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Zootown Arts Community Center

EIN 80-0253229 · Missoula, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CULTIVATING COMMUNITY THROUGH ACCESSIBLE ARTS EXPERIENCES FOR ALL

Income
$992,118
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
-1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 65%
Employees
48
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$42,402, past president/interim ed

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

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    57% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    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 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 (3)
  1. $102,391 spent. COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT:THE ZACC ORGANIZES AND CARRIES OUT SEVERAL COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN ADDITION TO OUR MANY CLASS OFFERINGS, FIRST FRIDAY EVENTS, PERFORMANCES, GATHERINGS AND GUEST SPEAKERS WHICH TAKE PLACE IN VARIOUS PARTS OF OUR FACILITY UNDER SEVERAL DIFFERENT PROGRAM UMBRELLAS, OUR LAST BEST PRINT FEST, MISSOULA MONSTER PROJECT AND HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE EVENTS ALL ATTRACT A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR PARTICIPATION. THE THREE AFOREMENTIONED EVENTS ALONE ALLOW US TO COLLABORATE WITH MORE THAN 320 ARTISTS, AND EACH EVENT BRINGS IN APPROXIMATELY 500 ATTENDEES WITH THE MISSOULA MONSTER PROJECT BRINGING IN CLOSER TO 1,000 VIEWERS/COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS.
  2. $233,175 spent. ART EDUCATION:DURING 2024, THE ZACC DELIVERED MORE THAN 2,100 HOURS OF ART EDUCATION TO YOUTH AND ADULTS THROUGH ARTIST-LED WORKSHOPS.
  3. $351,887 spent. ARTIST ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES:DURING 2024, THE ZACC HAD SEVERAL PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT, ENRICH, AND INCUBATE ARTISTS OF ALL DISCIPLINES. WE RENTED LOW-COST STUDIO SPACE TO ARTISTS, A LOCAL ARTIST SHOP, MULTIPLE GALLERIES, ARTIST IN RESIDENCY PROGRAM, AND A PERFORMANCE SPACE AND RECORDING STUDIO DESIGNED TO SUPPORT PERFORMANCE AND SOUND ARTISTS TO MORE EASILY CONNECT WITH THEIR AUDIENCES AND GROW AS ARTISTS.

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 July 2009.

    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.

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.