Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by OXBOW.

This return was superseded by a later amendment. matched by us It is kept because history is preserved rather than replaced.

What the amendment changed

Compared with the latest return for 2024 , filed 5 May 2026. matched by us Only the return's totals, a 990-PF's accounting method and the names listed in Part VII (Part VIII on a 990-PF) are compared. We relate returns by organization, tax year and form, and order them by each return's own timestamp; the filer's own "amended return" checkbox is a separate fact.

Total revenue: $3,333,633 changed to $3,198,270
Total expenses: $3,869,023 changed to $3,516,527
Contributions and grants received: $1,016,651 changed to $1,153,471
Grants paid: $508,137 changed to $181,806
Program service revenue: $1,910,793 changed to $1,712,198
Other revenue: $156,006 changed to $82,418
Total assets, end of year: $5,951,851 changed to $5,771,424
Total liabilities, end of year: $2,115,895 changed to $1,683,794
Net assets or fund balances, end of year: $3,835,956 changed to $4,087,630
Program services expenses: $3,206,066 changed to $2,690,630
Management and general expenses: $296,758 changed to $498,127
Fundraising expenses: $366,199 changed to $327,770
Program service expenses (Part III): $3,206,066 changed to $2,690,630

Totals

Total revenue: $3,333,633
Total expenses: $3,869,023
Contributions and grants received: $1,016,651
Grants paid: $508,137
Program service revenue: $1,910,793
Investment income: $250,183
Other revenue: $156,006
Total assets, end of year: $5,951,851
Total liabilities, end of year: $2,115,895
Net assets or fund balances, end of year: $3,835,956
Program services expenses (Part IX): $3,206,066
Management and general expenses: $296,758
Fundraising expenses: $366,199
Program service expenses (Part III): $3,206,066

Program services were 82.9% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

1b · Membership dues

$3,075
1c · Fundraising events

$89,627
1d · Related organizations

$141,180
1e · Government grants (contributions)

$77,500
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

$705,269
2a · Program service revenue: NET TUITION AND LAB FE

total $1,541,869 · related or exempt $1,541,869
2b · Program service revenue: ROOM & BOARD

total $334,315 · related or exempt $334,315
2c · Program service revenue: ART ON THE MEADOW

total $34,609 · related or exempt $34,609
3 · Investment income

total $52,891 · excluded $52,891
6a · Gross rents

real property $99,607
6b · Less rental expenses

real property $0
6c · Rental income or loss

real property $99,607
6d · Net rental income or loss

total $99,607 · related or exempt $99,607
7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

securities $197,292
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

securities $0
7c · Gain or loss

securities $197,292
7d · Net gain or loss

total $197,292 · related or exempt $197,292
8a · Fundraising events: gross income

$119,400
8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

$89,627
8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

$97,550
8c · Net income from fundraising events

total $21,850 · excluded $21,850
10a · Gross sales of inventory

$89,690
10b · Cost of goods sold

$55,141
10c · Net income from sales of inventory

total $34,549 · related or exempt $34,549

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

2 · Grants to domestic individuals

total $508,137 · program services $508,137
5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

total $197,318 · program services $197,318
7 · Other salaries and wages

total $1,496,545 · program services $1,128,808 · management and general $79,269 · fundraising $288,468
8 · Pension plan contributions

total $26,631 · program services $18,832 · fundraising $7,799
9 · Other employee benefits

total $67,251 · program services $45,296 · fundraising $21,955
10 · Payroll taxes

total $123,748 · program services $91,369 · management and general $15,978 · fundraising $16,401
11b · Fees: legal

total $5,343 · management and general $5,343
11c · Fees: accounting

total $39,825 · management and general $39,825
11f · Fees: investment management

total $15,214 · management and general $15,214
11g · Fees: other

total $151,825 · program services $149,237 · fundraising $2,588
12 · Advertising and promotion

total $60,736 · program services $59,214 · fundraising $1,522
13 · Office expenses

total $18,450 · program services $6,423 · management and general $11,903 · fundraising $124
14 · Information technology

