Marin Society of Artists Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PUBLIC ART CENTER AND STUDIOS PROVIDING INSTRUCTION, LECTURES, TOURS, ART EXHIBITS AND MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ARTS & ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES. MSA SUPPORTS ARTISTS OF MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES AT ALL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT, AND FOSTERS ACTIVITIES THAT ENCOURAGE THE GENERAL PUBLIC & UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES TO EXPLORE AND INCORPORATE THE ARTS IN THEIR LIVES.
- Income
- $256,996
- Spending
- $306,356
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 4.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 53%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 0
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 68% 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
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
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 September 30, 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 (1)
- $268,429 spent. OPERATED A COMMUNITY ART CENTER PROVIDING PHYSICAL SPACE AND VIRTUAL PRESENCE FOR DIVERSE ARTS ACTIVITIES INCLUDING CLASSES, POETRY READINGS, CLASSICAL MUSIC, THEATRE REHEARSAL, AND ART EXHIBITIONS. PROVIDED 17 ARTIST STUDIO SPACE. SPONSORED 12 ART EXHIBITIONS, MONTHLY ART CRITIQUES AND ONGOING PAINTING ACTIVITIES. PARTICIPATED IN DOWNTOWN SAN RAFAEL ARTS DISTRICT (DSRAD) PUBLIC ART PROGRAMS, IN DOWNTOWN LOCATIONS AND AT THE ART CENTRE. WORKED WITH DSRAD MANAGING STAKEHOLDERS TO ALLOCATE $671,000, IN STATE FUNDING FOR ARTS & CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN/NEAR DOWNTOWN SAN RAFAEL. PARTNERED WITH CANAL ALLIANCE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH THE CANAL ARTS (TCA) BRINGING ART AND FAMILY ARTS ACTIVITIES TO A DISADVANTAGED IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. WORKED WITH THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL TO DEVELOP PROCEDURES TO FACILITATE PUBLIC ART ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND ELIMINATING ONEROUS FEES AND APPROVAL PROCESSES. WORKED WITH CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, THE CANAL ARTS, IMMIGRANT ARTISTS, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE REPRESENTATIVES AND VOCES DEL CANAL COMMUNITY TO DESIGN AND INSTALL A PUBLIC MURAL PROJECT AT THE AL BORO COMMUNITY CENTER IN THE CANAL NEIGHBORHOOD, AND 2 MURALS AT SAN PEDRO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (80% ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR &/OR OF IMMIGRANT FAMILIES) AND 2 MURALS AT THE NEW CANAL ALLIANCE BUILDING. INSTALLED A "TINY ART LIBRARY" ALLOWING THE COMMUNITY TO TAKE AND LEAVE ART RELATED ITEMS. INSTALLED A 6-PANEL MURAL AT THE MSA ART CENTER. COMMENCED WORK WITH TCA AND THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL TO RESEARCH AND DESIGN INTERACTIVE "PEOPLE OF THE CANAL" INSTALLATION ALONG 2 MILES OF BAYSIDE TRAIL IN THE CANAL NEIGHBORHOOD, DEPICTING THE INTERRELATIONSHIP OF PEOPLE AND THE NATURAL WORLD THERE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 September 2025.
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 July 1982.
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.
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