Fort Mason Center

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To engage and connect people with arts and culture on a historic waterfront campus.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
83¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 17 volunteers and 86 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.1M a year · 9% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
83%
of spending
Looks good: 83% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.5M
to officers and key staff · 8% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 8% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $12.4M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 2.7 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $37K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$35.7M
46% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 46% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
20
of 20 voting members
Looks good: 20 of 20 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$14.4M
+15% vs prior year
Spent
$17.4M
To programs
83%
Net assets
$42.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$14.4M
FY2024▲ +15%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$8.7M
FY2021$12.1M
FY2022$11.2M
FY2023$12.5M
FY2024$14.4M
Expenses
$17.4M
FY2024▲ +70%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$7.8M
FY2021$7.6M
FY2022$10.5M
FY2023$10.2M
FY2024$17.4M
Net assets
$42.4M
FY2024▲ +0.9%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$33.1M
FY2021$39.0M
FY2022$38.6M
FY2023$42.0M
FY2024$42.4M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Apr 1976.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

83 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 83% · $14.4M Management & general 17% · $2.9M Fundraising 0% · $64K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

28 people listed on the 990; $1.5M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
CEO & President
$310,543Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Financial Officer
$203,024Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Operating Officer
$186,423Pt VII · Sec A
Chief External Affairs & L
$183,868Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Sales
$170,488Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Capital Projec
$158,509Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Exhibitions &
$140,934Pt VII · Sec A
Arts Program Manager
$114,782Pt VII · Sec A

Michael Buhler’s $311K as CEO & President is at the 48th percentile of top reported officer pay among 290 $10–100M recreation & sports nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Michael Buhler$310,543$297,398$277,415$229,774—
Patrick Nester$203,024$209,144$202,965$233,749$151,750
Nicholas Kinsey$183,868$197,475$167,218$204,701$128,110
Patrick Hajduk$186,423$183,142$157,609$188,540$132,390
Amanda Mathews$170,488$166,800$144,085$155,036$112,646
Ruchira Nageswaran$158,509$167,673$131,923——
Frank Smigiel$140,934$146,247$128,915$140,329$109,758
Jesse Fritts—$136,196$113,318$129,007$101,652

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Fort Mason Center executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Connects people with arts and culture on a historic waterfront campus.

Questions for Fort Mason Center

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Your first name shows with your question. Fort Mason Center answers here, for everyone.

2 programs · $14.4M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

First established as a nonprofit cultural center in 1977, fort mason center for arts & culture (fmcac) has long been host to a lively mix of arts, educational and cultural programming on san francisco's northern waterfront.

$8.9Mprogram expense
02

Through its resident program, fmcac provides long-term financial support to over 15 non-profit and arts organizations. These organizations receive grants from fmcac to significantly reduce their rent costs on campus thus allowing these community serving arts organizations to focus on producing their artistic programs instead of searching…

$5.6Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 4 funders →
Grants paid · 21 grants · $7.9M · 2022–2024
Grabhorn InstituteCA · FY2024$2,881,039
Blue Bear School of MusicCA · FY2024$172,930
Greenszen CenterFY2024$101,172
EtcCA · FY2024$39,472
Long Now FoundationCA · FY2024$31,143
ForsiteCA · FY2024$30,108
SeedlingsCA · FY2024$7,027
Museo Italo-AmericanoCA · FY2023$398,160
EtcCA · FY2023$39,472
ForsiteCA · FY2023$30,108
SeedlingsCA · FY2023$7,331
Magic Theatre INCCA · FY2022$1,251,641
San Francisco Camerawork INCCA · FY2022$176,100
Museo Italo-AmericanoCA · FY2022$132,720
GreensFY2022$101,172
See all 21 grants →

Federal money

Single Audit · Federal Audit Clearinghouse · money spent from federal programs
Year ending Dec 2021 · $4.7M federal money spent
Shuttered Venue Operators Grant ProgramSmall Business Administration · ALN 59.075 · Direct$4.7M

The auditor reported no findings.

