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The Arts Connection Inc

EIN 13-2953240 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADDRESS THE EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY, ARTSCONNECTION'S RESEARCH-BASED ARTS PROGRAMS CREATE SOCIALLY JUST LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. OUR PROGRAMS SUPPORT LITERACY, COMMUNICATION, CREATIVITY, COLLABORATION AND CRITICAL THINKING. ARTSCONNECTION'S PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDE AND STRENGTHEN THE DIVERSE VOICES OF NEW YORK CITY'S CHILDREN AND YOUTH, CULTIVATING THEIR ARTS AND ACADEMIC SKILLS FOR SUCCESS IN A CHANGING WORLD.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
132
Volunteers
23
Highest pay
$184,211, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 25

    22 of 22 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 August 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 (2)
  1. $2.1 million spent. IN-SCHOOL AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING PROGRAMS IN FY 25, ARTSCONNECTION'S FACULTY OF 90+ TEACHING ARTISTS WORKED WITH STAFF TO SUCCESSFULLY DEEPEN OUR WORK IN SCHOOLS. WE WORKED WITH STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND FAMILIES FROM 64 SCHOOLS ACROSS THE CITY THROUGH DANCE, THEATER, MUSIC, MEDIA, PUPPETRY, AND VISUAL ARTS, SERVING 23,944 STUDENTS DIRECTLY AND 14,550 STUDENTS AND FAMILIES INDIRECTLY. INSTRUCTION INVOLVED 15-30 SESSIONS FOR CLASSES ON ONE OR MORE GRADE LEVELS WITH A VARIED MIX OF FAMILY EVENTS, PERFORMANCES, AND/OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR EDUCATORS AT EACH SITE. ARTSCONNECTION'S PROFESSIONAL LEARNING PROGRAMS PROVIDE A VARIETY OF WORKSHOPS IN-PERSON OR VIRTUAL AND ONLINE RESOURCES TO HELP STRENGTHEN TEACHING AND LEARNING FOR ADULTS WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND INTERESTED IN INTEGRATING THE ARTS INTO THEIR WORK. OUR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING WEBSITE HTTPS://TEACHWITHARTSCONNECTION.ORG/ IS FILLED WITH FREE ACTIVITIES, RESOURCES, AND TOOLS FOR EDUCATORS AND ANYONE WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE. IN FY25, WE SERVED 2,217 EDUCATORS ACROSS A TOTAL OF 89 WORKSHOPS.
  2. $823,584 spent. TEEN PROGRAMS WE WORKED WITH 809 STUDENTS COMING FROM 144 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS DURING ARTSCONNECTION'S OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME TEEN PROGRAMS. PROGRAMS PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND BUILDING CAREER PATHS IN THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES. TEENS HAS THEIR WORKS FRAMED FOR PROFESSIONAL EXHIBITIONS, LEARNED TO BUILD CRITICAL ANALYSIS SKILLS IN THE ARTS, WHILE CREATING ORIGINAL WRITTEN, VISUAL, PERFORMATIVE, AND/OR MULTIMEDIA WORK IN RESPONSE; STUDYING CURATION AND PRODUCING AN ART EXHIBITION; INDIVIDUAL SKILL-BUILDING IN THE ARTS; PAID INTERNSHIPS AND APPRENTICESHIPS; AND AN ARTS-FOCUSED COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PROGRAM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 October 13, 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 August 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 June 1980.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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