Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Tbey Arts Center Inc

EIN 02-0739623 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 47% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TBEY ARTS CENTER STRENGTHENS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS THROUGH EXPOSURE TO THE ARTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION. YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AGES 2-19 RECEIVE PROFESSIONAL ARTS INSTRUCITON, ENJOY PERFORMANCES & EXHIBITS, RECEIVE TUTORING, MENTORING, AND COACHING TO ACHIEVE ACADEMICALLY AND PURSUE THEIR INTEREST IN THE ARTS.

Income
$417,112
Spending
$480,724
Spent on programs
47%
Reserves
8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 59%
Employees
23
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$92,846, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    47% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 of 5 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

    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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $225,015 spent. ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMMING (INCLUDING TBEY TINY'S, ASAP, AND SUMMER ARTS CAMP):DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, TBEY ARTS CENTER, INC. SERVED OVER 700 YOUTH ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN THROUGH HIGH-QUALITY, AGE-APPROPRIATE ARTS EDUCATION. OUR PROGRAMS PROVIDED CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THEATRE, DANCE, VISUAL ARTS, AND MUSIC, WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON REACHING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. NOTABLY, OUR TBEY TINY'S PROGRAM EXPANDED TO INCLUDE EARLY CHILDHOOD PARTICIPANTS AGED K3-4, BUILDING FOUNDATIONAL CREATIVE AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS. OUR SUMMER ARTS CAMP OFFERS ARTS ENRICHMENT WORKSHOPS, FIELD TRIPS, AND CULMINATING SHOWCASES THAT ENGAGED FAMILIES AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY.
  2. ARTREACH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM:TBEY'S ARTREACH PROGRAM BROUGHT ARTS EDUCATION DIRECTLY INTO SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND AFTER-SCHOOL SITES ACROSS MILWAUKEE, SUPPORTING ARTS ACCESS WHERE IT'S NEEDED MOST. THIS YEAR, WE PARTNERED WITH 12 SCHOOLS AND 4 COMMUNITY CENTERS, DELIVERING OVER 300 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION AND REACHING APPROXIMATELY 2,000 STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM ALIGNED WITH ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND SUPPORTED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT GOALS. IT WAS PARTICULARLY INSTRUMENTAL IN RE-ENGAGING STUDENTS POST-PANDEMIC, USING CREATIVE EXPRESSION TO BUILD CONFIDENCE, IMPROVE ATTENDANCE, AND FOSTER RESILIENCE.
  3. YOUTH PRODUCTIONS AND COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES:TBEY CONTINUED ITS TRADITION OF YOUTH-LED PRODUCTIONS AND PUBLIC PERFORMANCES, PROVIDING YOUNG ARTISTS WITH PROFESSIONAL STAGE EXPERIENCES WHILE ENRICHING MILWAUKEE'S CULTURAL LANDSCAPE. OVER 40 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN OUR ANNUAL THEATRE AND DANCE PRODUCTIONS, WITH PERFORMANCES ATTRACTING MORE THAN 700 ATTENDEES. THESE SHOWCASES PROVIDED VITAL EXPOSURE FOR YOUNG TALENT AND FOSTERED INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. OUR CAPSTONE EVENT, THE STARGAZED BENEFIT CONCERT, HIGHLIGHTED STUDENT AND ALUMNI PERFORMERS ALONGSIDE PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS, RAISING ESSENTIAL FUNDS AND CELEBRATING OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY MILESTONE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.