Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst
76% goes to programs $4 to raise $100 Strong reserves Growing revenue
Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Williamstown, Massachusetts, registered in 1951, with $59,357,260 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 76% of spending to programs.
225 South St, Williamstown, MA, 01267 EIN 04-2163004 Since 1951
Revenue (FY2024)
$59.4M
▲ 118.8% vs prior year
Arts & Culture median: $159K
Expenses (FY2024)
$36.9M
Net assets
$684.0M
Employees
185
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
B+Program efficiency40% of the rating76% to programs · $4 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst: 76% to programs · $4 to raise $100 earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
B+Financial health25% of the rating222 mo reserves · +38% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst: 222 mo reserves · +38% margin earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Transparency10% of the rating5 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Show this grade on your website
A live seal — it updates automatically when the grade changes and links donors to this verified profile.
Mission
In 1950, sterling and francine clark chartered the sterling and francine clark art institute as a home for their extensive art collection. opened to the public in 1955, the institute has built upon this extraordinary group of works to become one of the most beloved and respected art museums in the world, known for its intimate galleries and stunning natural environment. one of the few institutions in the united states that combines a public art museum with research and academic programs, including a major art history library, the clark is a leading international center for research and discussion on the nature of art and art history.
What they do
See schedule o for museum program accomplishments.museum program accomplishments: since its founding in 1950, the clark's collection has continued to grow, now consisting of over 10,000 objects, including over 500 paintings and significant holdings of works on paper and decorative arts. the collection features european and american paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs, and decorative arts from the renaissance to the early twentieth century. the collection is especially rich in french impressionist and academic paintings, british oil sketches, drawings, and silver, and the work of american artists winslow homer, george inness, and john singer sargent. based on the founding gift from sterling and francine clark, the collection has expanded over the years through numerous acquisitions as well as significant gifts and bequests, including the gift of sir edwin and lady manton collection of british art and the gift of george inness paintings by frank and katherine martucci. on october 21, 2024, the clark received a gift from the tavitian foundation ii, inc. of 331 paintings, sculptures, drawings, and decorative arts objects, as well as up to $45 million for the construction and care of the aso o. tavitian wing to be located on the campus of the clark art institute, which will house the donated art. currently, the clark is in the design phase of the project, with construction expected to begin on the aso o. tavitian wing in late 2026 and be completed by mid-2028. the clark has entered into contracts with the owners representative firm and other construction services. as of the end of the fiscal year on june 30, 2025, approximately $1 million had been spent on owner's representative and design services, and art transportation and care.the clark also organizes special exhibitions in cooperation with leading museums in the united states and europe. recent exhibitions include: wall power! - modern french tapestry from the mobilier national, paris (winter 2024/winter 2025), mariel capanna: giornata (2025), pastoral on paper (spring/summer 2025); edgar degas-multi-media artist in the age of impressionism (summer/fall 2024), fragile beauty: treasures from the corning museum of glass (summer/fall 2024), guillaume lethiere (summer/fall 2024), kathia st. hilaire: invisible empires (spring/summer 2024), david-jeremiah: i drive thee (winter 2024/winter 2025), abelardo morell: in the company of monet and constable (fall 2024/winter 2025) and a room of her own: women artists in britain, 1875-1945 (summer/fall 2025). upcoming exhibitions include: , ground/work 2025 (summer 2025/summer 2026), isamu noguchi: landscapes of time (summer 2025), berenice abbott's modern lens (summer 2025), paginations: back bay to the berkshires: celebrating 250 years of art in massachusetts (fall 2025), raffaella della olga (fall 2025/spring 2026), paginations - gridlocked: the geometry of weaving (fall 2025/spring 2026), shadow visionaries: french artists against the current (winter 2025/spring 2026), sonia almeida: stages (winter 2026/winter 2027) and an exquisite eye: introducing the aso o. tavitian collection (summer 2026/winter 2027).major exhibitions are augmented by web-based microsites, general and customized gallery talks, multimedia guides, in-gallery interpretive materials, lectures, and film series. seasonal community days, summer outdoor concerts and movies, fall and winter art courses, and music performances further the clark's effort to involve intergenerational audiences and support lifelong learning. the clark has a robust digital programming initiative including livestreamed and pre-recorded programs encompassing lectures, conversations with artists and art historians, and musical performances; education programs and activity sheets; and a podcast series. clark social media platforms have a combined following of more than 100,000 and the clark website receives more than 1.8 million unique pageviews annually.special efforts to enhance acc
Contact & location
- Address
- 225 South St, Williamstown, MA, 01267
- City
- Williamstown
- State
- Massachusetts
- Category
- Arts, Culture & Humanities
- Subcategory
- Museums
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $40.8M (FY2013) to $59.4M (FY2024) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $76.8MNet assets $684.0M
Operating margin
37.8%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$760.7M
Total liabilities
$76.8M
Net assets
$684.0M
Salaries & benefits
$12.2M
33% of expenses
Board members
19
