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Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute

Williamstown, MA · EIN 04-2163004 · 501(c)(3) · Supporting organization (509(a)(3))
Latest filing: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 (tax year 2024) · View the filing · Correct or respond

Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute reported $59.4 million in revenue and $36.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $75.56 went to program services, $18.43 to management and general costs and $6.01 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 95.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $992,690 (WILLIAMS COLLEGE, EX OFFICIO). 17 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 123% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.

Where $100 of spending went

The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $37M

For context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).

Where $100 of revenue came from

The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $59M

Other revenue was negative: −$49,008. The bar shows the positive sources only.

The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades

FY2025 filing. Median across 876 covered charities in this category, from their latest filings.
MeasureFY2025Median
Program services
Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A)
75.6%78.5%
Management & general
Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A)
18.4%13.6%
Fundraising
Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A)
6.0%6.0%
Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions
Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h
$0.04$0.10
Contributions & grants share of revenue
Part VIII 1h ÷ 12
95.5%57.5%
Government grants share of revenue
Part VIII 1e ÷ 12
0.3%1.7%
Program service revenue share
Part VIII 2g ÷ 12
2.9%20.8%
Highest reported compensation
Part VII-A, columns D–F
$992,690$385,706
Highest compensation as share of expenses
Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A)
2.69%2.03%
People paid over $100,000
Part VII, line 2
178
Net assets, in months of expenses
Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses
222.536.6
Independent voting board members
Part VI 1a–1b
18 of 19100.0%

A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.

What the money paid for, in its own words

FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expense
$5.5M expenses · 19.6% of program spending · grants $339K

No description in Part III; see the filing.

$21M expenses · 74.6% of program spending · revenue $1.7M

No description in Part III; see the filing.

$1.6M expenses · 5.8% of program spending · revenue $3,400

No description in Part III; see the filing.

Highest reported compensation

FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here
RoleFrom this orgFrom related orgsOtherTotal
WILLIAMS COLLEGE, EX OFFICIO
Director/trustee, 1.00 hrs/week
$0$820,656$172,034$992,690
DIRECTOR & EX OFFICIO
Officer, 40.00 hrs/week
$541,998$0$205,785$747,783
CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER
Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$227,163$0$16,837$244,000
DEPUTY DIRECTOR & CHIEF CURATOR
Officer, 40.00 hrs/week
$221,405$0$16,416$237,821
MARX DIRECTOR COLLECTIONS & EXHIBITS
Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$174,025$0$52,492$226,517
CFO/COO/CLERK
Officer, 40.00 hrs/week
$195,036$0$27,249$222,285
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$165,412$0$48,161$213,573
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH & ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$154,131$17,000$38,839$209,970

17 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.2M (Part IX, line 5).

6 years of filings

Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linked
RevenueExpenses
$0$20M$40M$60M$80MFY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025$59M$37M
FilingRevenueExpensesProgramsNet assetsTop pay
FY2025 ⓘ$59M$37M75.6%$684M$992,690
FY2024 ⓘ$27M$34M76.5%$610M$891,763
FY2023 ⓘ$11M$32M78.9%$575M$810,304
FY2022 ⓘ$8.3M$30M79.2%$585M$514,645
FY2021 ⓘ$8.1M$29M72.7%$662M$410,096
FY2020 ⓘ$27M$28M79.0%$507M$409,924

Governance answers, as filed

FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means
  • Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b19 · 18 independent
  • Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
  • Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
  • Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
  • Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
  • Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
  • Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
  • Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
  • Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
  • Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
  • Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
  • Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
  • Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
  • Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
  • Employees Part I, line 5185
  • Volunteers Part I, line 677

Largest outside contractors

FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only
SECURITAS SECURITY SERVICES
Security services
$1,857,042
ARCHITECTURAL GLASS AND METAL
Construction
$1,007,546
MASTERPIECE INTERNATIONAL LTD
Art transport
$719,070
VANGUARD ORGANIZATION INC
Construction
$508,101
J H MAXYMILLIAN INC
Grounds maintenance
$478,345

Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 17 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.

Private foundation grants it received

25 private foundations reported grants to Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute totaling $1.3M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.

Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.

Correct a figure or respond

Every number above is copied from Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.

Similar-sized charities in this cause

All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Massachusetts

Questions people ask

How much of Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute's spending goes to programs?

In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute reported that 75.6% of its $36.9 million in expenses went to program services, 18.4% to management and general and 6.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).

How much does Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute pay its top executive?

The largest total compensation Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $992,690, for the role of WILLIAMS COLLEGE, EX OFFICIO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).

Where does Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute get its money?

Of $59.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 95.5% came from contributions and grants (including 0.3% from government grants) and 2.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).

Is Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute a registered charity?

The IRS lists EIN 04-2163004 as a 501(c)(3) organization (supporting organization (509(a)(3))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.

Sources

  • FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202640569349300229 · read the filing · XML
  • FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202521359349308802 · read the filing
  • FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202430669349301663 · read the filing
  • FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202340659349300724 · read the filing
  • FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202221329349306542 · read the filing
  • FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202131319349302048 · read the filing

All filings for EIN 04-2163004: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.