Institute of Classical Architecture and Art Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ICAA'S MISSION IS TO ADVANCE THE APPRECIATION AND PRACTICE OF THE PRINCIPLES OF TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE AND ITS ALLIED ARTS BY ENGAGING EDUCATORS, PROFESSIONALS, STUDENTS, AND ENTHUSIASTS THROUGH EDUCATION, PUBLICATIONS, AND AWARDS PROGRAMS IN NEW YORK CITY AND ACROSS ITS 15 CHAPTERS.
- Income
- $3.7 million
- Spending
- $3.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 6.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 88%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 36
- Highest pay
- $388,523, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 24% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 41% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2535 of 36 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, 2024, 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 (5)
- $1.8 million spent. THE INSTITUTE OF CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE AND ART (ICAA) IS THE LEADING NATIONAL NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ADVANCING THE PRACTICE AND APPRECIATION OF THE CLASSICAL TRADITION IN ARCHITECTURE, URBANISM, AND THE ALLIED ARTS. UNDER THE HEADING ACADEMIC PROGRAMS THE ICAA HAS DEVELOPED A WIDE VARIETY OF VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON COURSE OFFERINGS, INCLUDING STUDIO-BASED SEMINARS, INTENSIVES, LECTURES, AND TRAVEL DRAWING TOURS. BY OFFERING A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO PRACTICING PROFESSIONALS, STUDENTS, AND ENTHUSIASTS, THE ICAA AIMS TO EDUCATE ALL INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN MASTERING THE LANGUAGE OF CLASSICAL DESIGN.
- $266,899 spent. THE ICAA HAS PROFESSIONAL AND GENERAL MEMBERSHIPS. MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES ACCESS TO LECTURES, PRIVATE TOURS, PUBLICATIONS, CONTINUING EDUCATION, DYNAMIC CLASSES, AND OTHER EVENTS SPECIALLY CURATED BY THE ORGANIZATION. FOR PROFESSIONALS, WE OFFER THE ADDED BENEFIT OF LISTING ON OUR WEBSITE AND IN A PRINTED PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY. OUR MEMBERS INCLUDE MORE THAN 3,000 PROFESSIONAL FIRMS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH OVER 18,000 SUBSCRIBERS. OUR PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS INCLUDE MANY OF THE TOP 100 CLASSICAL ARCHITECTS IN PRACTICE TODAY, AND MANY NOTABLE MEMBERS IN INTERIOR DESIGN, LANDSCAPE DESIGN, AS WELL AS FINE ARTISTS, ARTISANS, MANUFACTURERS, AND CONSTRUCTION.
- $435,361 spent. COMMUNICATIONS OCCUPY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE ICAA, AS ILLUSTRATED BY THE POPULARITY OF ITS RECENTLY REDESIGNED WEBSITE, WWW.CLASSICIST.ORG, THE READERSHIP AND INTEREST IN THE CLASSICIST, THE ICAA'S ANNUAL ARCHITECTURAL JOURNAL, AND THE BOOKS REPRINTED THROUGH THE CLASSICAL AMERICA SERIES IN ART AND ARCHITECTURE, IN ADDITION TO OUR EXPANDED EFFORTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THROUGH INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, AND FACEBOOK. IN RECENT YEARS, THE ICAA HAS ALSO DEVELOPED AN EXTENSIVE VIDEO PROGRAM, TAPING NEARLY ALL PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND CREATING ORIGINAL CONTENT, INCLUDING THE DOCUMENTARY SERIES, DESIGN IN MIND, WHICH IS AIRED ON PBS AFFILIATES NATION-WIDE. WHILE DAY- TO-DAY COMMUNICATIONS, INCLUDING THE ICAA'S PRESS EFFORTS AND ONLINE PRESENCE ARE MANAGED BY STAFF, SPECIAL PROJECTS, THE CLASSICIST, AND BOOKS ARE OVERSEEN BY COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD, ACTIVE VOLUNTEER GROUPS WHICH ARE COMPOSED OF BOARD MEMBERS, STAFF, AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD. THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE, A STANDING COMMITTEE TASKED WITH AD-HOC COMMUNICATIONS PROJECTS, HAS HELPED TO DEVELOP A CONTENT MANAGEMENT PLAN AND PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON BRANDING AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS. THE CLASSICIST COMMITTEE SELECTS CONTENT AND OVERSEES DESIGN OF THE ANNUAL,PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL, THE CLASSICIST, WHICH PROVIDES A FORUM FOR CONTEMPORARY IDEAS AND PRACTICE RELATED TO THE CLASSICAL TRADITION IN ARCHITECTURE AND THE ALLIED ARTS, AS WELL AS FEATURING PORTFOLIOS OF WORK BY PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS OF CLASSICISM. COMMUNICATIONS OCCUPY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE