Salem Art Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE SALEM ART ASSOCIATION IS TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN THE APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS THROUGH CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS, ARTS EDUCATION FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS, AND THE PRESERVATION AND INTERPRETATION OF OUR SHARED CULTURAL HERITAGE.
- Income
- $795,289
- Spending
- $826,506
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 52%
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 787
- Highest pay
- $51,412, 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
Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% 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
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
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)
- $288,842 spent. FOR MORE THAN 75 YEARS, THE SALEM ART ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN PRESENTING THE ANNUAL SALEM ART FAIR & FESTIVAL AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE REGION'S CULTURAL CALENDAR. THE EVENT DRAWS BETWEEN 15,000 AND 25,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR. THE SALEM ART FAIR & FESTIVAL WAS STARTED IN 1949 AND IS NOW ONE OF THE LARGEST ART FAIRS IN OREGON AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. OVER THE COURSE OF THREE DAYS, IT FEATURES APPROXIMATELY 200 ARTISTS, LIVE MUSIC, THEATRE AND DANCE ON MULTIPLE STAGES, A WINE AND BEER COURT, A VARIETY OF FOOD BOOTHS, A CHILDREN'S AREA, A PLANT SALE, AND MUCH MORE. THE SALEM ART FAIR AND FESTIVAL IS COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FINE ARTS AND CRAFTS BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO A RANGE OF ARTISTIC MEDIUMS THAT APPEAL TO BOTH COMMITTED AND CASUAL ART LOVERS AND COLLECTORS.
- $189,958 spent. LOCATED IN HISTORIC BUSH'S PASTURE PARK, THE BUSH BARN ART CENTER FEATURES THREE GALLERIES, A GIFT GALLERY, AND A PERMANENT COLLECTION. THE A.N. BUSH GALLERY PRESENTS MAJOR INTERPRETIVE EXHIBITIONS OF REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS. THE FOCUS GALLERY OFFERS A MORE INTIMATE SETTING SHOWCASING SMALL ONE-PERSON EXHIBITIONS AS WELL AS EXHIBITIONS HIGHLIGHTING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. THE CAMAS GALLERY PROVIDES REGIONAL ARTISTS SEEKING GALLERY REPRESENTATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT WITH THE VENUE AND SERVICES THEY NEED TO THRIVE PROFESSIONALLY. OUR EXHIBITIONS FEATURE FINE ART AND CRAFTS BY ARTISTS LIVING OR WORKING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND BEYOND. THE BUSH BARN ART CENTER PROVIDES ENRICHING ARTISTIC EXPERIENCES FOR VIEWERS OF ALL AGES, FOSTERING A LIFE-LONG APPRECIATION FOR VISUAL ART. EXHIBITIONS ARE ALWAYS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
- $56,297 spent. THE SALEM ART ASSOCIATION'S COMMUNITY ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM AIMS TO SUPPORT A BROAD RANGE OF DYNAMIC LOCAL ARTS PROJECTS. MOST NOTABLY, CAE ENGAGES THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS, ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS EACH YEAR THROUGH OUR ARTISTS IN THE SCHOOLS INITIATIVE AND THE HIGH SCHOOL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM. WITH THE 2016 RENOVATIONS OF THE ANNEX AND AT THE BUSH BARN ART CENTER CAE PROGRAMMING HAS EXPANDED. THE NEWLY RENOVATED BUSH BARN ANNEX NOW SERVES AS THE HEADQUARTERS FOR SAA'S CAE PROGRAM AND FEATURES A DEDICATED STUDIO SPACE FOR A YEAR-ROUND ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM, AND A MAIN SPACE FOR ART WORKSHOPS, EXHIBITIONS, CLASSES AND OTHER PROGRAMMING.
- $40,633 spent. THE HISTORIC BUSH HOUSE MUSEUM IS PRESERVED AND INTERPRETED TO EXPLORE THE LIVES AND LEGACY OF SALEM'S BUSH FAMILY, THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF SALEM, AND THE HISTORY AND DIVERSITY OF EARLY OREGON. THE ROOMS ARE FURNISHED WITH A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THE BUSH FAMILY'S ORIGINAL FURNISHINGS TO SHOW WHAT THE HOUSE LOOKED LIKE AROUND 1913. THE HOUSE WAS MODERN WHEN IT WAS BUILT, WITH GAS LIGHTING, INDOOR PLUMBING, AND A CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEM; AS THE HOME OF A WEALTHY FAMILY, IT DOESN'T REFLECT THE LIFESTYLE OF MOST OREGONIANS LIVING IN THAT ERA. SALEM ART ASSOCIATION HAS STARTED THE PROCESS OF RE-EXAMINING THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF ASAHEL BUSH WHOSE RACIST RHETORIC AND SUPPORT OF EXCLUSIONARY GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES STILL IMPACTS NATIVE AMERICANS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TODAY AND FINDING WAYS TO DE-EMPHASIZE HIS INDIVIDUAL STORY WHILE CREATING SPACE FOR THE STORIES OF SALEM'S DIVERSE EARLY COMMUNITIES.
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 November 1941.
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.