Bakersfield Art Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 39% 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 Bakersfield Museum of Art inspires and engages diverse audiences by providing a broad spectrum of creative visual arts experiences through the exhibition and preservation of fine art, educational programs, community outreach and special events.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 39%
- Reserves
- 10.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 47%
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 67
- Highest pay
- $115,003, exec dir/ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1539% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 2523 of 23 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 May 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 (2)
- $272,451 spent. Exhibits - The primary purpose of the Bakersfield Museum of Art is to provide a broad spectrum of visual arts experiences through the exhibition and preservation of fine art, educational programs, community outreach, and special events. We have approximately 25,000 visitors each year. In addition to free admission and extended hours on the first Friday of each month, we offer second Saturday lectures and free art activities for families on the second Saturday of each month. We also offer free admission to military families during the summer months through the blue star museum program.
- $257,004 spent. The Museum provides significant educational programs including docent tours to students, art education classes during the school day for 5th grade students, after-school art enrichment classes, semester-long art enrichment classes for high school students, and summer art camps. More than 3,000 students participate in docent tours during a school year. Art education classes for 5th grade students reach more than 3,500 students annually and more than 5,000 students are served through the after-school art enrichment classes at 17 different schools. The high school free semester-long program provides guidance, mentoring, and education to 20 students annually where they learn also about art in our community and skills to pursue a career in the visual arts. Summer camp reaches approximately 500 children ages 5 to 17 years.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 May 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 December 1986.
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.