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Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning Inc

EIN 11-2478709 · Jamaica, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JAMAICA CENTER FOR ARTS AND LEARNING (JCAL) IS A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ART CENTER THAT CELEBRATES CREATIVE EXPRESSION BY PROMOTING THE WORKS OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTISTS AND PROVIDES ACCESSIBLE ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN ORDER TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES OF QUEENS AND SURROUNDING NEW YORK COUNTIES.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 45%
Employees
58
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$133,717, 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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 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 (1)
  1. $2.1 million spent. FOUNDED IN 1972, JCAL IS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS CENTER SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF SOUTHEAST QUEENS IN NEW YORK CITY. JCAL IS THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS GROUP - THE HISTORIC PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF NEW YORK - LOCATED IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR MISSION IS TO OFFER QUALITY VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS, AND TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN THE ARTS. WE DO THIS THROUGH SHOWCASING EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED LOCAL ARTISTS AND PERFORMERS, AND THROUGH PIONEERING MULTICULTURAL INITIATIVES THAT HAVE SERVED FOUR GENERATIONS IN QUEENS - WHERE 2.4 MILLION AFRICAN-AMERICAN, CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN, INDO-ASIAN, AFRICAN, LATINX, CAUCASIAN, NATIVE AMERICAN AND INDIGENOUS ARTISTS AND AUDIENCES LIVE, WORK AND LEARN. EACH YEAR, JCAL ENGAGES MORE THAN 53,000 VISITORS THROUGH OFFERING VISUAL ART, DANCE, MUSIC, AND THEATER PROGRAMS.OUR CULTURAL CAMPUS BEGINS AT OUR 45,000 SQUARE-FOOT HEADQUARTERS, THE JAMAICA ARTS CENTER (JAC). LOCATED IN A 19TH CENTURY LANDMARK (THE FORMER QUEENS REGISTRY OF TITLES AND DEEDS), JAC OFFERS TWO ART GALLERIES AND FIVE DANCE STUDIOS; STUDIOS FOR MUSIC, CERAMICS AND ANIMATION; AND A 99-SEAT STUDIO THEATER AND OFFICE SPACES. TWO BLOCKS AWAY IS OUR 400-SEAT JAMAICA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (JPAC). ALSO LOCATED IN A 19TH CENTURY LANDMARK (A FORMER FIRST DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH), JPAC ACCOMMODATES PERFORMANCES, CONFERENCES, AND EVENTS.JCAL'S VISUAL ARTS PROGRAMS INCLUDE VISUAL VOICES, A THREE-YEAR RESIDENCY FOR EMERGING CURATORS; ARTWORKS, A SIX-MONTH FELLOWSHIP FOR EMERGING ARTISTS; AN ANNUAL OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS THAT OFFERS VISIBILITY AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ARTISTS WHO HAVE NEVER SHOWN PROFESSIONALLY (OR HAVEN'T SHOWN AT JCAL IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS); AND A SITE-SPECIFIC COMMUNITY-ENGAGING TRIENNIAL, JAMAICA FLUX. JCAL'S PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS INCLUDE TWO TYPES OF MUSIC CONCERTS, THURSDAY NIGHT JAZZ AND RIDDIM SECTION, EACH WHICH CONNECT EMERGING LOCAL AND ESTABLISHED TALENT; MEET THE PLAYWRIGHT, WHICH SPOTLIGHTS EMERGING WRITERS, DIRECTORS, ACTORS, AND PRODUCERS; AND THE MAKING MOVES DANCE FESTIVAL EVERY SEPTEMBER, NOW ENTERING ITS 15TH YEAR. MMDF IS JUST ONE OF SIX TENTPOLE FESTIVALS ON OUR YEARLY CALENDAR; WE ALSO PRODUCE A WEEKEND OF WEST AFRICAN DANCE EACH FEBRUARY, A WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH EVENT EACH MARCH, THE QUEENS INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL EVERY MAY, AND A PRIDE CELEBRATION AND A JUNETEENTH EVENT EVERY JUNE.JCAL'S YEAR-ROUND, ECONOMICALLY ACCESSIBLE ARTS EDUCATION CLASSES COVER ALL OF THE DISCIPLINES DESCRIBED ABOVE.

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 July 1981.

    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.

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.