Maine Inside Out
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Maine Inside Out engages youth and adults impacted by systemic oppression to create and share original theater.
- Income
- $751,279
- Spending
- $947,631
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 6.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 83%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $96,039, co-director
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
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (7)
- $215,292 spent. Creative Ensemble Project MIO's Creative Ensemble is composed of staff and Lewiston community artists who utilize theater to explore themes of identity, shared life experiences, and the world we inhabit. Through play, dialogue, and the transformative power of art, MIO fosters connection, bridging boundaries and dissolving the separation between audience and actor, which encourages collective movement and change. In 2024, the Creative Ensemble debuted their performance, "Broken Clock," first at the Lewiston Festival on Juneteenth, followed by smaller performances in Lewiston and Portland in November. Throughout 2025, the play "Broken CLock" embarked on a statewide tour across Maine, with the Creative Ensemble performing it over 15 times. Venues included correctional facilities, local theaters, and colleges.
- $158,043 spent. Lewiston Landing Pad ProjectArtists participated in peer-based groups and received support through MIO's advocacy and support programs which are held by the Lewiston Landing Pad Project. Advocacy and Support involves helping navigate system involvement and personal and family crises by offering support with fines, fees, and restitution, as well as emergency funds for food and basic resources (diapers, formula), shelter, and transportation. MIO connected 30 young people to resources for emergency food and basic resources in 2025. The Landing Pad Project also holds community program projects including community lunches where artists are invited to prepare for hosting and performing original art at upcoming MIO events (open mic nights, Juneteenth, theater performances) and MIO also invites community resources to connect artists to (recovery support, financial resources, etc). In 2025 there were 10 community lunches. There were 4 open mic nights: "Time Served" Open Mic Night on March 18,2025; "Inside Vision" Open Mic Night on May 19, 2025; "Home Bound" Open Mic Night on October 21, 2025; "Shelter in Place" Open Mic Night on December 16, 2025.
- $76,777 spent. Lewiston Youth ProjectIn 2025, the Lewiston Youth Project focused on strengthening ties with existing community partners to determine the best strategy for MIO's continued engagement with Lewiston youth. This involved outreach, information gathering through meetings with youth and partners, and internal staff strategy and reflection on prior work to inform future workshops. MIO successfully held workshops with multiple community partners and youth from the area.
- $35,237 spent. Prison ProjectDuring 2025, the Prison Project focused on building relationships with correctional facilities statewide and developing a plan for future in-facility programming for both men and women to take place in 2026. A key component of this initiative was successfully touring "Broken Clock," which the creative ensemble performed for four different groups across three facilities.
- $1,444 spent. Portland Youth ProjectIn 2025, MIO continued its focus on relationship building, with facilitators engaging with both school staff and administration. A significant event was the conclusion of the Portland Youth Project, which culminated in a meaningful close-out session. This event celebrated the achievements of the King Middle School students who had participated in MIO's theater program throughout 2024.
- $38,778 spent. External WorkshopsMIO facilitators lead external workshops for various outside organizations. These workshops utilize forms of theater to help participants step away from their routine work activities, encouraging them to break out of their comfort zones and learn new games. These external workshops also serve as a source of earned revenue for MIO.
- $181,867 spent. Fiscal SponsorshipMIO supports mission-aligned indepedent artists, organizations, and groups without 501(c)(3) tax status to apply for grant funding through formal fiscal sponsorship. Through fiscal sponsorship, MIO supports visionary artists and community organizers in the practical process of resourcing their ideas, reducing the administrative burden on emerging artists and projects and amplifying the collective community impact on social change. We meet with fiscal sponsor participants regularly to ensure alignment with the project and review expense reports.
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
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.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2010 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2010.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2012.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.