Barry Lopez Foundation for Art & Environment
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Barry Lopez Foundation for Art & Environment collaborates with leading contemporary artists to create transformative artistic and cultural experiences that illuminate our connection to the natural world and help us navigate the dramatic choices we face about our future, including issues surrounding climate change, biodiversity, habitat loss, and our changing relationship with land in a time of environmental crisis. The foundation circulates original fine art exhibitions to museums and galleries around the United States, and sponsors commissions with visual artists, composers, and writers.
- Income
- $94,910
- Spending
- $107,435
- Reserves
- 1.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Highest pay
- $72,000, founding director
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 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)
- In 2024, The Barry Lopez Foundation presented the video exposition "Janet Biggs: Imagination and Desire in a Northern Landscape" at the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, NY between February 10 and May 12. The attendance for the show was 12, 500.
- We presented a photography exhibition "From Here to Horizon: Photographs in Honor of Barry Lopez" at the Museum of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX between August 22 and December 22, 2024, with a lecture by the Foundation's Director in November. Texas Tech told us that they had 30,000 visitors through the exhibit.
- $5,000 spent. On April 27, 2024,"Crossing Open Ground," a new work by composer John Luther Adams was co-commissioned by the Barry Lopez Foundation and the Aspen Music Festival, which was performed at Lincoln Center in NYC, by the Julliard School. 5000 people attended the performances which were held outdoors.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 November 6, 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 November 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 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.