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Provincetown Public Art Foundation

EIN 84-3981267 · Provincetown, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PROVINCETOWN PUBLIC ART FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO TELLING THE STORY OF PROVINCETOWN'S, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE WITH PUBLIC ART.

Income
$65,341
Spending
$85,689
Reserves
5.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Highest pay
$10,000, executive director

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 31% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending October 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 (4)
  1. $64,322 spent. THE TRAP SHED MURAL PROJECT IS A TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF MURALS COMMISSIONED BY THE PPAF THAT ARE MOUNTED ON THE SIDES OF THE PROVINCETOWN ARTIST TRAP SHED BUILDINGS. THE MURALS ARE ROTATED ANNUALLY, AND THE SECOND ROTATION WAS COMPLETED BY LATE JUNE '25. THE MURALS ARE PAINTED OFF-SITE ON ALUMINUM COMPOSITE MATERIAL AND THEN INSTALLED AT THE SITE.
  2. $10,650 spent. GENERAL PROGRAMS - INCLUDES MONEY SPENT ON ACCOUNTING HELP AND EXPENSES RELATED TO FUNDRAISING EVENTS, PRODUCING THANK-YOU CARDS, POSTAGE ETC. OPENING AND CLOSING EVENTS FOR BRYANTS SITE - CATERED BY ANGEL FOODS. PROVINCETOWN ART SOCIETY FUNDRAISING EVENT - CATERED BY THE PAS. FORUM ON PUBLIC ART IN PROVINCETOWN, HELD AT THE COMMONS, CATERED BY FARLAND PROVISIONS.
  3. $1,687 spent. BRYANT SALTWORKS ART SITE PROJECT - THE BRYANT SALTWORKS (467 COMMERCIAL ST.) SITE IS A 12' X 12' DECK PLATFORM THAT WE BUILT TO STAGE SCULPTURE EXHIBITIONS. IN '23 WE PURCHASED MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTED THE DECK WITH OUR OWN VOLUNTEER LABOR. IN EARLY SUMMER '23, WE INSTALLED A SCULPTURE BY THE ARTIST ANDREW MOWBREY (INSTALLED JULY - SEPTEMBER). WE CATERED OPENING AND CLOSING EVENTS AND HELD A FUNDRAISER FEATURING ANDREW'S WORK AT THE PROVINCETOWN ART SOCIETY.
  4. $541 spent. OTHER: JAY CRITCHLEY PROJECT AND MARY HEATON VORSE - ONGOING SCULPTURE COMMISSION THAT WE CURATED FOR THE SCULPTOR PENELOPE JENCKS TO CREATE A LIFESIZE SCULPTURE OF THE WRITER AND ACTIVIST, MARY HEATON VORSE. PENELOPE WORKS VERY SLOWLY. EXPENSES RELATE TO SUPPLIES MATERIAL PURCHASED BY PENELOPE, CONTRACT LABOR HIRED TO ASSIST PENELOPE WITH AN ARMATURE, AND MOVING EXPENSES INCURRED WHILE MOVING PENELOPE FROM WELLFLEET TO NEWTON, MA, TO HER WINTER STUDIO.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending October 31, 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 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 October 2025.

    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 June 2022.

    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.