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Clay Arts Guild of Helena

EIN 81-0533908 · Helena, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GUILD'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE CERAMIC ARTS WITHIN HELENA AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING SUPPORT AND EDUCATION THROUGH INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY WORKSPACE, CLASSES, SEMINARS AND SHARED RESOURCES. WE ARE GOVERNED BY AN ALL-VOLUNTEER EIGHT MEMBER BOARD WHICH MEETS ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. EACH MAY AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING IS HELD TO PERFORM ANNUAL ELECTIONS, INFORMATION SHARING AND FOR MAJOR BUSINESS DECISIONS.

Income
$415,470
Spending
$159,309
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
29.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
0
Volunteers
130

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 29.8 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 62% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 127% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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, 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)
  1. $73,847 spent. THE GUILD IS AT FULL CAPACITY WITH 104 MEMBERS AND A LONG WAITING LIST TO JOIN. A VARIETY OF CLASSES WERE OFFERED TO BOTH MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY CLAY ARTISTS IN 2025. THE GUILD CONTINUED ITS LONG COLLABORATION WITH THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL OFFERING WEEKLY THERAPEUTIC POTTERY CLASSES FOR VETERANS RECEIVING BOTH INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT SERVICES. IN 2024 THE GUILD PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 150 BOWLS TO HELENA FOOD SHARE FOR THEIR ANNUAL EMPTY BOWLS FUNDRAISER, AND A SIMILAR NUMBER TO THE MISSOULA COMMUNITY FOOD BANK FOR THEIR EMPTY BOWLS FULL SOULS FUNDRAISER. UNTIL ITS CLOSURE LATE IN 2024, THE GUILD CONTINUED ITS TRADITION OF HOSTING POTTERY ENRICHMENT SESSIONS FOR CLIENTS GRADUATING FROM THE CAREER TRAINING INSTITUTE. MEMBERS OF THE GUILD AGAIN MADE AND DONATED PLANTERS FOR THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HEAD START SPRING FUNDRAISER. THE GUILD ALSO DONATED APPROXIMATELY 300 PIECES OF POTTERY TO THE ALBERTON MONTANA SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER FOR AN UPCOMING FUNDRAISER. TWO YEARS AGO, DONATED POTTERY FROM THE GUILD TO THE ALBERTON PUBLIC LIBRARY RESULTED IN APPROXIMATELY $3,000 RAISED DURING THEIR FUNDRAISER. THE GUILD ALSO HOSTS A ONE-NIGHT RETREAT FOR THE MARGARET STUART YOUTH HOMES STAFF, WHO CARES FOR TEENS IN CRISIS AT THEIR HELENA SHELTER.
  2. $76,211 spent. THE GUILD MANAGED AN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL MONTH-LONG HOLIDAY STORE THIS YEAR THAT ALLOWED MEMBERS TO SELL THEIR POTTERY IN A RENTED LOCATION TO THE COMMUNITY AT VERY REASONABLE PRICES. THE STORE HELPS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE GUILD WHILE OFFERING MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND DISPLAY AND SELL THEIR ART. COMMUNITY MEMBERS ENJOY HAVING A ONE STOP SHOP TO LOOK FOR CREATIVE HOLIDAY GIFTS THEY CAN SHARE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. ADDITIONALLY THE MEMBERS MADE AND DONATED MANY BOXES OF POTTERY TO SUPPORT FUNDRAISING EVENTS HELD BY THE ALBERTON LIBRARY AND SENIOR CENTER, WESTMONT HELENA, MENDING WATERS MONTANA AND THE TOWNSEND STOKE/FOOD BANK. THE GUILD HOSTED FREE TEAM BUILDING "PLAY WITH CLAY" EVENINGS FOR STAFF FROM THE MARGARET STUART YOUT HOMES AND FROM THE INTERMOUNTAIN CHILDREN'S HOMES. THE CARROLL COLLEGE ENGINEERS WITHOUT BOARDERS CLUB HOSTED A VERY SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR A SERVICE TRIP TO GUATEMALA COMBINING APPROXIMATELY 75 PIECES OF DONATED POTTERY FROM TEH GUILD WIT HOTHER COMMUNIT YDONATIONS TO RAFFLE GIFT BASKETS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE GUILD HAS WAIVED MEMBERSHIP FEES FOR MEMBERS STRUGGLING WITH HEALTH AND/OR FINANCIAL ISSUES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 December 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 September 2006.

    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 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.