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Fort Mason Center

EIN 94-2348311 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FORT MASON CENTER ENGAGES AND CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH ARTS AND CULTURE ON A HISTORIC WATERFRONT CAMPUS. WE INSPIRE AND FOSTER CREATIVITY BY PROVIDING A VIBRANT GATHERING PLACE AND A HOME FOR THOUGHT-PROVOKING PROGRAMS, EVENTS, AND ORGANIZATIONS.

Income
$14.4 million
Spending
$17.4 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
20.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 97%
Employees
179
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$325,203, ceo & president

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 50% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    5 of 5

    Keeps 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (2)
  1. $8.9 million spent. FIRST ESTABLISHED AS A NONPROFIT CULTURAL CENTER IN 1977, FORT MASON CENTER FOR ARTS & CULTURE (FMCAC) HAS LONG BEEN HOST TO A LIVELY MIX OF ARTS, EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMING ON SAN FRANCISCO'S NORTHERN WATERFRONT. EACH YEAR, FMCAC HOSTS OVER 10,000 EVENTS INCLUDING ART INSTALLATIONS, CULTURAL EXHIBITIONS, CONCERTS, THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS AND MORE. IN ADDITION, FMCAC PROVIDES OVER $2.5 MILLION IN SUPPORT TO LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, ENABLING GROUPS TO PRODUCE DIVERSE AND INNOVATIVE ART WORKS AT THE HISTORIC WATERFRONT CAMPUS. WITH A FOUR-DECADE HISTORY AS AN ARTS AND CULTURE DESTINATION, FMCAC IS NOW FOCUSED ON REINVIGORATING ITS PROGRAMMING AND AMENITIES TO BETTER SERVE AND ENGAGE THE EVOLVING AND DYNAMIC BAY AREA CREATIVE COMMUNITY. CENTRAL TO THIS NEW VISION IS THE COMMISSIONING AND PRESENTATION OF ADVENTUROUS AND UNCONVENTIONAL ART WORKS BEST REALIZED IN NONTRADITIONAL OR HISTORIC SETTINGS.SINCE 2012, FMCAC HAS UNDERWRITTEN A PERFORMING ARTS SERIES, HELD ON SITE, IN WHICH THE CENTER AWARDS CASH GRANTS AND IN-KIND SUPPORT TO PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS.IN ADDITION TO PERFORMING ARTS PRODUCTIONS, THE CENTER HOSTS A LARGE VARIETY OF CULTURAL EVENTS INCLUDING CRAFTS EXHIBITIONS, VISUAL ART EXHIBITIONS, CURRENT AFFAIRS LECTURES AND BUSINESS CONFERENCES.
  2. $5.6 million spent. THROUGH ITS RESIDENT PROGRAM, FMCAC PROVIDES LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO OVER 15 NON-PROFIT AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS. THESE ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVE GRANTS FROM FMCAC TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THEIR RENT COSTS ON CAMPUS THUS ALLOWING THESE COMMUNITY SERVING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FOCUS ON PRODUCING THEIR ARTISTIC PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF SEARCHING FOR AN AFFORDABLE HOME AMIDST A BOOMING LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET.CURRENT RESIDENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS OCCUPY APPROXIMATELY 160,000 SQUARE FEET AND INCLUDE: BATS IMPROV, BLUE BEAR SCHOOL OF MUSIC, CALIFORNIA LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS, SAN FRANCISCO CHILDREN'S ART CENTER, GREENS RESTAURANT (OPERATED BY THE ZEN CENTER), THE LONG NOW FOUNDATION, MAGIC THEATRE, ENVIRONMENTAL TRAVELING COMPANIONS, SEEDLING PROJECTS, MUSEO ITALO AMERICANO, AND AMERICAN INDIAN CULTURAL DISTRICT.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 April 1976.

    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.