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Real Art Ways Inc

EIN 06-0958072 · Hartford, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

REAL ART WAYS IS AN ALTERNATIVE MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT PRESENTS AND SUPPORTS CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS AND THEIR WORK, FACILITATES THE CREATION OF NEW WORK, AND CREATIVELY ENGAGES, BUILDS, AND INFORMS AUDIENCES AND COMMUNITIES.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
-4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
28
Volunteers
28
Highest pay
$159,128, executive director

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

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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 September 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 (4)
  1. $392,343 spent. FILM: OUR CINEMA PROGRAM, OPEN SEVEN NIGHTS A WEEK, INCLUDES FIRST-RUN INDEPENDENT FILMS FROM THE U.S. AND AROUND THE WORLD. OUR CINEMA ATTRACTS ON AVERAGE 34,000 VIEWERS PER YEAR. WE USE FILM TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH EACH OTHER. FOR EXAMPLE, THROUGH OUR SCIENCE ON SCREEN PROGRAM, WE COUPLE FILM WITH LIVE PRESENTATIONS TO INTRODUCE AUDIENCES TO ACCOMPLISHED SCIENTISTS WHO LIVE AND WORK IN OUR REGION.
  2. $283,569 spent. VISUAL ARTS: A COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION AND COMMUNITY INFORMS OUR VISUAL ARTS PROGRAM. WE PROVIDE A SPACE FOR ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING ARTISTS TO EXPERIMENT AND EXHIBIT WORK. FROM LARGE EXHIBITIONS TO SMALLER SOLO SHOWS, TOTALING 12 TO 15 PER YEAR, EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION ARE CENTRAL TO OUR EFFORTS.
  3. $245,101 spent. EDUCATION: OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS INTRODUCE STUDENTS TO NEW IDEAS, AND PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREATIVITY.EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE: FILM FIELD TRIPS: MORE THAN 2,000 STUDENTS PER YEAR VISIT REAL ART WAYS TO WATCH SUPERB FILMS, INCLUDING DOCUMENTARIES ON THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON HOW YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE MADE AN IMPACT IN OUR SOCIETY. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN A DISCUSSION ABOUT YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND INVOLVEMENT. PARK ART, OUR SUMMER ARTS PROGRAM, PROVIDES FREE-OF-CHARGE ART-MAKING WORKSHOPS, LED BY PRACTICING ARTISTS, FOR CHILDREN WHO LIVE IN OUR WORKING CLASS PARKVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD. REAL APPRENTICES EMPLOYS AN AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IN PAID POSITIONS. THEY BECOME VALUED STAFF MEMBERS, AND GAIN THEIR FIRST EXPERIENCE WORKING IN A PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT. EYE ON VIDEO: FIFTEEN AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, EACH PAID A WEEKLY STIPEND, LEARN HOW TO MAKE FILM AND VIDEO PROJECTS IN AN INTENSIVE, SUMMER-LONG PROGRAM. WITH EXHIBITIONS, FILMS, PUBLIC ART PROJECTS, CONCERTS, PERFORMANCES, READINGS, EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND A WELCOMING SPACE WHERE PEOPLE GATHER BEFORE AND AFTER EVENTS, REAL ART WAYS IS A NEXUS FOR PEOPLE OF WIDELY VARYING BACKGROUNDS AND INTERESTS TO EXPLORE ART AND IDEAS AND BUILD A STRONGER CULTURAL COMMUNITY.
  4. $495,085 spent. LIVE ARTS: REAL ART WAYS PRESENTS VIBRANT LIVE ARTS PROGRAMMING THAT INCLUDES CONCERTS, PERFORMANCES, READINGS AND OTHER EVENTS. WE OFFER 25 CONCERTS PER YEAR BY INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL INNOVATORS, RANGING FROM INNOVATIVE IMPROVISATIONAL MUSIC TO CLASSICALLY-BASED CONTEMPORARY MUSIC TO POPULAR INTERNATIONAL FORMS. WE PARTNER WITH OTHER PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE THE HARTFORD SYMPHONY AND THE HARTFORD JAZZ SOCIETY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 November 6, 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 September 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 May 1977.

    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 November 4, 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.