total $141,553 · program services $124,740 · management and general $16,076 · fundraising $737
16 · Occupancy

total $430,316 · program services $430,316
17 · Travel

total $59,235 · program services $44,422 · management and general $7,471 · fundraising $7,342
20 · Interest

total $60,593 · management and general $60,593
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

total $166,229 · program services $166,229
23 · Insurance

total $100,620 · program services $84,130 · management and general $16,490
24a · Other expenses: SUPPLIES

total $71,832 · program services $71,127 · management and general $299 · fundraising $406
24b · Other expenses: REPAIRS

total $42,577 · program services $41,950 · management and general $274 · fundraising $353
24c · Other expenses: BANK AND CREDIT CARD

total $40,681 · program services $17,355 · management and general $23,326
24d · Other expenses: ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS

total $21,074 · program services $8,774 · management and general $2,490 · fundraising $9,810
24e · All other expenses

total $23,290 · program services $12,389 · management and general $2,207 · fundraising $8,694

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

beginning of year $167,155 · end of year $75,716
2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

beginning of year $129,332
3 · Pledges and grants receivable

beginning of year $81,053 · end of year $542,534
8 · Inventories for sale or use

beginning of year $6,287 · end of year $6,287
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

beginning of year $3,740 · end of year $1,898
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

$7,050,898
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

$3,829,267
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

beginning of year $3,415,615 · end of year $3,221,631
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

beginning of year $2,074,521 · end of year $2,064,513
15 · Other assets

beginning of year $236,116 · end of year $39,272
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

beginning of year $369,553 · end of year $724,263
19 · Deferred revenue

beginning of year $0
23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

beginning of year $1,240,360 · end of year $1,389,234
25 · Other liabilities

beginning of year $16,644 · end of year $2,398
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

beginning of year $2,283,409 · end of year $1,512,197
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

beginning of year $2,203,853 · end of year $2,323,759

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

TO CONNECT ARTISTS TO A NETWORK OF CREATIVE PEOPLE, RESOURCES, AND IDEAS; TO AN ENERGIZING NATURAL ENVIRONMENT; AND TO A RICH ARTISTIC HISTORY AND TO A VITAL FUTURE.

Activities or mission (Part I)

TO CONNECT ARTISTS TO A NETWORK OF CREATIVE PEOPLE, RESOURCES, AND IDEAS; TO AN ENERGIZING NATURAL ENVIRONMENT; AND TO A RICH ARTISITIC HISTORY AND TO A VITAL FUTURE.