18 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $59,357,260▲119% | $36,894,060▲7.8% | $683,977,199▲12.0% | $760,739,357▲10.0% | 990 |
| 2023 | $27,133,279▲153% | $34,235,671▲8.5% | $610,498,895▲6.2% | $691,565,316▲5.2% | 990 |
| 2022 | $10,724,599▲29.3% | $31,550,903▲6.1% | $574,961,301▼1.8% | $657,691,537▼1.9% | 990 |
| 2021 | $8,296,004▲2.5% | $29,732,280▲2.6% | $585,346,180▼11.6% | $670,367,352▼10.4% | 990 |
| 2020 | $8,093,612▼69.7% | $28,984,597▲4.4% | $662,448,504▲30.7% | $748,008,228▲26.2% | 990 |
| 2019 | $26,673,561▼1.0% | $27,753,959▼7.4% | $506,818,442▲0.7% | $592,810,685▲0.4% | 990 |
| 2018 | $26,948,382▼16.6% | $29,975,167▲12.2% | $503,397,434▲3.6% | $590,626,701▲3.0% | 990 |
| 2016 | $32,294,898▲72.8% | $26,704,307▲0.1% | $485,811,458▲3.4% | $573,259,184▲3.3% | 990 |
| 2015 | $18,694,119▼80.7% | $26,675,749▼6.2% | $469,972,657▼3.8% | $555,167,267▼3.8% | 990 |
| 2014 | $96,747,255▲137% | $28,447,484▲23.6% | $488,644,841▼3.2% | $576,859,856▼4.3% | 990 |
| 2013 | $40,792,831 | $23,011,692▲4.1% | $504,771,366▲10.5% | $602,666,786▲10.2% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $22,099,549▲4.4% | $456,616,870▲9.2% | $546,829,368▲7.8% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $21,170,873▲9.1% | $418,171,315▼1.4% | $507,393,624▲5.1% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $19,400,342▲13.7% | $424,222,406▲17.6% | $482,918,176▲23.0% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $17,064,693 | $360,768,127 | $392,677,088 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2024)
Highest-paid: Olivier B Meslay — $541,998 (1.47% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olivier B Meslay | Director & Ex Officio | 40 | $541,998 |
| Daphne Birdsey | Chief Advancement Officer | 40 | $227,163 |
| Esther S Bell | Deputy Director & Chief Curator | 40 | $221,405 |
| Robin T Sher | Cfo/coo/clerk | 40 | $195,036 |
| Kathleen Marie Morris | Marx Director Collections & Exhibits | 40 | $174,025 |
| Victoria T Saltzman | Director of Communications | 40 | $165,412 |
| Caroline O Fowler | Director of Research & Academic Programs | 40 | $154,131 |
| William J Powers | Director of Facilities | 40 | $154,117 |
| Cynthia Beck | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Denise Littlefield Sobel | Chair | 4 | — |
| Doris Fischer Malesardi | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Elizabeth B Lee | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Frank Martucci | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Glenn Barnes | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Glenn D Lowry | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Helge Weiner-trapness | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Howard Shapiro | Trustee | 1 | — |
| James Parks | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Maud S Mandel | Williams College, Ex Officio | 1 | — |
| Maureen Fennessy Bousa | Trustee | 1 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Grants received · $8.0M total
42 grants to Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst totaling $8.0M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fidelity Non-profit Management Foundation | Endowment | 2024 | $2,500,000 |
| Ayco Charitable Foundation | Arts and culture | 2024 | $10,000 |
| The Community Fdn of Middle Tn Inc | To support raise and headstart programs | 2024 | $10,000 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $5,000 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2023 | $3,160,765 |
| National Philanthropic Tr | Culture & arts | 2023 | $42,000 |
| Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc | Arts & culture | 2023 | $20,000 |
| Goldman Sachs Charitable Gift Fund | Community outreach & enrichment programs | 2023 | $15,000 |
| Boston Foundation Inc | Operating support/annual fund | 2023 | $10,000 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Arts, culture & humanities | 2023 | $6,950 |
| The Community Fdn of Middle Tn Inc | To support the raise and head start programs. | 2023 | $6,000 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2022 | $221,595 |
| National Philanthropic Tr | Culture & arts | 2022 | $35,000 |
| Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc | Arts & culture | 2022 | $25,000 |
| Boston Foundation Inc | Operating support/annual fund | 2022 | $12,500 |
Grants made · $5,000 in FY2023
1 grant totaling $5,000 in FY2023. All grants made by Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Foundation Inc | Steward sponsorship 25th anniversary gala. | $5,000 |
Similar organizations in Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture
Boston Ballet Inc
Boston, MA
$52.0M
Bannual revenue
Arts & Culture
Society For the Preservation of New England Antiquities Inc
Haverhill, MA
$45.0M
Bannual revenue
Arts & Culture
Worcester Art Museum
Worcester, MA
$39.9M
Bannual revenue
Arts & Culture
Facing History & Ourselves Inc
Boston, MA
$31.8M
C+annual revenue
Arts & Culture
Holocaust Legacy Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
$30.2M
Dannual revenue
Arts & Culture
Prx Incorporated
Brighton, MA
$29.4M
Dannual revenue
Arts & Culture
American Repertory Theatre
Cambridge, MA
$25.9M
Bannual revenue
Arts & Culture
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Inc
Boston, MA
$22.3M
C+annual revenue
Arts & Culture
Technology Review Inc
Cambridge, MA
$22.3M
Cannual revenue
Arts & Culture
Institute of Contemporary Art
Boston, MA
$20.4M
Bannual revenue
Compare Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst
Frequently asked questions
- Is Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 04-2163004, based in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst's EIN?
- Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 04-2163004.
- How much revenue does Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst report?
- Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst reported $59,357,260 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst's spending goes to programs?
- Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst spends about 76% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst have?
- CharityIndex grades Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst's latest Form 990 is $541,998, paid to Olivier B Meslay (Director & Ex Officio).
More nonprofits in Williamstown
Explore more
Data for Sterling & Francine Clark Art Inst (EIN 04-2163004) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.