Big Car Media Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 42% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
BRING ART TO PEOPLE AND PEOPLE TO ART, SPARKING CREATIVITY, SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES. AS AN ADAPTIVE AND FLEXIBLE CULTURAL ORGANIZATION, BIG CAR DRAWS TOGETHER PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO PROMOTE AND PERPETUATE CREATIVITY, INVIGORATE PUBLIC PLACES, AND SUPPORT BETTER NEIGHBORHOODS. BIG CAR IS A CREATIVE COMMUNITY BUILDING WORKING TO BOOST LIVABILITY FROM AN ENGAGEMENT-BASED ARTS PERSPECTIVE.
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 42%
- Reserves
- 24.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 63%
- Employees
- 18
- Volunteers
- 375
- Highest pay
- $113,110, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 28% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1542% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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)
- $723,475 spent. TUBE PROGRAMMING/FACILITIES/HOUSES AND GALLERY: BIG CAR OWNS AND OPERATES A 12,000 SQUARE FOOT FORMER MANUFACTURING BUILDING, KNOWN AS TUBE FACTORY ARTSPACE (1125 CRUFT ST.), WHICH SERVES AS AN ART GALLERY AND SPACE FOR COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND CULTURAL EVENTS, DRAWING 20,400 PEOPLE PER YEAR. BIG CAR ALSO OWNS LISTEN HEAR, A 1000-SQUARE FOOT SPACE FOR GALLERY SHOWS AND SMALL CONCERTS (2620 SHELBY ST.), AND AN ARTIST RESIDENCY HOUSE/GALLERY (1135 CRUFT ST.). BIG CAR PROGRAMS ALL THREE SPACES WITH CULTURAL EVENTS AND ART SHOWS.
- FEE-FOR-SERVICE AND PLACEMAKING: BIG CAR ENGAGES THE PUBLIC BY ACTIVATING LOCATIONS WITH ENGAGING CULTURAL/CREATIVE ACTIVITIES, AT THE INVITATION OF GOVERNMENTAL, CORPORATE AND NON-PROFIT PARTNERS. THESE PLACEMAKING EFFORTS BRING PEOPLE TO A SPACE, CONNECT WITH IT, AND/OR RE-IMAGINE FUTURE USES.
- DESIGN FOR GOOD: BIG CAR OFFERS QUALITY, MODERATE-COST DESIGN AND BRANDING SERVICES, AND EVENT AND MARKETING PLANNING TO NON-PROFITS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES. GOOD, THOUGHTFUL DESIGN ENGAGES PEOPLE AND TRANSFORMS COMMUNITIES, ENERGIZING THESE PRO-SOCIAL MISSIONS. BIG CAR ALSO PROVIDES VIDEO PRODUCTION, T-SHIRT DESIGN AND PRODUCTION, EXHIBITION DESIGN, SIGNAGE AND WAYFINDING, AS WELL AS EXPERIENCE DESIGN. PUBLIC ART AND PROGRAMMING: BIG CAR BRINGS ART ACTIVITIES TO PUBLIC LOCATIONS INCLUDING MARKETS AND PARKS. BIG CAR PRODUCES MURALS IN PUBLIC PLACES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2006.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.