATE CURRICULUM STANDARDS FOR THE VISUAL ARTS FOR ALL PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE TRI-COUNTY SCHOOLS; AND IMPLEMENTING THE STATE CURRICULUM STANDARDS FOR THE VISUAL ARTS TO ENHANCE OTHER DISCIPLINES: SOCIAL STUDIES, ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, SCIENCE AND MATH.
- $630,023 spent. VISITOR SERVICES/GIFT SHOP/ART SALES GALLERY: THE MUSEUM IS IDEALLY POSITIONED TO TELL THE STORIES OF THE AMERICAN YOUTH TO ITS VISITORS AND COMMUNITY. EDUCATION IS CENTRAL TO ITS MISSION AND ITS PROGRAMS AND DESIGNED FOR LEARNERS OF ALL AGES. OUR VISITOR SERVICES AND RETAIL AMENITIES CATER TO ALL AGES AND COMPLIMENT THE MISSION DRIVEN ACTIVITIES OF THE MUSEUM. THE MUSEUM STORE SHOWCASES THE CREATIVITY OF REGIONAL ARTISTS, AND COLLABORATES WITH ARTISTS ON EXCLUSIVE PRODUCTS ONLY AVAILABLE AT THE GIBBES. FEATURED PRODUCTS INCLUDE JEWELRY, GIFTS, ART SUPPLIES, BOOKS, AND SPECIALTY TEMS - INTRODUCING ART INTO EVERYDAY LIFE. EVERY TAX-FREE PURCHASE DIRECTLY SUPPORTS THE GIBBES MUSEUM'S MISSION TO ENHANCE LIVES THROUGH ART BY HELPING TO FUND OUR EXHIBITION AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. THE RUTH AND BILL BAKER ART SALES GALLERY PROVIDES CAREER SUPPORT TO ARTISTS SELECTED FOR THE VISITING ARTIST PROGRAM THROUGH THE PROFESSIONAL DISPLAY AND SALE OF RECENT WORKS. PRESENTING UP TO EIGHT EXHIBITIONS ANNUALLY, THE ART SALES GALLERY PROVIDES AN INSIGHTFUL, CONTEMPORARY ART EXPERIENCE THAT CONNECTS EMERGING AS WELL AS ESTABLISHED COLLECTORS WITH ARTISTS AT ALL LEVELS OF ARTISTIC ENDEAVOR. LOCATED ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE MUSEUM, THE GALLERY IS AN EXTENSION OF THE EDUCATION CORRIDOR, WHICH FURTHERS OUR VISITORS' INTERACTION WITH ART FROM THE ART-MAKING PROCESS TO THE EXHIBITION OF COMPLETED WORKS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1955.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.