Art Students League of New York
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 89 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
The Art Students League of New York delivers affordable, high caliber art education. Guided by world-class artists in our atelier-style studios and supported by our gallery, permanent collection, community programs, and robust scholarships, the League offers accessible pathways to learning fundamental studio-based skills.
- Income
- $7.5 million
- Spending
- $14.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 54.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 83%
- Employees
- 259
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $254,540, artistic / executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 54.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 97% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 46% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 89 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 2512 of 12 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 May 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)
- $10.7 million spent. STUDIO-BASED ART INSTRUCTION AT THE ART STUDENTS LEAGUE OF NEW YORK STUDENTS STUDY DRAWING, PAINTING, SCULPTURE, PRINTMAKING, AND ASSEMBLAGE IN MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS, TAUGHT BY RENOWNED INSTRUCTORS. THE LEAGUE OFFERS STUDENTS AFFORDABLE MONTH-TO-MONTH CLASSES, WITH NO APPLICATIONS OR PREREQUISITES. AT THE LEAGUE, STUDENTS FIND THE FREEDOM TO PURSUE AN ART EDUCATION FREE FROM THE CONSTRAINTS OF DOGMA. CLASSES ARE TAUGHT BY PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS, AND THE LEAGUE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF INFLUENTIAL INSTRUCTORS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE PRODUCED HISTORICALLY REMARKABLE STUDENTS. AN ENVIRONMENT BUILT ON MENTORSHIP, COLLEGIALITY, AND DIVERSE ART-MAKING PRACTICES IS CENTRAL TO OUR PEDAGOGY. SINCE THE 19TH CENTURY, THE LEAGUE HAS TAUGHT CLASSES IN PERSON, IN OUR ATELIERS, AT OUR LANDMARKED BUILDING IN MIDTOWN, MANHATTAN. IN JUNE 2021, THE LEAGUE PROUDLY LAUNCHED OUR PLATFORM FOR ONLINE LEARNING, MAKING OUR STUDIO-BASED ART INSTRUCTION AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS AROUND THE WORLD.
- $329,548 spent. SEEDS OF THE LEAGUE PROGRAM THROUGH SEEDS OF THE LEAGUE AND OUR UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION, WE ARE REACHING OUT BEYOND OUR WALLS INTO THE BROADER COMMUNITY. TEACHING ARTISTS ARE PLACED IN PARKS & RECREATION CENTERS AROUND THE CITY TO OFFER STRUCTURED AFTER-SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAMMING WHERE LITTLE OR NO ART INSTRUCTION WAS PREVIOUSLY AVAILABLE. THE OBJECTIVES ARE TO GIVE THE CHILDREN A SENSE OF TEAMWORK AND CREATIVITY, TWO ASPECTS WHICH WILL REMAIN IMPORTANT TO THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. FOR EXAMPLE, THIS WAS ILLUSTRATED BY EXPLAINING AND SHOWING PICTURES OF LASCAUX ABORIGINAL CAVES AND THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS USED IN CREATING THEM AND HOW YOUNG TEENS WERE THE FIRST TO DISCOVER THE CAVES. THE NEXT STEP WAS TO ASK STUDENTS WHAT THEY WOULD DRAW ON CAVES TO BE FOUND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. USING KRAFT PAPER, PASTELS AND OTHER MATERIALS THEY CREATED THEIR OWN IMAGERY. THE TEACHING ARTIST CREATED MANY STENCILS OUT OF MYLAR, WHICH THE CHILDREN HELPED SPRAY ONTO THE PAPER FURTHER ENHANCING THE LOOK OF A CAVE. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY PROJECTS USED TO INSPIRE CREATIVITY, TEAMWORK, AND SELF CONFIDENCE. THEY CAN'T DO IT INCORRECTLY - IT'S ART.
- $873,082 spent. GALLERY, EXHIBITION AND LECTURES THE LEAGUE'S HISTORIC GALLERY SPACES INCLUDE THE AMERICAN FINE ARTS SOCIETY GALLERY AND THE PHYLLIS HARRIMAN MASON GALLERY. TYPICALLY, OPEN SIX OR SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, FOR ALL BUT ONE MONTH OF THE YEAR, THE PHYLLIS HARRIMAN MASON GALLERY PRESENTS FREE EXHIBITIONS THAT ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AND WHICH HISTORICALLY, HAVE BEEN SEEN BY APPROXIMATELY THIRTY THOUSAND GUESTS ANNUALLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE LEAGUE ALSO FEATURES VIRTUAL EXHIBITIONS OF ARTWORK MADE BY STUDENTS ATTENDING OUR ONLINE LEARNING COURSES. EXHIBITIONS MAY INCLUDE WORKS BY ARTISTS OUTSIDE THE LEAGUE WHO ARE RELEVANT TO STUDENTS STUDIES, AND/OR WORK BY LEAGUE'S ARTISTS OR FROM THE LEAGUE'S PERMANENT COLLECTION WHICH CONSISTS OF APPROXIMATELY TWO THOUSAND WORKS. A KEY FOCUS OF THE GALLERY IS TO SHOW STUDENT WORK IN A SERIES OF ANNUAL STUDENT SALONS, TYPICALLY ON DISPLAY JANUARY THROUGH MAY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 October 13, 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 May 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 July 1939.
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 October 21, 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.