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Charter Oak Temple Restoration Association Inc

EIN 06-1026597 · Hartford, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHARTER OAK CULTURAL CENTER, A BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC LANDMARK AND VIBRANT ARTS CENTER, DOING THE WORK OF SOCIAL JUSTICE THROUGH THE ARTS.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
-26.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
50
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$110,480, 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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 19% 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

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 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 (4)
  1. $390,632 spent. CITY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS (FORMERLY YOUTH ARTS INSTITUTE) - OUR CITY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS REACHED HUNDREDS OF HARTFORD INNER-CITY CHILDREN WITH CLASSES IN THE ARTS HELD AFTER-SCHOOL AND IN THE SUMMER, AS WELL AS EVENING PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES, ALL FREE OF CHARGE. ALL OF OUR CITY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS INSTITUTE OFFERINGS ARE DESIGNED WITH THE OVERARCHING GOALS OF 1) PROMOTING SKILL ACQUISITION 2) HELPING CHILDREN MEET THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT ARTS K12 GOALS AND STANDARDS 3) ENCOURAGING KNOWLEDGE AND LOVE OF THE ARTS AND A LOVE OF LEARNING. THIS PAST YEAR OUR CITY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS HAD MANY SUCCESSES AND WE MET ALL OF OUR EVALUATION GOALS AND BENCHMARKS.
  2. $30,327 spent. PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMMING AS - PART OF OUR MISSION OF MAKING THE ARTS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, WE PROVIDED CUTTING-EDGE, THOUGHT-PROVOKING PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS WHICH INCLUDED DANCE, THEATRE, MUSIC, FILM, CONCERTS, READINGS, LECTURES AND GALLERY EXHIBITIONS FOR AUDIENCES IN HARTFORD AND BEYOND. OUR OFFERINGS BUILT AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION OF ALL THE WORLD'S CULTURES. OUR OVERALL GOAL IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE ARTS TO ALL WHO HUNGER FOR THEM, AND, AS A MATTER OF POLICY, WE OFFERED AS MANY OF OUR PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS AS WE COULD FOR FREE, KEPT OUR PRICES AS LOW AS POSSIBLE AND NEVER TURNED ANYONE AWAY WHO COULD NOT AFFORD THE PRICE OF A TICKET.
  3. $193,701 spent. SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAMMING - OUR BEAT OF THE STREET (BOTS) PROGRAMMING IS DESIGNED TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS AND TO MAKE REAL AND LASTING CHANGES IN THE LIVES OF THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THROUGH OUR BEAT OF THE STREET NEWSPAPER, WE HIRE INDIVIDUALS FROM THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY TO DELIVER THE PAPER AND COMPENSATE THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTE CONTENT TO THE PAPER. OUR BOTS LEARNING CENTER FOR CREATIVE LEARNING PROVIDES A COMPLETELY FREE EDUCATION FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. WE PROVIDE THREE SEMESTERS A YEAR, OFFERING MOSTLY ARTS-BASED CLASSES. GRADUATES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A TUITION-FREE FOUR-YEAR DEGREE FROM GOODWIN UNIVERSITY. THROUGH OUR EATS OF THE STREET PROGRAM, WE PLACE LARGE POTS OF ORGANIC VEGETABLE PLANTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HARTFORD. WE HIRE MEMBERS OF THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY TO TEND THE POTS, WHICH ARE PAINTED BY LOCAL ARTISTS. THE VEGETABLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR FREE TO ANYONE IN NEED, ADDRESSING HUNGER IN OUR CITY. EATS OF THE STREET BRINGS FOOD, JOBS AND ART TO HARTFORD. WE HAVE ALSO ESTABLISHED THE ADA MARIA ISASI-DIAZ JUSTICE INSTITUTE TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES SPECIFIC TO LATINX WOMEN.
  4. $206,188 spent. RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE TEMPLE, WHICH IS A HISTORICAL LANDMARK BUILDING.

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 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 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 April 1981.

    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.