Portland Institute For Contemporary Art

The information for Portland Institute For Contemporary Art is as of the organization's most recent filing in June '21. This organization is located in Portland, OR. It has been in existence for 25 years, following its founding in 1996.

Organization Classification

The IRS classifies organizations according to the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) system. The NTEE system helps the IRS assign a 3-character code to each organization to describe the organization's activities.

The Portland Institute For Contemporary Art's NTEE code is A61. The "A" tells us that the organization is classified along with Arts, Culture & Humanities. The "61" tells us that the organization is involved in Performing Arts Centers. The NTEE describes Performing Arts Centers as organizations that operate facilities including theaters for the performing arts.

Every organization is also governed by a specific section of the Internal Revenue Code. The most common type is a 501(c)(3) organization. However, there are actually 29 different types of organizations that are identified by the Internal Revenue Code. This organization happens to be a 501(c)(3) organization. The IRS describes these organizations as those engaged in Religious, Educational, Charitable, Scientific, Literary, Public Safety, Amateur Sports, or Prevention of Cruelty to Children or Animals work.

Perhaps the most accurate way to get a sense of what the organization hopes to achieve is by looking at its mission. The mission of the Portland Institute For Contemporary Art is to acknowledge and advance emerging ideas in art by fostering the creative explorations of contemporary artists.

Program Areas

Through exhibitions, performances, artist residencies, and educational programs, the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA) enables artists and audiences to push the limits of artistic expression and explore new ideas that illuminate life in the present. PICA supports this mission through dynamic programming, a strong commitment to artists, and a clear understanding of the importance of the arts in both individuals' lives and the community as a whole. PICA champions creative exploration, encourages deeper understanding of art and ideas, and supports the aesthetic risk-taking that challenges both artists and audiences with fresh perspectives on contemporary life.

Organization Staffing

Portland Institute For Contemporary Art is run by Victoria Frey, who is the Executive Director. The organization has 46 employees, none of whom are paid over $100k per year. Additionally, there are no volunteers supporting the paid staff.

Board Governance

The Portland Institute For Contemporary Art (PICA) appears to be well-governed based on the information provided. With 13 voting members, all of whom are independent, the organization ensures a diverse range of perspectives and minimizes the potential for conflicts of interest. The fact that potential conflicts of interest do not exist further strengthens the organization's governance structure. Additionally, the organization demonstrates transparency and accountability through its documented board and committee meetings. This practice ensures that decisions and discussions are properly recorded and can be reviewed if necessary. The presence of a conflict of interest policy and the requirement for disclosure of conflicts further emphasizes PICA's commitment to ethical conduct and responsible governance. While the organization does not have a written whistleblower policy or a document retention policy, these may be areas for improvement. These policies can provide additional safeguards and mechanisms for reporting and addressing any potential issues within the organization. However, the fact that PICA provides copies of the 990 to the board prior to filing indicates a level of financial transparency and oversight. Overall, based on the information provided, the Portland Institute For Contemporary Art demonstrates good governance practices, prioritizing transparency, independence, and accountability. However, the organization could benefit from implementing additional policies to further enhance its governance structure.

Organization Growth

The Portland Institute For Contemporary Art has experienced growth over the given time period. Contributions and grants received increased from $1.7 million in 2014 to $2.2 million in 2020. Investment income also increased from $580 in 2014 to $1.3 thousand in 2020. Total revenue saw an increase from $1.9 million in 2014 to $2.3 million in 2020. Additionally, employee salaries increased from $628.5 thousand in 2014 to $792.1 thousand in 2020. However, there were some areas of decrease, such as program service revenue which decreased from $158.5 thousand in 2014 to $16.3 thousand in 2020, and other revenue which decreased from $51.6 thousand in 2014 to $30.3 thousand in 2020. Total expenses also increased from $1.3 million in 2014 to $1.4 million in 2020. The total number of employees decreased from 112 in 2014 to 46 in 2020, and the total number of volunteers became zero in 2020. Overall, the organization has shown growth in terms of contributions, investment income, total revenue, and employee salaries, despite some decreases in certain areas.