The Nicholson Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
AN ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAM COUPLED WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD GARDEN THAT WORKS TO SUPPORT ARTISTS AND SERVE AS A CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE CULTURAL HUB.
- Income
- $344,773
- Spending
- $294,509
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 60%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $77,728, managing director
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: 56 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 36% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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
Fair: 68 out of 100.
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
0 of 8Reports no 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
0 of 10Did not give 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, 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 (4)
- $142,432 spent. ARTIST RESIDENCY - THE NICHOLSON PROJECT'S ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAM COMPRISED FOUR TEN-WEEK, IN-HOUSE RESIDENCIES AND FOUR ONE-WEEK DIGITAL RESIDENCIES. IN-HOUSE RESIDENTS WERE AWARDED A TEN-WEEK RESIDENCY TO LIVE AND WORK ON-SITE IN A FULLY FURNISHED APARTMENT AND ARTIST STUDIO, A $5,000 STIPEND, SUPPORT FROM GUEST CURATORS AND STAFF, $2,000 TO DEVELOP A PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM OR ART ACTIVATION, DOCUMENTATION OF THEIR ARTWORK; AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. DIGITAL RESIDENTS RECEIVED $500 FOR A FIVE-DAY ONLINE RESIDENCY, SHARED ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA, AND ARCHIVED ON THE NICHOLSON PROJECT WEBSITE.
- $32,641 spent. GARDEN - THE NICHOLSON PROJECT'S GARDEN CONSISTS OF 15 RAISED BEDS OF ORGANIC PRODUCE AND HERBS. THE GARDEN MANAGER OVERSEES THE PLANTING, HARVESTING, AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE PRODUCE AND SERVES AS AN EDUCATOR AND THE MAIN POINT OF CONTACT FOR OUR GARDEN ACTIVITIES AND DISTRIBUTION DURING PEAK GROWING SEASON. IN 2024, THE NICHOLSON PROJECT DISTRIBUTED OVER 2,000 SERVINGS OF FRESH PRODUCE TO OUR DIRECT COMMUNITY.
- $19,924 spent. EXIBITIONS - THE NICHOLSON PROJECT'S EXHIBITIONS SUPPORT AND PROMOTE THE WORK OF THE IN-HOUSE ARTIST RESIDENTS AND OTHER ARTISTS FROM THE REGION AND BEYOND. IN 2024, THE NICHOLSON PROJECT PRESENTED THREE EXHIBITIONS AND SIX ACCOMPANYING PUBLIC PROGRAMS.
- PUBLIC ART - THE NICHOLSON PROJECT PRESENTED "MYTHIC FUTURES", A SERIES OF FOUR PUBLIC ARTWORKS, ONE IN EACH QUADRANT OF WASHINGTON, DC CREATED BY ARTIST ANTOINE WILLIAMS. "MYTHIC FUTURES" WAS AN AFROFUTURIST AND SURREALIST MURAL SERIES THAT BROUGHT TO LIFE CONTEMPORARY BLACK FOLKLORE IN A MOMENT OF SOCIAL, RACIAL, AND ECONOMIC UPHEAVAL. EACH MURAL CAME TO LIFE WITH ACCOMPANYING AUGMENTED REALITY (AR) ANIMATION AND AUDIO COMPONENTS THAT VIEWERS COULD INTERACT WITH VIA INSTAGRAM.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2020.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.