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$14.4M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$14.0M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$340K
Investment incomeLn 3$105K
Money outPt IX
$17.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$14.4M
Managementcol C$2.9M
Fundraisingcol D$64K
Owns and owesPt X
$42.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.9M
Total assetsLn 16$78.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$35.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
28
listed · VII A
PaidVII A8
Voting boardVI 1a20
IndependentVI 1b20
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$340K
Government grantsLn 1e$61K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$5K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$80K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$14.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$105K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$267K
Total revenueLn 12$14.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$3.0M
SavingsLn 2$970K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.9M
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$153K
Accounts receivableLn 4$6.7M
Notes and loans receivableLn 7$27.4M
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$28K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$12.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$12.4M
Intangible assetsLn 14$14.6M
Other assetsLn 15$317K
Total assetsLn 16$78.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$35.7M
Net assetsLn 32$42.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 586
VolunteersI 617
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.9M$3.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$11.8M$12.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$11.7M$12.6M
Total assetsLn 16$73.5M$78.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$31.5M$35.7M
Net assetsLn 32$42.0M$42.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$5.6M$5.6M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$917K$666K$242K$9K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.4M$2.5M$904K$34K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$74K$74K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$423K$307K$112K$4K
Payroll taxesLn 10$294K$214K$78K$3K
Legal feesLn 11b$38K$38K
Accounting feesLn 11c$90K$90K
Investment management feesLn 11f$84K$84K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$95K$95K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$150K$150K
Information technologyLn 14$221K$160K$58K$2K
OccupancyLn 16$545K$396K$149K
TravelLn 17$2K$2K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1.2M$898K$326K$12K
InsuranceLn 23$351K$255K$96K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$3.8M$3.3M$491K
All other expensesLn 24e$152K$128K$24K
Total functional expensesLn 25$17.4M$14.4M$2.9M$64K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 14, 2025 $14.4M$17.4M−$3.0M$42.4M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Nov 14, 2024 $12.5M$10.2M$2.3M$42.0M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Nov 10, 2023 $11.2M$10.5M$679K$38.6M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Nov 11, 2022 $12.1M$7.6M$4.5M$39.0M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Nov 11, 2021 $8.7M$7.8M$870K$33.1M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $14,436,718 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $190,071$340,261
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $11,956,698$13,998,383
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $354,018$105,360
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $36,488−$7,286
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $12,537,275$14,436,718
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $512,103$5,554,400
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $3,847,265$5,133,627
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $5,858,392$6,724,362
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $10,217,760$17,412,389
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $2,319,515−$2,975,671
Part VI · Governance 20 of 20 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body20
VI-1b Independent voting members20
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $14,436,718 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$79,759
VIII-1e Government grants$61,430
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$199,072
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$5,115
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$340,261
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $13,998,383$13,998,383
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $372,598$372,598
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$267,238−$267,238
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$24,025−$24,025
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $16,739$16,739
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $13,998,383 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $98,074$14,436,718
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $17,412,389 across 18 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $5,554,400$5,554,400
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $665,880 · Management $242,071 · Fundraising $8,986$916,937
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,487,111 · Management $904,156 · Fundraising $33,563$3,424,830
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsManagement $74,490$74,490
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $307,251 · Management $111,697 · Fundraising $4,146$423,094
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $213,703 · Management $77,689 · Fundraising $2,884$294,276
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $38,214$38,214
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $89,737$89,737
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $83,923$83,923
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $95,009$95,009
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $150,475$150,475
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $160,294 · Management $58,272 · Fundraising $2,163$220,729
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $395,869 · Management $149,255$545,124
IX-17 TravelManagement $1,821$1,821
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $897,864 · Management $326,406 · Fundraising $12,117$1,236,387
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $254,808 · Management $96,070$350,878
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $3,269,213 · Management $490,699$3,759,912
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $128,359 · Management $23,794$152,153
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $14,429,761 · Management $2,918,769 · Fundraising $63,859$17,412,389
Part X · Balance sheet $78,118,371 assets, 21 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $3,348,731$2,971,521
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $560,636$969,685
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $61,430$152,515
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $388,304$6,725,474
X-7 Notes and loans receivableStart of year $30,723,104$27,414,381
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $19,345$27,748
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $11,713,296$12,617,079
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $11,461,798$12,040,108
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $328,997$328,997
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $14,760,025$14,554,165
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $130,851$316,698
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $73,496,517$78,118,371
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,234,684$1,753,602
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,501,214$6,193,457
X-23 Secured mortgages and notes payableStart of year $26,797,814$25,444,719
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,948,844$2,323,938
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $31,482,556$35,715,716
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $41,927,531$42,264,050
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $86,430$138,605
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $42,013,961$42,402,655
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $73,496,517$78,118,371
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $42,402,655 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$14,436,718
XI-2 Total expenses$17,412,389
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$2,975,671
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$42,013,961
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$1,156,228
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$2,208,137
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$42,402,655

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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