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Community Art Center Inc

EIN 04-2496097 · Cambridge, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CULTIVATE AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY OF YOUTH WHOSE POWERFUL ARTISTIC VOICES TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES, THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEIR WORLDS.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
34
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$114,330, executive director

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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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. $731,268 spent. SCHOOL AGE CHILD CARE PROGRAM (SACC): YOUTH AGES 5-12 PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM WHERE THEY BECOME CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVERS THROUGH HANDS ON CURRICULUM. SACC USES AN ARTS-BASED APPROACH TO ADDRESS THE DIFFICULTIES OUR YOUTH FACE BROUGHT ON BY TRAUMA, SPECIAL NEEDS, POVERTY, IMMIGRATION, RACISM, AND A LACK OF ACCESS TO KEY RESOURCES. EACH ACTIVITY THE STUDENTS ARE INVOLVED WITH ALLOWS THEM TIME FOR SELF-EXPLORATION THROUGH THE ARTS AND THE ABILITY TO WORK TOWARDS LEADERSHIP ROLES. YOUTH ARE INSPIRED ARTISTICALLY IN CLASSES IN DISCIPLINES INCLUDING VISUAL ARTS, DANCE, THEATER, AND MEDIA ARTS. JR. LEADERSHIP GROUPS AND INTERMEDIATE LEVEL ART CLASSES PREPARE PRE-TEENS FOR SUCCESS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES SEQUENCE TO A FINAL INTERDISCIPLINARY PERFORMANCE AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND AN OUTDOOR COMMUNITY EVENT. SACC STUDENTS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE ALL BUT 14 WEEK DAYS OF THE YEAR. CAC IS OPEN 10 HOURS A DAY DURING SCHOOL VACATION AND SUMMER. THIS COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO INTEGRATING ARTS AND SOCIAL SERVICES ALLOWS YOUTH TO LEARN, GROW AND ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
  2. $190,904 spent. TEEN MEDIA PROGRAM (TMP): YOUTH AGES 13-19 ENTER THE TMP AND BECOME CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY USERS BY PARTICIPATING IN MEDIA ARTS AND LITERACY ACTIVITIES. TMP OFFERS A SEQUENCED MULTI-YEAR CURRICULUM THAT USES ARTISTIC EXPRESSION TO DEVELOP NEW TECHNOLOGY AND CREATIVITY ALLOWING PARTICIPANTS TO DEVELOP NEW SKILLS. TMP TEACHES YOUTH TO BE DIGITAL CREATORS RATHER THAN CONSUMERS. ARTISTIC GROWTH IS FOSTERED THROUGH FACILITATING THE CREATION, PRESENTATION AND CRITIQUE OF MEDIA ART WORKS AND THROUGH TEACHING TECHNOLOGY SKILLS. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT IS ROOTED IN CELEBRATING THE INHERENT STRENGTHS OF TEENS WHILE FILLING GAPS IN THEIR EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE.
  3. $299,050 spent. TEEN PUBLIC ART: COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES PARTICIPATE IN CACS YEAR-ROUND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. THE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS USE ARTS-BASED ACTIVITIES TO CONNECT DIVIDED SPACES AND A DIVIDED COMMUNITY AND GROW THE LEVEL OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OF CAMBRIDGES MOST ISOLATED RESIDENTS. ALL COMMUNITY PROGRAMS EITHER PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR THE STORIES AND ARTWORK OF OUR YOUTH, ARE ORGANIZED BY OUR YOUTH, AND/OR WORK TO STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES OUR YOUTH ARE A PART OF. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS INCLUDE YEAR-ROUND ARTS EVENTS AND CREATE SPACES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COME TOGETHER, EXPLORE, LEARN AND CELEBRATE.

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 August 1972.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Community Blood Center (Dayton, OH), EIN 31-0684163. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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