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Montgomery County Council for the Arts Inc

EIN 61-1224757 · Mt Sterling, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceWeak46 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 47% 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

THE GATEWAY REGIONAL ARTS CENTER LEVERAGES THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF ART AND CULTURE TO ADDRES CRITICAL COMMUNITY CHALLENGES BY PROVIDING EXTRAORDINARY CREATIVE EXPERIENCES, SHARING LOCAL AND GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES, AND PROMOTING THE ARTS AS AN IMPORTANT SOLUTION TO HOLISTIC WELL-BEING. THE INSTITUTION SERVES AS A FLAGSHIP HUB OF ARTS & CULTURAL EDUCATION FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN KENTUCKY, AND AIMS TO FOSTER CIVIC DIALOGUE THROUGH CREATIVE AND ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL PEOPLE, HONORING THE RICH DIVERSITY OF VOICES IN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES.

Income
$699,039
Spending
$447,442
Spent on programs
47%
Reserves
22 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
0
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$49,763, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 97% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    47% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

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

  • 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, 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 (3)
  1. $194,166 spent. THE ORGANIZATION PRODUCED OVER 350 COMMUNITY ARTS EVENTS, INCLUDING VISUAL ART EXHIBITIONS, CONCERTS AND GALLERY RECEPTIONS. THESE PROGRAMS ENGAGEED MORE THAN 28,000 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN KENTUCKY AND SUPPORTED THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO INCREASE CULTURAL PARTICIPATION IN RURAL AREAS. THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED NUMEROUS PERFORMANCES INCLUDING FINDING NEMO: THE MUSICAL, THE LARAMIE PROJECT, AND THE 36TH ANNUAL ADVENT MUSICALE. THESE PERFORMANCES BROUGHT TOGETHER PROFESSIONAL AND LOCAL TALENT AND REGULARLY PLAYED TO SOLD OUT AUDIENCES, SUPPORTING REGIONAL ACCESS TO PERFORMING ARTS.
  2. $17,097 spent. THE EASTERN KENTUCKY ACADEMY FOR THE ARTS PROVIDED OVER 125 FREE AND LOW-COST ARTS EDUCATION CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS. THE PROGRAM REACHED MORE THAN 5,000 YOUTH AND ADULTS FROM 33 COUNTIES, EXPANDING ACCESS TO CREATIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN RURAL AND UNDERSERVED REGIONS. PROGRAMS INCLUDED "ART OF RECOVERY", FOR INCARCERATED WOMEN, AND "GATEWAY TO WELLBEING", 80 FREE WORKSHOPS IN 4 COUNTIES. THESE PROGRAMS SERVE MARGINALIZED GROUPS INCLUDING FOSTER YOUTH, VETERANS, SENIORS AND LOW INCOME RESIDENTS. THESE INITIATIVES USED ARTS ENGAGEMENT TO IMPROVE SOCIAL CONNECTION AND MENTAL HEALTH.
  3. IN 2024, GRAC EXPANDED ITS PERMANENT COLLECTION THROUGH A $175,000 IN KIND DONATION OF 65 WORKS BY FEMINIST ARTIST LINDA STEIN. IT CONTINUED EXHIBITING THE LARGEST CONTEMPORARY KENYAN ART COLLECTION IN NORTH AMERICAN AND IMPLEMENTED CULTURAL EQUITY POLICIES TO SUPPORT INCLUSIVE REPRESENTATION IN ALL PROGRAMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 November 1998.

    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.