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Cleveland Arts Prize

EIN 01-0627754 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair52 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CLEVELAND ARTS PRIZE IDENTIFIES, REWARDS, PUBLICLY HONORS AND PROMOTES THOSE CREATIVE ARTISTS WHOSE ORIGINAL WORK AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS HAVE SET A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE TO WHICH OTHER ARTISTS CAN ASPIRE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CLEVELAND ARTS PRIZE RECOGNIZES THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE EXPANDED THE COMMUNITY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE ARTS AND HELPED MAKE THE REGION MORE HOSPITABLE TO CREATIVE ARTISTIC EXPRESSION.

Income
$413,853
Spending
$296,608
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
6.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
2
Highest pay
$58,000, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (1)
  1. $202,014 spent. CLEVELAND ARTS PRIZE ("CAP") CONTINUES TO DEEPEN ITS IMPACT ON THE REGION'S ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY THROUGH MEANINGFUL PROGRAMMING, GENEROUS SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. CAP HOSTED ITS 64TH ANNUAL AWARDS EVENT ON OCTOBER 24, 2024, AT CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S EAST CAMPUS, RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN THE ARTS. CAP AWARDED THREE UNRESTRICTED 10,000 PRIZES TO ARTISTS IN THE EMERGING, MID-CAREER, AND LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES ACROSS VARIOUS ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES. IN ADDITION, FIVE 2,000 VERGE FELLOWSHIPS WILL BE AWARDED TO PRE-EMERGING ARTISTS IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OFFERING BOTH FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. CAP ALSO CONTINUES TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF THE ARTS BY AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH AREA SCHOOLS. IN ITS COMMITMENT TO CONVENING AND CONNECTING THE ARTS COMMUNITY, CAP HAS INTRODUCED A NEW SERIES OF TOURS OF PERFORMING ARTS VENUES, OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAP SUPPORTERS, TRUSTEES, AND THE PUBLIC TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH LOCAL ARTISTIC DIRECTORS AND PERFORMERS WHO ARE CLEVELAND ARTS PRIZE WINNERS. THIS INITIATIVE HAS STRENGTHENED TIES ACROSS DISCIPLINES AND CREATED PLATFORMS FOR DYNAMIC CONVERSATION AND COLLABORATION. CAP'S REACH AND INFLUENCE HAVE EXPANDED THROUGH STRATEGIC BOARD DEVELOPMENT, GROWING THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO 25 MEMBERS, BRINGING NEW PERSPECTIVES AND RESOURCES TO THE ORGANIZATION. AS CAP LOOKS AHEAD, IT REMAINS DEDICATED TO HONORING THE REGION'S MOST ACCOMPLISHED ARTISTS, UPLIFTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CREATIVES, AND ENHANCING CULTURAL VIBRANCY ACROSS NORTHEAST OHIO. CLEVELAND ARTS PRIZE ("CAP") CONTINUES TO DEEPEN ITS IMPACT ON THE REGION'S ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY THROUGH MEANINGFUL PROGRAMMING, GENEROUS SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. CAP HOSTED ITS 64TH ANNUAL AWARDS EVENT ON OCTOBER 24, 2024, AT CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S EAST CAMPUS, RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN THE ARTS. CAP AWARDED THREE UNRESTRICTED 10,000 PRIZES TO ARTISTS IN THE EMERGING, MID-CAREER, AND LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES ACROSS VARIOUS ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES. IN ADDITION, FIVE 2,000 VERGE FELLOWSHIPS WILL BE AWARDED TO PRE-EMERGING ARTISTS IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OFFERING BOTH FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. CAP ALSO CONTINUES TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF THE ARTS BY AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH AREA SCHOOLS. IN ITS COMMITMENT TO CONVENING AND CONNECTING THE ARTS COMMUNITY, CAP HAS INTRODUCED A NEW SERIES OF TOURS OF PERFORMING ARTS VENUES, OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAP SUPPORTERS, TRUSTEES, AND THE PUBLIC TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH LOCAL ARTISTIC DIRECTORS AND PERFORMERS WHO ARE CLEVELAND ARTS PRIZE WINNERS. THIS INITIATIVE HAS STRENGTHENED TIES ACROSS DISCIPLINES AND CREATED PLATFORMS FOR DYNAMIC CONVERSATION AND COLLABORATION. CAP'S REACH AND INFLUENCE HAVE EXPANDED THROUGH STRATEGIC BOARD DEVELOPMENT, GROWING THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO 25 MEMBERS, BRINGING NEW PERSPECTIVES AND RESOURCES TO THE ORGANIZATION. AS CAP LOOKS AHEAD, IT REMAINS DEDICATED TO HONORING THE REGION'S MOST ACCOMPLISHED ARTISTS, UPLIFTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CREATIVES, AND ENHANCING CULTURAL VIBRANCY ACROSS NORTHEAST OHIO.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 April 2002.

    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.

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