OX-BOW WAS FOUNDED IN 1910 AND OPERATES AN ART SCHOOL, INCLUDING ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCY PROGRAMS, AND OWNS THE NECESSARY PROPERTY AND BUILDINGS TO CONDUCT THE SAME. OX-BOW'S PURPOSE IS TO CONNECT ARTISTS TO A NETWORK OF CREATIVE PEOPLE, RESOURCES AND IDEAS TO AN ENERGIZING NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND, TO A RICH ARTISTIC HISTORY AND TO A VITAL FUTURE. OX-BOW RECOGNIZES ARTISTS ARE VISIONARIES: THEY CREATE NEW POSSIBILITIES, ADVANCE CULTURE, AND ENABLE OTHERS TO IMAGINE THE UNIMAGINABLE. OUR SCHOOL AND RESIDENCY ARE PROGRAMMED TO SUPPORT AND BUILD ON THOSE SKILLS BY PROVIDING ARTISTS AT ALL STAGES IN THEIR ARTISTIC JOURNEY ACCESS TO A RANGE OF PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, ONLINE AND IN PERSON. AT OX-BOW, A NOURISHED LIFE INCLUDES CONVERSATION, RIGOR, PLAYFULNESS, EXPERIENCING NATURE, IMMERSION INTO A CREATIVE CONTEXT, AND COMMUNALLY ENJOYING DELICIOUS, HEALTHY MEALS. OX-BOW'S STRENGTH IS DRAWN FROM HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE SAUGATUCK/DOUGLAS COMMUNITY, THE SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, PARTNERS SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, AND NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS AND SUPPORTERS. OX-BOW BELIEVES EXPERIENCING A FLOURISHING NATURAL WORLD INVIGORATES A SENSE OF AWE AND CURIOSITY THAT ENABLES THE CREATIVE SPIRIT. CURRENTLY, OX-BOW'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS MADE UP OF 13 INDIVIDUALS. THEIR BACKGROUNDS AND SKILLSETS PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO LAW, ARCHITECTURE, BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND THE ARTS, WITH 2 MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO. THE BOARD IS PASSIONATE ABOUT OX-BOW AND GOVERNS THE ORGANIZATION ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS. THE BOARD ANNUALLY CULTIVATES 2 NEW MEMBERS TO GROW THE BOARD, WITH THE GOAL OF REACHING A COHORT OF 18 MEMBERS. INTEGRAL TO THE OX-BOW EXPERIENCE ARE THE DEDICATED STAFF WHO HELP DEFINE THE CHARACTER OF THE ORGANIZATION. OX-BOW HAS BEEN LARGELY ARTIST RUN FOR THE LAST 112 YEARS, WHICH INFUSES THE LEADERSHIP, MAIN OFFICE, KITCHEN, MAINTENANCE, AND HOUSEKEEPING WITH A CREATIVE AND PLAYFUL SENSIBILITY. OX-BOW'S CLASSES ARE TAUGHT BY LOCAL, NATIONAL, OR INTERNATIONAL RENOWNED AND DISTINGUISHED ARTISTS. IN 2023 OX-BOW OPENED UP ENROLLMENT CAPACITY AFTER 2 YEARS OF RESTRICTED CLASS SIZES TO MITIGATE COVID SPREAD. WE CONTINUED TO ADJUST TO THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THE PANDEMIC, INCLUDING A HIGHER LIVING WAGE, INFLATION ACROSS OUR OPERATIONS COSTS, STAGNANT ENROLLMENT AND PATRON ATTRITION. FOLLOWING THE TRENDS OTHER NONPROFITS AND SCHOOLS ARE EXPERIENCING, THESE EXAMPLES WERE ON TREND BUT SHOWED STEADY, BUT INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENT. HIRING EXPERIENCED, DEDICATED STAFF REMAINED A CHALLENGE AS THE WORKFORCE CONTINUED TO CORRECT ITSELF POST-PANDEMIC. OVERALL, OX-BOW CONTINUES TO OFFER A TWO-WEEK IN-PERSON INTENSIVE IN JANUARY AND 10-WEEKS OF IN-PERSON LEARNING FROM JUNE-AUGUST. THESE CLASSES ARE OFFERED FOR BOTH CREDIT AND NONCREDIT, WITH THE MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS COMING FROM THE SCHOOL OF ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO WITH WHOM WE HAVE AN ONGOING PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. OX-BOW'S SUMMER AND FALL WORKSHOP SERIES, ART ON THE MEADOW, OFFERS DAY WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER FOR CHILDREN, TEENS AND ADULTS. THIS PROGRAM IS A WAY FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND SHORT TERM VISITORS TO ENGAGE IN LIFE AND ARTMAKING AT OX-BOW. CLASSES ARE TIMED TO GIVE PARTICIPANTS CONCENTRATED STUDIO TIME, WHILE STILL ALLOWING FOR THE FLEXIBILITY THAT BUSY SUMMER AND YEAR ROUND SCHEDULES REQUIRE. OUR RESIDENCY PROGRAMS OFFER ARTISTS AND WRITERS, AT VARIOUS STAGES IN THEIR CAREER, THE TIME, SPACE, AND COMMUNITY TO ENCOURAGE GROWTH AND EXPERIMENTATION IN THEIR PRACTICE. RESIDENTS JOIN OX-BOW'S COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WOVEN INTO OUR CAMPUS ALONGSIDE STUDENTS, FELLOWS, FACULTY AND STAFF FOR PERIODS OF 2 WEEKS UP TO 1 MONTH. THE SELECTION PROCESS CONSISTS OF AN ONLINE APPLICATION REVIEW FOLLOWED BY AN IN PERSON PANEL MEETING FOCUSING ON THE MERIT OF THE APPLICANT'S WORK AS WELL AS RESPONSES TO THE STATEMENTS OF PRACTICE, PURPOSE AND INTEREST. OX-BOW CONTINUALLY REINVENTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO VISIT OUR CAMPUS WE HOST OPEN STUDIO NIGHTS AT THE END OF JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST, "TASTE OF OX-BOW" COMMUNITY DINNERS, CABIN AND STUDIO RENTAL, PRIVATE CLASSES, OUR ANNUAL HALLOWEEN FAMILY AND ADULT EVENTS, A WINTER MARKET AT OX-BOW HOUSE THAT FEATURES REGIONAL ARTISTS, AND OTHER TALKS, DINNERS AND PROGRAMS THAT ENGAGE OUR STUDIOS AND LANDSCAPE. AS A HISTORICALLY ARTIST-RUN ORGANIZATION, OX-BOW CONTINUALLY WORKS TO BENEFIT THOSE WHOSE ARTMAKING IS A PRIMARY COMPONENT OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL CAREER. OUR PROGRAMS SEEK TO BE A SOURCE OF BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT. OVER THE PAST FIFTEEN YEARS, OX-BOW HAS WELCOMED ARTISTS FROM THE PHILIPPINES, TRINIDAD, NIGERIA, CHINA, FRANCE, SOUTH KOREA, PAKISTAN, IRAN, JAPAN, THE UK, AND CANADA. OUR NATIONAL REPRESENTATION IS EQUALLY DIVERSE, PULLING TALENTED ARTISTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. ALUMNI FROM THE RESIDENCY PROGRAM HAVE EXEMPLIFIED OX-BOW'S COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY AND INTENSIVE ARTMAKING, GARNERING EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITIES FOLLOWING THEIR STAY. STUDENT AND RESIDENT ALUMS HAVE GONE ON TO WORK WITH IMPORTANT CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS, AND SHOW IN MUSEUMS, INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED ART EXHIBITIONS, AND GALLERIES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

