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College Art Association of America Inc

EIN 13-1671148 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COLLEGE ART ASSOCIATION (CAA), AS THE PREEMINENT INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATION IN THE VISUAL ARTS, PROMOTES THESE ARTS AND THEIR UNDERSTANDING THROUGH ADVOCACY, INTELLECTUAL ENGAGEMENT, AND A COMMITMENT TO THE DIVERSITY OF PRACTICES AND PRACTITIONERS.

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$3.6 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
13.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 49%
Employees
12
Volunteers
29
Highest pay
$297,337, executive director and ceo

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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

    25 of 25 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 (11)
  1. $247,643 spent. ART BULLETIN: THE ART BULLETIN FOUNDED IN 1913 IS A QUARTERLY DEDICATED TO SCHOLARLY ARTICLES AND REVIEWS OF BOOKS IN ALL PERIODS OF ART HISTORY. FOUR ISSUES WERE MAILED TO APPROXIMATELY 3,200 MEMBERS.
  2. $245,166 spent. ART JOURNAL: A QUARTERLY FOUNDED IN 1941 IS A JOURNAL OF ARTICLES AND OPINIONS THAT FOCUS ON ART AND OTHER ISSUES IN ARTS OF OUR TIME. FOUR ISSUES WERE MAILED TO APPROXIMATELY 3,300 MEMBERS.
  3. $819,705 spent. ANNUAL MEETING: A MEETING IS HELD ONCE A YEAR FOR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, & SCHOLARS. THEY GATHER TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION IN THE FIELD OF ART AND HISTORY. OVER 2,700 ATTENDED THIS MEETING.
  4. $102,099 spent. CAA REVIEWS
  5. $55,716 spent. OTHER PUBLICATIONS
  6. $422,339 spent. FELLOWSHIPS AND GRANTS
  7. $71,171 spent. NEWSLETTER
  8. $91,330 spent. CAREER DEVELOPMENT ACTITIVITIES
  9. $337,472 spent. MEMBER SERVICES
  10. $121,606 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS
  11. $157,691 spent. MEDIA, PR AND COMMUNICATIONS

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 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 June 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 November 1938.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Association of American Medical Colleges (Washington, DC), EIN 36-2169124. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.