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The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc

EIN 16-0999315 · Corning, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ARTS COUNCIL OF THE SOUTHERN FINGER LAKES, INC. IS TO ENHANCE THE CULTURAL ARTS IN THE COMMUNITIES SERVED BY ACTING AS AN ADVOCATE AND CATALYST TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION, ADVANCE COLLABORATION AND OPTIMIZE RESOURCES.

Income
$577,824
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
11.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
8
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$80,073, executive director

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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 94% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 61% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 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 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 (5)
  1. $552,547 spent. STATE COMMUNITY REGRANT (SCR) FUNDS FROM THE NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS (NYSCA), A STATE AGENCY, ARE ADMINISTERED LOCALLY BY THE ARTS COUNCIL OF THE SOUTHERN FINGER LAKES (THE ARTS COUNCIL). THEY ARE DISTRIBUTED IN THREE DIFFERENT GRANTS: 1) COMMUNITY ARTS GRANTS SUPPORT ARTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES OF ARTISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN SERVICE TO RESIDENTS IN CATTARAUGUS, CHEMUNG, SCHUYLER, STEUBEN, AND TIOGA COUNTIES. THESE ACTIVITIES INCREASE THE VALUE OF THE ARTS AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE THE ARTS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. GRANTS RANGING FROM $500 TO $5,000 ARE AVAILABLE TO ARTISTS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. 2) TEACHING ARTIST GRANTS SUPPORT SEQUENTIAL, ARTS EDUCATION PROJECTS THAT TAKE PLACE IN-SCHOOL, AFTER SCHOOL, OR IN COMMUNITY CENTERS IN CATTARAUGUS, CHEMUNG, SCHUYLER, STEUBEN, AND TIOGA COUNTIES. PROJECTS CAN ONLY SUPPORT K-12 AGED STUDENTS. PROJECT MUST PROVIDE AT LEAST 3 SEQUENTIAL, TEACHING SESSIONS BETWEEN THE SAME TEACHING ARTIST(S) AND THE SAME GROUP OF STUDENTS.GRANTS RANGING FROM $500 TO $5,000 ARE AVAILABLE TO ARTISTS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. 3) INDIVIDUAL ARTIST GRANTS SUPPORT THE CREATION OF NEW WORK BY INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS RESIDING IN CATTARAUGUS, CHEMUNG, SCHUYLER, STEUBEN, AND TIOGA COUNTIES. THE GOAL OF THIS GRANT IS TO SUPPORT THE CREATIVE WORK OF INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS IN ALL DISCIPLINES WHILE ENCOURAGING INTERACTION BETWEEN ARTISTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. ALL CREATED ARTWORK MUST BE MADE ACCESSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH AN ACTIVITY OR PLATFORM THAT CAN BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. GRANTS RANGING FROM $1,000 TO $2,500 ARE AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS.
  2. $94,400 spent. FOLK ARTS - THE FOLK ARTS PROGRAM SERVES THE PUBLIC, ARTISTS, ARTS/CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHERN TIER OF NEW YORK STATE. PARTIALLY FUNDED BY THE NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS, ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO SUPPORT REGIONAL FOLK ART TRADITIONS, AS WELL AS FOLK ART TRADITIONS OF OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
  3. $47,500 spent. FISCAL SPONSORSHIP FOR ARTISTS SELECTED FOR SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS GRANTS FUNDED BY THE NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS (NYSCA). EACH ARTIST RECEIVED GRANT FUNDS TO ASSIST IN THE CREATION OF NEW WORK THAT WILL BE MADE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE GREATER COMMUNITY.
  4. $12,177 spent. ARTIST DEVELOPMENT GRANTS SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS HELP TO ALLEVIATE ECONOMIC DISPARITY AND INSECURITY OF ARTISTS FROM CHEMUNG, SCHUYLER, AND STEUBEN COUNTIES. THE ARTS COUNCIL OF THE SOUTHERN FINGER LAKES ADMINISTERS ARTIST DEVELOPMENT GRANTS WITH FUNDING FROM THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF ELMIRA-CORNING AND THE FINGER LAKES.
  5. $226,318 spent. VARIOUS OTHER PROGRAMS PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IN ORDER TO ENHANCE THE CULTURAL ARTS IN THE COMMUNITIES SERVED BY ACTING AS AN ADVOCATE AND CATALYST TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION, ADVANCE COLLABORATION AND OPTIMIZE RESOURCES.

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 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 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 January 1973.

    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.

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.