Monira Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 48% 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
THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO EXPAND THE REACH AND QUALITY OF ART AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH RESIDENCES, EXHIBITIONS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS URGENT AND ONGOING COMMUNITY NEEDS PARTICULARLY AS THOSE NEEDS EVOLVE AND CHANGE.
- Income
- $401,991
- Spending
- $447,494
- Spent on programs
- 48%
- Reserves
- 10.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $114,577, director/president/exec. d
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
Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1548% 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 6 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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, 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)
- $18,575 spent. RESIDENCIES - IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ARTS INSTITUTIONS, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS RESIDENCY PROGRAMS IN URBAN AREAS THAT OFFER STUDIO SPACE, ALONG WITH MENTORING AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, TO ARTISTS ENGAGED IN VARIOUS MEDIUMS.
- $12,598 spent. EXHIBITIONS - THE FOUNDATION PRODUCES ORIGINAL EXHIBITIONS BY INDEPENDENT CURATORS. FOCUSING ON URGENT THEMES DRAWN FROM CURRENT GLOBAL CULTURE, THESE AMBITIOUS DISPLAYS JUXTAPOSE WORKS BY EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED ARTISTS IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF PHILOSOPHICAL, TECHNOLOGICAL, AND AESTHETIC EXPERIMENTATION. THE FOUNDATION IS ALSO DEDICATED TO MOUNTING COMPREHENSIVE EXHIBITIONS OF WORK BY INFLUENTIAL ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND WITH OTHER COLLECTIONS AND FOUNDATIONS, TO SHARE THEIR IMPACT AND PRESERVE THEIR LEGACIES. IN 2024, SUCH EXHIBITIONS INCLUDED "JONAS MEKAS, OPEN ARCHIVES", WHICH PRESENTED PERSONAL ARTIFACTS, ITEMS AND MEMORABILIA OF THE LATE JONAS MEKAS, A PIONEER IN DIARISTIC CINEMA, TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME TO DEMONSTRATE THE CONTINUING RELEVANCY OF THE ARTIST STUDIO PRACTICE.
- $15,884 spent. PROGRAMS - THE FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH GLOBAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS FOR ALL AGES, INCLUDING MUSIC AND DANCE PERFORMANCES, FILM SCREENINGS, POETRY READINGS, AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS ON ART AND POLITICS. IN 2024, SUCH PROGRAMS INCLUDED "DISCOVERING", A MONTHLY PROGRAM WELCOMING THE PUBLIC TO VIEW ART EXHIBITIONS AND LEARN AND EXPERIENCE THE FEATURED ARTISTIC PRACTICE.
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
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? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
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 2024.
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 July 2019.
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.