ICAA, AS ILLUSTRATED BY THE POPULARITY OF ITS RECENTLY REDESIGNED WEBSITE, WWW.CLASSICIST.ORG, THE READERSHIP AND INTEREST IN THE CLASSICIST, THE ICAA'S ANNUAL ARCHITECTURAL JOURNAL, AND THE BOOKS REPRINTED THROUGH THE CLASSICAL AMERICA SERIES IN ART AND ARCHITECTURE, IN ADDITION TO OUR EXPANDED EFFORTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THROUGH INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, AND FACEBOOK. IN RECENT YEARS, THE ICAA HAS ALSO DEVELOPED AN EXTENSIVE VIDEO PROGRAM, TAPING NEARLY ALL PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND CREATING ORIGINAL CONTENT, INCLUDING THE DOCUMENTARY SERIES, DESIGN IN MIND, WHICH IS AIRED ON PBS AFFILIATES NATION-WIDE. WHILE DAY- TO-DAY COMMUNICATIONS, INCLUDING THE ICAA'S PRESS EFFORTS AND ONLINE PRESENCE ARE MANAGED BY STAFF, SPECIAL PROJECTS, THE CLASSICIST, AND BOOKS ARE OVERSEEN BY COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD, ACTIVE VOLUNTEER GROUPS WHICH ARE COMPOSED OF BOARD MEMBERS, STAFF, AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD. THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE, A STANDING COMMITTEE TASKED WITH AD-HOC COMMUNICATIONS PROJECTS, HAS HELPED TO DEVELOP A CONTENT MANAGEMENT PLAN AND PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON BRANDING AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS. THE CLASSICIST COMMITTEE SELECTS CONTENT AND OVERSEES DESIGN OF THE ANNUAL,PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL, THE CLASSICIST, WHICH PROVIDES A FORUM FOR CONTEMPORARY IDEAS AND PRACTICE RELATED TO THE CLASSICAL TRADITION IN ARCHITECTURE AND THE ALLIED ARTS, AS WELL AS FEATURING PORTFOLIOS OF WORK BY PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS OF CLASSICISM.
- $282,833 spent. LEGACY GRANTS PROGRAM:THANKS TO A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE GERARD B. LAMBERT FOUNDATION, THE INSTITUTE OF CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE & ART WAS PROUD TO PRESENT FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND PROGRAMMING IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FOR DESIGNERS, STUDENTS, AND ENTHUSIASTS, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION: THE BUNNY MELLON CURRICULA. THIS CURRICULA, THE FIRST TO BE NAMED IN HONOR OF BUNNY MELLON, HONORS HER COMMITMENT TO LANDSCAPE DESIGN, AND HER DEEPLY HELD BELIEF THAT ARCHITECTURE IS FIRMLY LINKED TO ITS SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE. THE RICHARD H. DRIEHAUS CURRICULA FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT ENDOWMENT FUND HAS GIVEN THE ICAA THE RESOURCES TO REGULARLY UPDATE AND EXPAND ITS EDUCATIONAL CURRICULA AND PROGRAMMING, PARTICULARLY AS NEW ISSUES OR AREAS OF CONCERN ARISE IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN. THIS INITIATIVE WILL LAUNCH NEW OFFERINGS REGARDING CURRENT ISSUES LIKE URBANISM, SUSTAINABILITY, AND HEALTHY CITIES STILL HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND PRECEDENT, ESPECIALLY HOW IT PERTAINS TO SHARED PUBLIC SPACES. WITH THE RECEIPT OF GENEROUS GRANTS FROM THE ORVILLE GORDON BROWNE FOUNDATION, THE ICAA BEGAN WORK ON A REDESIGNED WEBSITE, CLASSICIST.ORG WITH SOPHISTICATED DESIGN, STRONG IMAGERY, AND INTUITIVE NAVIGATION. AMONGST OTHER FEATURES, THE WEBSITE OFFERS VASTLY UPGRADED FUNCTIONALITY FOR MEMBERSHIP AND DONATION TRANSACTIONS. IN ADDITION TO THE AFOREMENTIONED FEATURES, THE REDESIGNED CLASSICIST.ORG AND THE SUPPORT FROM THE ORVILLE GORDON BROWNE FOUNDATION HAS ALSO MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE ICAA TO OFFER SEVERAL READILY-ACCESSIBLE EDUCATIONAL FEATURES ON ITS WEBSITE, INCLUDING: A DIGITAL VERSION OF THE CLASSICIST PUBLICATION, A DIGITAL RARE BOOKS ARCHIVE, AN ONLINE PLASTER CAST HALL CATALOGUE AMONG OTHER IMPROVEMENTS. WITH THESE GRANTS, THE ICAA HAS ALSO BEEN ABLE TO OFFER SEVERAL DRAWING TOURS AND SCHOLARSHIPS. A GIANT BENEFIT DUE TO THIS GRANT IS THE ICAA'S ABILITY TO CREATE VIDEO PROJECTS, WHICH WERE A BOON DURING THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC. THE ICAA'S VIDEOS ARE PARTICULARLY IMPACTFUL FOR THE STUDENT AND PROGRAMMING IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FOR DESIGNERS, STUDENTS, AND YOUNG PROFESSIONAL AUDIENCE, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO ENHANCE THEIR OWN EDUCATIONAL JOURNEYS WITH SUPPLEMENTARY CONTENT, AND TO ROUND OUT THEIR EDUCATION IN ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN.
