Missoula Cultural Council Dba Arts Missoula

What it reported doing in 2024

THE MAIN ACTIVITIES OF THE MISSOULA CULTURAL COUNCIL, DBA ARTS MISSOULA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR WERE:1. Community Arts Programs & EventsArts Missoula produced multiple large-scale community events that celebrate Missoula and provided free and low-cost arts experiences for residents and visitors.Missoula on Main (New Years Eve Festival): Our annual two-day celebration featured dozens of performances, workshops, and activities across multiple venues. The festival showcased local musicians, dancers, theatre artists, teen performers, and multicultural groups, drawing thousands of participants and strengthening community connection.Germanfest: Arts Missoula hosted its annual Sister City festival honoring Missoulas relationship with Neckargemnd, Germany. With traditional music, vendors, cultural demonstrations, and family-friendly games, Germanfest drew more than 1,500 attendees in Caras Park.First Friday & Downtown Support: We strengthened downtown vibrancy by promoting First Friday exhibitions through radio, community calendars, monthly newsletter highlighting events and extensive social media support.2. Education, Youth Programs & Neighborhood OutreachArts Missoula delivered arts learning opportunities for young people and families throughout Missoula, with emphasis on neighborhoods lacking access to arts programming.Cultural Feast (Summer Outreach Program): In partnership with the Missoula Food Bank, we brought arts programmingdance, clay arts, cultural education, and hands-on creativitydirectly into underserved neighborhoods such as Futura Mobile Home Park in West Missoula. This work provided access for children who live far from arts opportunities, bus routes, or grocery services. Instructors included professional artists, and the program created meaningful connections.Youth Showcases: We produced Spotlight Teen Singing Competition during Missoula on Main, providing young performers with coaching, adjudication, and performance opportunities led by professional musicians and arts educators.3. Advocacy, Cultural Leadership & PlanningAs Missoulas local arts agency, Arts Missoula plays a leadership role in cultural policy, civic collaboration, and local-to-national arts advocacy.Cultural Planning: In FY24, Arts Missoula advanced the development of Missoulas first cultural plan in 35 years, in partnership with the City of Missoula Parks & Recreation Department. The plan will guide long-term arts goals, infrastructure needs, creative workforce support, and community engagement.Arts Advocacy: As the Montana District Captain for Americans for the Arts, Arts Missoula participated in national advocacy efforts and engaged state and local partners to promote the vital role of the arts in economic development, education, and community well-being.Economic Impact & Research: Though not a survey year, Arts Missoula continues to report out on the impact of the arts on Missoulas local economy and celebrates the data that shows us artists are small businesses and the backbone of our community. 4. Digital Access, Directories & CommunicationsArts Missoula invested deeply in tools that make the arts more discoverable, accessible, and inclusive.Arts Missoula Directory App: We advanced the development of our community-friendly arts directory app, which maps artists, arts organizations, venues, and public art throughout Missoula. This platform expands access for residents, visitors, and partners by offering a centralized, searchable resource.5. Fiscal Sponsorship & Sector SupportArts Missoula provided administrative, financial, and strategic support to several emerging and established arts organizations through our fiscal sponsorship program. FY24 sponsored projects included: Grow Music MissoulaMissoula All-City JazzWheels on the Bus Mobile Ceramics StudioIndigenous Made MissoulaNo Joke TheatreSculpture Missoula Fiscal sponsorship enables these projects to operate with nonprofit benefits while focusing on their artistic missions. Arts Missoula also offere

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 53.5%; rating input score 54
• Program expense ratio: 71.8%; rating input score 72
• Fundraising efficiency: $9.53 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 4 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 25.5%; rating input score 79; 79th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.01; rating input score 41; 41st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.24; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 29.4%; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 1.8% per year; rating input score 100; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.3% per year; rating input score 100; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 14.7% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings