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Free Arts for Abused Children of New York City Inc

EIN 13-3958495 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FREE ARTS NYC EMPOWERS YOUTH FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THROUGH ARTS AND MENTORING PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP THEIR CREATIVITY, CONFIDENCE, AND SKILLS TO SUCCEED. THE ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD BY PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)POSITIVE MENTORSHIP GROUNDED IN TRANSFORMATIVE CREATIVE PROGRAMMING. FREE ART WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE FIVE BOROUGHS THAT SEEK ADDITIONAL CREATIVE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR YOUTH.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
6.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
18
Volunteers
2,034
Highest pay
$216,970, founder & ceo

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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 11 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 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 (2)
  1. $1.1 million spent. TEEN ARTS PROGRAM:THE TEEN ARTS PROGRAM PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE ARTS AND BUILDS A PATHWAY TO ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS WITH THE SUPPORT OF A MENTOR. THE PROGRAM TRACKS INCLUDE PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT, CREATIVE LAB AND INTERNSHIPS. THE TRACKS INCORPORATE 21ST-CENTURY SKILL-BUILDING WORKSHOPS, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AND VISITS TO ARTISTS' STUDIOS, WHILE ALSO DEVELOPING VITAL PROTECTIVE FACTORS, INCLUDING COMMUNICATION, CREATIVITY, AND PROBLEM-SOLVING. IN PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT, OVER THE COURSE OF 8 MONTHS, 7TH AND 11TH GRADERS WORK ALONGSIDE THEIR MENTOR ON (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE RIGOROUS PROCESS OF BUILDING A VISUAL ARTS PORTFOLIO FOR ADMISSION TO AN ART HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE. THROUGH CREATIVE LAB, 9TH-12TH GRADERS LEARN ABOUT THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY THROUGH VISITS TO CREATIVE COMPANIES. SPEAKING WITH EMPLOYEES, THEY LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT PROFESSIONS AND CAREER PATHS, OFTEN PARTICIPATING IN MOCK WORK PROJECTS. HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PAID INTERNSHIPS AT CREATIVE COMPANIES THROUGHOUT NYC.
  2. $798,104 spent. FREE ARTS DAYS:FREE ARTS DAYS ARE INTERACTIVE ARTS EDUCATION ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AGES 6-12. THROUGH ART PROJECTS AND ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING, THE DAY HELPS DEVELOP VISUAL LITERACY, CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND DESIGN SKILLS. THE ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP BUILDS PROTECTIVE FACTORS, SUCH AS COMMUNICATION SKILLS, COOPERATION, AND CONFIDENCE. THE PAIRS ARE GUIDED BY A CREATIVE PACKET WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE DAY'S THEME AND PROJECTS. THE CURRICULUM IS TIED TO THE COMMON CORE STANDARDS AND THE BLUEPRINT FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 October 1997.

    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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