Flower City Arts Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Flower City Arts Center is a community-based not-for-profit organization that educates, encourages, and inspires all people to create and enjoy the visual arts, design and media. We embrace the fact that the arts elevate humanity, are naturally therapeutic, and provide tools for expression in the language of the heart, in a world that needs healing. Flower City Arts Center strives to create social change through arts, education, and creative entrepreneurship. We provide high quality arts programs to the most in-need people of our community.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- 2.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 22
- Volunteers
- 54
- Highest pay
- $69,846, executive director
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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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)
- $208,841 spent. The Photography program offers a darkroom, professional lighting studio and cyanotype silver den. Also offered is Digital Media through computer design, photography, videography, editing, digital and audio production, animation, music production, and risograph printing. The Center serves young children all the way up to the oldest community members througout Rochester and the wider region.
- $230,719 spent. The Ceramics program offers hand building, wheels and kilns. The Center serves young children all the way up to the oldest community members throughout Rochester and the wider region.
- $155,968 spent. Outreach for youth, such as Studio 678 Photo & Writing Club for city middle school (6th, 7th and 8th grade) students, and Expanding the Field (ETF), career and college arts for urban high school students (grade 9-12). These programs serve low-income young people of color who often fall through the cracks or are at-risk from trauma and other life and family challenges.
- $132,541 spent. The Printmaking & Book Arts program (PABA) offers vintage presses, letterset, and traditional ink printing methods, bookbinding, papermaking, marbling, and calligraphy. The Center serves young children all the way up to the oldest community members throughout Rochester and the wider region.
- The Printmaking & Book Arts program (PABA) offers vintage presses, 132541. 0. 97530.
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 August 1973.
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.