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Starting Arts Inc

EIN 01-0552155 · San Jose, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

STARTING ARTS WAS FOUNDED IN 2002 WITH THE MISSION TO MAKE ARTS EDUCATION ACCESSIBLE TO ALL STUDENTS IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA SCHOOLS. WE BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER TO STIMULATE AND EDUCATE STUDENTS TO REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL THE CREATIVE ARTS ARE A NECESSARY COMPONENT OF THE EDUCATION PROCESS. OUR PASSION IS TO PROVIDE HANDS-ON ARTS EDUCATION IN FOUR ARTS DISCIPLINES - DANCE, THEATER, MUSIC AND VISUAL ARTS - IN CLASSES TAUGHT BY SKILLED PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS. CLASSES ARE CALIFORNIA STATE STANDARDS-BASED AND ALIGN WITH COMMON CORE STANDARDS. STARTING ARTS IS CURRENTLY PROVIDING ARTS EDUCATION TO OVER 125 SCHOOLS AND SERVING OVER 45,000 STUDENTS WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON TITLE 1 SCHOOLS.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 81%
Employees
26
Highest pay
$125,878, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $1.4 million spent. THEATRE PRODUCTIONS: UNDER THE DIRECTION OF PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORS, CHOREOGRAPHERS AND MUSIC DIRECTORS, STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-12 REHEARSE FOR 10-12 WEEKS IN PREPARATION FOR A PROFESSIONAL STAGE PRODUCTION, COMPLETE WITH COSTUMES, PROPS, LIGHTS, SOUND AND SETS. THIS PROGRAM TEACHES STUDENTS THEATRE SKILLS, TEAMWORK AND DISCIPLINE. THEATRE PRODUCTIONS CAN BE PERFORMED ONSITE AFTER SCHOOL AS WELL AS IN OUR STUDIOS LOCATED IN SAN JOSE. CURRENTLY, STARTING ARTS PRODUCES OVER 70 PRODUCTIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. STARTING ARTS ALSO PROVIDES AN INTENSIVE ?TRIPLE-THREAT? DANCE, THEATRE AND VOICE PROGRAM CALLED DREAM TEAM. WE HAVE 2 GROUPS: DREAM TEAM GRADES 9-12 AND DREAM TEAM 2 GRADES 5-8. STUDENTS WORK ON TECHNIQUE AS WELL AS PERFORMANCE. ONCE A MONTH, THEY RECEIVE MASTER CLASS WORKSHOPS WITH INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS. THIS PROGRAM IS BY AUDITION ONLY AND IS DESIGNED FOR SERIOUS STUDENTS READY TO TAKE THEIR TRAINING TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
  2. $646,390 spent. SCHOOL PROGRAMS: SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT AND ENHANCE GENERAL EDUCATION GOALS AND INCORPORATE THE CALIFORNIA VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS STANDARDS. WE ALSO PROVIDE COMPLEMENTARY PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE ANY EXISTING ARTS ENRICHMENT THE SCHOOLS MAY HAVE ONSITE. BEFORE AND AFTER-SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAMS OFFER CLASSES IN ALL FOUR DISCIPLINES: DANCE, VISUAL ARTS, MUSIC AND THEATRE. CLASSES MEET EITHER ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK FOR 10- 12 WEEKS, CULMINATING WITH A CONCERT/EXHIBITION.
  3. $52,225 spent. WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING: create community by providing art enrichment for all students

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.