Expenses $3,206,066 · Grants $508,137 · Revenue $2,242,241

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

Shannon R StrattonSHANNON R STRATTON

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$187,348

From this org

$150,000

From related orgs

$0

Other

$37,348

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$150,000

Bonus

$0

Other

$0

Deferred

$5,637

Nontaxable benefits

$31,711

Filer's total

$187,348
Steven MeierSTEVEN MEIER

PRESIDENT

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

8
Shauna WilsonSHAUNA WILSON

VICE PRESIDENT

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
Jina ValentineJINA VALENTINE

SECRETARY/TREASURER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

3
Jan CunninghamJAN CUNNINGHAM

TREASURER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
Scott AlfreeSCOTT ALFREE

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
Dawn GavinDAWN GAVIN

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
Evan BorisEVAN BORIS

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
Christopher CraftCHRISTOPHER CRAFT

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
Delinda CollierDELINDA COLLIER

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
Keith P WalkerKEITH P WALKER

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
Chris DeamCHRIS DEAM

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
Keith GoadKEITH GOAD

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
Loring RandolphLORING RANDOLPH

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

1a · Housing allowance or residence for personal use
1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
3 · Compensation committee
3 · Form 990 of other organizations
3 · Written employment contract
3 · Compensation survey or study
3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
7 · Other non-fixed payments
8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 1A: THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CAMPUS DIRECTOR WERE PROVIDED ONCAMPUS HOUSING YEAR ROUND AS THEIR PRIMARY RESIDENCE AS PART OF THE POSITION REQUIREMENTS. OXBOW PROVIDED THE HOUSING AT NO COST TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CAMPUS DIRECTOR.
PART I, LINE 3: THE BOARD REVIEWS AND APPROVES COMPENSATION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. AS PART OF THE REVIEW PROCESS, SALARY DATA FROM COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS IS CONSIDERED.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

501(C)(3) · IL

Provenance

Return type: form_990
Tax year: 2024
Filed: 5 November 2025
IRS schema version: 2024v5.2
Source object: 202513109349303306

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.