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Arts Boston Inc

EIN 04-2563054 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak17 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

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

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$894,022
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
-3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 60%
Employees
11
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$169,171, executive director

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

Financial health

Weak: 17 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 119% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 46 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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 August 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 (3)
  1. $285,349 spent. TICKETING: ARTSBOSTON'S BOSTIX DISCOUNT TICKET PROGRAM AVAILABLE BOTH ONLINE AND IN-PERSON AT OUR TWO BOSTIX TICKET/INFORMATION BOOTHS- MAKES IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR BOSTON RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE THE JOY, COMMUNITY, AND FUN OF BOSTON'S ARTS AND CULTURE, WHILE HELPING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS BUILD THEIR AUDIENCES AND REVENUE.
  2. $118,701 spent. ADVERTISING: ARTSBOSTON PROVIDES EFFECTIVE AND AFFORDABLE WAYS FOR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE THEIR EVENTS TO BOTH TOURISTS AND RESIDENTS. LISTING IN THE ARTSBOSTON CALENDAR IS FREE TO ALL LOCAL CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. OUR CALENDAR IS GREATER BOSTON'S MOST COMPREHENSIVE DIGITAL COMPILATION OF PERFORMANCES, EXHIBIT EXHIBITIONS, FESTIVALS, AND FREE EVENTS. IT HAS A WIDE REACH THROUGH OUR TOURISM AND CIVIC PARTERS WHO APPRECIATE THE ACCESS INFORMATION REQUIRED IN ALL LISTINGS. OUR AFFORDABLE ADVERTISING REACHES TARGETED AUDIENCE SEGMENTS, WITH OUT OF HOME ADVERTISING AT ARTSBOSTON'S TICKET/INFORMATION BOOTHS AT FANEUIL HALL AND COPLEY SQUARE AND OUR EMAIL MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA WHICH CONNECTS WITH OVER 100,000 ARTS GOERS.
  3. $359,446 spent. THE ARTSBOSTON ALL ACCESS INITIATIVE PROVIDES A MORE WELCOMING EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, WITH RECENT INNOVATIONS TO THE ARTSBOSTON CALENDAR SUCH AS A SEARCH OPTION THAT WORKS WITH MULTIPLE ACCOMMODATIONS AND REQUIRED ACCESS INFORMATION FROM ALL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS LISTING ON THE CALENDAR. ARTSBOSTON PROVIDES ARTS ORGANIZATIONS WITH ONGOING TRAINING SESSIONS AND TIP SHEETS ON WHAT SPECIFIC ACCESS INFORMATION IS NEEDED, HOW BEST TO PRESENT IT, AND WHY FULL ACCESS INFORMATION IS ESSENTIAL, NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHT. THE NETWORK FOR ARTS ADMINISTRATOR OF COLOR/BOSTON (NAAC BOSTON), LAUNCHED IN 2016, PROVIDES PLATFORMS FOR CONNECTION AND LEARNING, FOSTERS PROFESSIONAL GROWTH, AND WIDENS THE LEADERSHIP PIPELINE. WITH FREE MEMBERSHIP OPEN TO ALL SELF-IDENTIFYING BIPOC ARTS ADMINISTRATORS AND ARTISTS IN GREATER BOSTON, NAAC BOSTON HAS GROWN FROM 40 MEMBERS AT ITS LAUNCH TO 700+ MEMBERS IN 2025. RESOURCES INCLUDE AN ONLINE MEMBER DIRECTORY AND ACTIVE LIST SERVE, MEMBER EVENTS, AND A HIGHLY REGARDED COHORT BASED MENTORSHIP AND SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM THAT CONNECTS EARLY, MID-CAREER, AND ESTABLISHED ARTS PROFESSIONALS. ARTSBOSTON ALSO LEADS RESEARCH TO INFORM AND ADVOCATE FOR THE CULTURAL SECTOR. ARTSBOSTON AUDIENCE INITIATIVE HELPS GREATER BOSTON ARTS ORGANIZATIONS BETTER UNDERSTAND AND GROW THEIR AUDIENCES. WITH 1.5 MILLION UNIQUE HOUSEHOLDS IN ITS DATABASE, THE ARTSBOSTON AUDIENCE INITIATIVE FACILITATES LIST EXCHANGES, PROVIDES DATA AND DEMOGRAPHICS AND HISTORIES OF THE ARTS ATTENDANCE, AND ENABLES ARTS ORGANIZATIONS ACCESS TO SOPHISTICATED DATA USE MOST COULD NOT AFFORD ON THEIR OWN. THE ARTSFACTOR, A LANDMARK STUDY 2014 UPDATED IN 2019, ILLUSTRATES THE ARTS AND CULTURAL SECTORS POTENT IMPACT AND DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH, ATTRACTING AND RETAINING A TALENTED WORKFORCE, AND ATTRACTING VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE TO GREATER BOSTON. USED BY THE CITY OF BOSTON, MASSCREATIVE, AND COUNTLESS MEDIA REPORTS, THE ARTSFACTOR'S FRAMEWORK OF SNACKABLE DATA THAT MAKES IMPACT EASIER TO UNDERSTAND REMAINS A VITAL SOURCE FOR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR ADVOCACY AND FUNDRAISING WORK.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 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 August 2025.

    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 April 1975.

    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.