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Material Institute

EIN 86-1834083 · New Orleans, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MATERIAL INSTITUTE IS A NON-PROFIT ARTS CENTER IN THE 9TH WARD OF NEW ORLEANS THAT EXPANDS ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR A NEW GENERATION OF NEW ORLEANS ARTISTS IN THE FIELDS OF MUSIC, FASHION, AND GARDENING.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
160
Highest pay
$99,894, executive 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 185% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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)
  1. $574,912 spent. THE 24 CARROT GARDEN PROGRAM PROVIDES GARDENING AND CULINARY ARTS PROGRAMMING TO TEACH COMMUNITY MEMBERS HOW TO GROW, EAT, AND COOK NUTRITIOUS FOODS. YOUTH PROGRAMS ARE GEARED TO YOUTH UNDER 12 YEARS OLD AND OTHER COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING SERVES PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES. IN 2024, THE PROGRAM REACHED 26 YOUTH PARTICIPANTS IN ITS THRICE WEEKLY AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING; 48 IN ITS SEASONAL GARDENING AND CULINARY CAMPS; AND 13 PEOPLE IN THE NEW CULTIVATION RESIDENCY PROGRAM. ADDITIONAL PUBLIC WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS INCLUDED URBAN PLANT WALK; EARTHWORKS: AGROECOLOGY IN CUBA; CARIBBEAN HERBALISM ARTIST TALK; AND THE GUMBO COOK OFF. THE GARDEN PROGRAM ATTRACTED 160 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH THE GARDEN, WITH VOLUNTEERS RECEIVING TOKENS TO LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO LOCALLY GROWN, HEALTHY FOOD. THE 24 CARROT GARDEN SERVED AS SITE HOSTS FOR SOUTHERN UNIVERSITYS SUSTAINABLE URBAN AGRICULTURE CERTIFICATION AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. THE GARDEN EMPLOYED TWO FULL-TIME CO-DIRECTORS AND THREE FULL-TIME GARDEN EDUCATORS.
  2. $564,210 spent. MATERIAL INSTITUTES FASHION & TEXTILES (F&T) DEPARTMENT IS A ONE-YEAR CURRICULUM-BASED DESIGN FOUNDATION TAUGHT BY A TEAM OF FASHION DESIGNERS, ARTISTS, AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS. THE PROGRAM EMPHASIZES CONSCIOUS MATERIAL PRACTICES; HANDMADE TEXTILES ARE IMPLEMENTED AND ENCOURAGED THROUGH EXPERIMENTATION IN BOTH TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES AND CONTEMPORARY TECHNOLOGIES. IN 2024, THE PROGRAM GRADUATED 13 PARTICIPANTS FROM THE CURRICULUM-BASED PROGRAM. TWO GRADUATES WENT ON TO PURSUE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION IN FASHION, INCLUDING ONE AT THE WORLD RENOWNED FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY IN NEW YORK CITY. THE PROGRAM HOSTED TWO INDUSTRY PANELS MADE UP OF 5 INDUSTRY EXPERTS TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND CRITIQUE TO THE FASHION PARTICIPANTS END-OF-YEAR PORTFOLIO. F&T HOSTED WORLD RENOWNED WEST AFRICAN TEXTILE AND DYE ARTIST, ABOUBAKAR FOFANA, FOR AN INDIGO DYE WORKSHOP AND ARTIST TALK. THE PROGRAM ALSO PARTNERED WITH HOTEL ST. VINCENT TO HOST AN ARTIST TALK WITH DESIGNERS, DIOTIMA X ZANKOV. IN 2024, 51 PEOPLE ATTENDED PUBLIC WORKSHOPS ON MARIGOLD DYE, BUCKET HATS, T-SHIRTS, HOODIES, AND BEADING AND EMBELLISHMENTS. THE PROGRAM EMPLOYED A DEPARTMENT CHAIR, PROGRAM MANAGER, STUDIO DIRECTOR, LEAD INSTRUCTOR, AND PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR, ALL OF WHOM ARE FULL-TIME, AND ONE PART-TIME HAND-STITCH INSTRUCTOR/OPEN STUDIO MANAGER.
  3. $540,832 spent. MATERIAL INSTITUTE MUSIC EXPANDS NEW ORLEANS ARTISTS ACCESS TO A RECORDING STUDIO, MUSIC EDUCATION, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH COST-FREE PROFESSIONAL RECORDING SESSIONS, A MUSIC LAB AND LIBRARY, WORKSHOPS, AND A RECORDING ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAM. IN 2024, THE RECORDING STUDIO RECORDED SINGLES/PROJECTS FOR 64 INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS/GROUPS; SERVED 146 PEOPLE THROUGH PUBLIC WORKSHOPS AND TALKS; DEVELOPED 6 ARTISTS IN THE RECORDING ARTIST RESIDENCY; AND, HOSTED THE ANNUAL MI MUSIC SHOWCASE REACHING 150 AUDIENCE MEMBERS. MUSIC OPERATES 6 DAYS A WEEK FROM THE ORGANIZATIONS HEADQUARTERS AT 2120 PORT STREET. THE PROGRAM EMPLOYS A FULL-TIME PROGRAM DIRECTOR, A FULL-TIME PROGRAM COORDINATOR, A FULL-TIME AUDIO ENGINEER, A PART-TIME AUDIO ENGINEER, AND A PART-TIME MUSIC LAB MANAGER.
  4. $16,669 spent. THE MI MANUFACTURING PROGRAM SERVES AS A TEACHING MODEL WITHIN THE FASHION & TEXTILES DEPARTMENT, PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN RESEARCH-DRIVEN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL-SCALE PRODUCTION WITHIN THE LUXURY FASHION MARKET. THE DEPARTMENTDEVELOPED PROTOTYPES IN COLLABORATION WITH FACTORIES AND ARTISANS, WITH COSTS VARYING BASED ON DESIGN COMPLEXITY. PROJECTS INCLUDED EMBROIDERED T-SHIRTS, WOVEN JACQUARD LABELS, CUSTOM FABRICS, SMALL BAGS, DUSTER BAGS, AND KNIT SWEATERS. FINISHED PRODUCTS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO STAFF, ALUMNI, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS AS LEARNING TOOLS AND EXAMPLES OF HIGH-END CRAFTSMANSHIP,FOSTERING DIALOGUE AROUND DESIGN PROCESS, QUALITY, AND INNOVATION. NO PROFIT, SALE, OR TRANSACTION OCCURRED IN THE END USE OF THE PRODUCTS.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2021.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.