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Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts

EIN 58-2007394 · Gatlinburg, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ARROWMONT STRIVES TO ENCOURAGE, EDUCATE, AND PROVIDE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF EXCELLENCE IN CREATIVE ARTS AND CRAFTS TO INDIVIDUALS.

Income
$8.7 million
Spending
$6.9 million
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
25.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 49%
Employees
63
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$187,354, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 25.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 49% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (1)
  1. $4.2 million spent. IN 2022, THE HISTORIC CAMPUS OF THE ARROWMONT SCHOOL OF ARTS AND CRAFTS MARKED ITS 110TH YEAR AS A PLACE OF EDUCATION. THE SPIRIT OF THIS HERITAGE PERMEATES THE GROUNDS, BUILDINGS AND EVEN THE MOUNTAIN AIR. THE EARLY YEARS WERE ABOUT GENERAL EDUCATION IN A SETTLEMENT SCHOOL SETTING, BUT CURRICULUM WAS SOON ADDED IN MOUNTAIN HANDICRAFTS TO PRESERVE SKILLS AND PROVIDE VEHICLES OF LIVELIHOOD FOR AREA RESIDENTS. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS CONTINUATION. IN 1945, THE SIGNATURE SUMMER WORKSHOP PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED DURING A PERIOD OF REVIVAL IN CRAFT EDUCATION AND THE SCHOOL WAS OPENED TO PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES WHO TRAVELED TO TAKE ART CLASSES IN THE BEAUTIFUL GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS. SEVENTY-SEVEN YEARS LATER, THAT WORKSHOP PROGRAM HAS EVOLVED INTO THE EXTENSIVE YEAR ROUND COURSE OFFERINGS OF MORE THAN 150 CLASSES IN CONTEMPORARY ART AND CRAFTS TO INCLUDE VARIOUS ARTREACH, COMMUNITY, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES. IN A TIME WHEN MANY ARE SEEKING FRESH WAYS OF PROBLEM-SOLVING, SEEING DIFFERENTLY AND COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY, ARROWMONT OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE OF ALL SKILL LEVELS TO SPEND A FEW HOURS A DAY, A WEEKEND, A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS IMMERSED IN ART-MAKING, EXPERIMENTING, LEARNING NEW TECHNIQUES, EXPLORING A VARIETY OF MEDIA AND FORMS OF EXPRESSION OR SIMPLY TAKING TIME TO BE FULLY FOCUSED AND PRESENT IN A CREATIVE MANNER WITHOUT THE DISTRACTIONS OF DAILY LIFE. FOR SOME, IT IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY WITH LEADING, NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ARTISTS WHO TRAVEL TO THE CAMPUS TO TEACH SPECIFIC WORKSHOPS AND SERVE AS THE SCHOOL'S FOUNDATION IN ENSURING THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF INNOVATIVE INSTRUCTION. FOR OTHERS, IT IS THE EXCEPTIONAL, WELL-EQUIPPED STUDIOS WHERE STUDENTS CAN WORK SAFELY AND CONFIDENTLY IN A PROFESSIONAL-LEVEL ENVIRONMENT. FOR MANY, IT IS THE DAILY ENGAGEMENT AMONG A DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, COMING TOGETHER TO LEARN AND WORK IN A SUPPORTIVE, CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT. ARROWMONT OFFERS CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES AND OTHER PROGRAMS TO FURTHER STUDENT EDUCATION AND PROMOTE EXCELLENCE AND ENRICHMENT IN THE ARTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 August 1992.

    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.

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