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Foundation for the Mcknight Center for the Performing Arts

EIN 81-2608656 · Stillwater, OK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MCKNIGHT CENTER INSPIRES AND TRANSFORMS INDIVIDUALS' LIVES THROUGH ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE, SHARED CREATIVE EXPERIENCES, AND IMPACTFUL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS ARE PRESENTED IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT SEEKS TO ELIMINATE OBSTACLES TO ATTENDANCE FOR ALL AUDIENCES.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$5.7 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 53%
Employees
128
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$288,497, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 65% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 35 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 June 30, 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. $4.2 million spent. THE MCKNIGHT CENTER COMPLETED ITS SIXTH SEASON OF OPERATIONS AND SERVED MORE TICKET BUYERS THAN ANY PREVIOUS YEAR. THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF DIVERSE CONCERTS, INCLUDING MAJOR POP ARTISTS, BROADWAY TOURING SHOWS, CHAMBER MUSIC AND MAJOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS, THE CENTER SERVED 23,970 TICKET BUYERS OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEASON AND TICKET SALES AND RELATED FEES AND COMMISSIONS GREW TO $1,731,012.
  2. $145,980 spent. THE MCKNIGHT CENTER OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF FREE PROGRAMS TO SERVE THE STUDENTS AT OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE STILLWATER COMMUNITY AND SURROUNDING AREAS. THROUGH MASTER CLASSES, YOUNG PEOPLES CONCERTS AND SPECIAL LECTURE TOPICS, 5,664 STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM FREE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE MCKNIGHT CENTER OFFERED FREE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS YOGA ON THE PLAZA WITH LIVE MUSIC AND A FREE MOVIE SERIES TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY, SERVING AN ADDITIONAL 1,108 PEOPLE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 2025.

    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 2016.

    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.