- LEGACY GRANTS PROGRAM:THANKS TO A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE GERARD B. LAMBERT FOUNDATION, THE INSTITUTE OF CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE & ART WAS PROUD TO PRESENT FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND PROGRAMMING IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FOR DESIGNERS, STUDENTS, AND ENTHUSIASTS, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION: THE BUNNY MELLON CURRICULA. THIS CURRICULA, THE FIRST TO BE NAMED IN HONOR OF BUNNY MELLON, HONORS HER COMMITMENT TO LANDSCAPE DESIGN, AND HER DEEPLY HELD BELIEF THAT ARCHITECTURE IS FIRMLY LINKED TO ITS SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE. THE RICHARD H. DRIEHAUS CURRICULA FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT ENDOWMENT FUND HAS GIVEN THE ICAA THE RESOURCES TO REGULARLY UPDATE AND EXPAND ITS EDUCATIONAL CURRICULA AND PROGRAMMING, PARTICULARLY AS NEW ISSUES OR AREAS OF CONCERN ARISE IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN. THIS INITIATIVE WILL LAUNCH NEW OFFERINGS REGARDING CURRENT ISSUES LIKE URBANISM, SUSTAINABILITY, AND HEALTHY CITIES STILL HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND PRECEDENT, ESPECIALLY HOW IT PERTAINS TO SHARED PUBLIC SPACES. WITH THE RECEIPT OF GENEROUS GRANTS FROM THE ORVILLE GORDON BROWNE FOUNDATION, THE ICAA BEGAN WORK ON A REDESIGNED WEBSITE, CLASSICIST.ORG WITH SOPHISTICATED DESIGN, STRONG IMAGERY, AND INTUITIVE NAVIGATION. AMONGST OTHER FEATURES, THE WEBSITE OFFERS VASTLY UPGRADED FUNCTIONALITY FOR MEMBERSHIP AND DONATION TRANSACTIONS. IN ADDITION TO THE AFOREMENTIONED FEATURES, THE REDESIGNED CLASSICIST.ORG AND THE SUPPORT FROM THE ORVILLE GORDON BROWNE FOUNDATION HAS ALSO MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE ICAA TO OFFER SEVERAL READILY-ACCESSIBLE EDUCATIONAL FEATURES ON ITS WEBSITE, INCLUDING: A DIGITAL VERSION OF THE CLASSICIST PUBLICATION, A DIGITAL RARE BOOKS ARCHIVE, AN ONLINE PLASTER CAST HALL CATALOGUE AMONG OTHER IMPROVEMENTS. WITH THESE GRANTS, THE ICAA HAS ALSO BEEN ABLE TO OFFER SEVERAL DRAWING TOURS AND SCHOLARSHIPS. A GIANT BENEFIT DUE TO THIS GRANT IS THE ICAA'S ABILITY TO CREATE VIDEO PROJECTS, WHICH WERE A BOON DURING THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC. THE ICAA'S VIDEOS ARE PARTICULARLY IMPACTFUL FOR THE STUDENT AND PROGRAMMING IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FOR DESIGNERS, STUDENTS, AND YOUNG PROFESSIONAL AUDIENCE, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO ENHANCE THEIR OWN EDUCATIONAL JOURNEYS WITH SUPPLEMENTARY CONTENT, AND TO ROUND OUT THEIR EDUCATION IN ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 June 1997.
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.
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