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Frederick Book Arts Center Inc

EIN 82-3894693 · Frederick, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak29 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 36% 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

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$187,653
Spending
$241,068
Spent on programs
37%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
3
Volunteers
23

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: 29 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    36% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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.

  • 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. $72,136 spent. CLASSES: WE OFFER A RANGE OF CLASSES IN LETTERPRESS, BOOK ARTS, PRINTMAKING, BOOKBINDING, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND PAPER ARTS. AT THE END OF 2023, FBAC MOVED INTO OUR NEW LOCATION AT 127 SOUTH CARROLL STREET A MUCH LARGER FACILITY FOR US TO WORK FROM. WE ALSO CONSOLIDATED THE SILKSCREEN STUDIO INTO OUR MAIN BUILDING. WE HAD A RE-OPENING IN MID-YEAR AND HAVE BEEN HOSTING CLASSES CONTINUOUSLY SINCE. THERE WAS A LOT OF REORGANIZATION OF EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES (AFTER THE MOVE) TO SET UP OUR NEW CLASSES.
  2. $14,494 spent. OUTREACH: FBAC HAS SEVERAL VENTURES THAT FALL UNDER OUTREACH INCLUDING SCHOOL VISITS, HOSTING LOCAL EVENTS, OPEN HOUSES, ARTISTS TALKS, COMMUNITY FESTIVALS, AND EXHIBITIONS. OUR NEW LOCATION HAS A LARGE GALLERY SPACE, A STORE SPACE, AND A LARGE WORKSHOP AREA FOR COMMUNITY EQUIPMENT.
  3. $1,353 spent. RENTAL EQUIPMENT: FBAC HAS A FULL BOOK BINDERY IN OPERATION, A LETTERPRESS AREA, PRINTMAKING EQUIPMENT, AND OTHER RESOURCES WHICH WE OFFER FOR RENTAL TO THE PUBLIC. TO ASSURE SAFETY, ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING IS OFFERED BY STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE USE OF THIS EQUIPMENT THROUGH A RENTAL PROGRAM. THIS SERVICE IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO NECESSARY TOOLS FOR ARTISTS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO CARRY OUT PROJECTS, WHICH THEY WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO WITHOUT OUR EQUIPMENT.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 July 2018.

    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.