Tioga County Council on the Arts
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE TIOGA ARTS COUNCIL ENRICHES THE CULTURAL LIVES OF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS BY INITIATING AND FACILITATING CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES AND COLLABORATIONS. THROUGH EXHIBITIONS, PREFORMANCES, EDUCATION AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES, THE TIOGA ARTS COUNCIL PROVIDES A CENTRAL PLATFORM FOR A CREATIVE COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $228,251
- Spending
- $231,448
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 7.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $52,296, executive dir.
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
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 92% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $108,932 spent. ARTIST GRANT NAVIGATION: TAC IS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR ARTIST GRANT NAVIGATION, A FREE PROGRAM THAT EDUCATES ARTISTS ABOUT THE GRANT ECOSYSTEM, CONNECTING THEM TO GRANT OPPORTUNITIES IN NEW YORK STATE. THIS PROGRAM HAS SUPPORTED ARTIST GRANTS THAT RESULTED IN OVER $71,413, 23 WORKSHOPS ON GRANT SPECIFICS, TWO NETWORKING EVENTS, AND 7,860 MINUTES OF FREE ONE-ON-ONE OFFICE HOURS TO-DATE.CONCERTS IN THE PARK: EACH YEAR TCAA HOSTS ITS ANNUAL, FREE SIX-PART SUMMER CONCERT SERIES. THESE CONCERTS ARE HELD IN HICKORIES PARK. THE EVENT SUPPORTS OVER 60 MUSICIANS AND SERVES OVER 1,500 VISITORS IN PERSON, AND OVER 1,000 MORE VIRTUALLY.ART A LA CART: EACH SUMMER, TAC CURATES AND DELIVERS FIVE FREE WEEKLY ARTS-ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES FOR APPROXIMATELY 120 YOUTH WHO ATTEND SUMMER MEAL SITES, LIBRARIES, AND COMMUNITY CENTERS THROUGHOUT TIOGA COUNTY.CREATIVE SYMPOSIUM SERIES: THE CREATIVE SYMPOSIUM SERIES IS A FREE, SIX PART SERIES IN WHICH CREATIVES OF ALL DISCIPLINES AND AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR CAREER CAN ENGAGE IN ARTISTIC DIALOGUE, EXPLORE WAYS TO GROW IN THEIR CRAFT, SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL GROWTH, AND CULTIVATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND CAMARADERIE. THIS YEAR WE PAID 7 ARTISTS TO OFFER FREE INSTRUCTION FOR 60 ARTISTS RELATED TO: PUBLISHING YOUR CREATIVE WORK, PLEIN ART PAINTING DEMOS, AND DEMYSTIFYING THE JURYING PROCESS FOR DIFFERENT ART EXHIBITIONS. ART SHOP/RETAIL: TAC HAS A SPECIALTY RETAIL STORE OFFERING AN ARRAY OF ARTISTS'MATERIALS AND CREATIVE SUPPLIES, ARTISAN GOODS, AND CURATED SPACE TO SHOWCASE AND SELL ARTISTS' WORK YEAR-ROUND.RURAL YOUTH OUTREACH: WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE TIOGA COUNTY YOUTH BUREAU, TCAA PAID THREE ARTIST EDUCATORS TO FACILITATE THREE FREE ARTS ENRICHMENT SESSIONS AT LIBRARIES AND COMMUNITY CENTERS IN APALACHIN, NEWARK VALLEY, AND NICHOLS.MEMORY MAKER PROJECT: TAC HIRED THE MEMORY MAKER PROJECT TO BRING FREE ARTS-ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES TO 50 CLIENTS AT ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES AND SOME SUFFERING FROM MEMORY LOSS IN OWEGO AND WAVERLY, NY. AN EXHIBIT OF THEIR WORK WAS HELD AT THE LOCAL TOURISM CENTER.RESIDENCIES: FOR SEVERAL YEARS, TAC HAS HOSTED A POET IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM, WHEREIN A POET FROM OUTSIDE THE AREA IS INVITED TO OWEGO, RECEIVES AN HONORARIUM AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN A PREMIER LOCATION-OFTEN AWAY FROM RESTRICTIONS AND PRESSURES OF THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES. IT ALSO ALLOWS THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO CONNECT WITH A NEW CREATIVE VISION AND VOICE. THE POET ALSO IS PROVIDED FREE ACCOMODATIONS FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILY AT THE CLOUD CROFT STUDIOS BARN APARTMENT WITH THE CCS SCHOOLHOUSE AVAILABLE FOR STUDIO AND INSTRUCTIONAL USE.FREE ART PACKS: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL EDUCATORS AND COPS FOR A CAUSE, TAC CURATES AND DELIVERS A PACK OF FREE ART SUPPLIES TO 24 YOUTH WHO SHOW ARTISTIC PROMISE, BUT DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO ACCESS OR AFFORD SUPPLIES.ARTIST STUDIO RENTAL: TAC'S ARTIST STUDIO RENTAL PROGRAM PROVIDES BELOW-MARKETRENTAL STUDIO SPACE FOR EMERGING VISUAL ARTISTS, PERFORMING ARTISTS, AND WRITERS IN TIOGA COUNTY, NY. IN ADDITION TO SEMI-PRIVATE STUDIO SPACES, THERE IS SHARED COMMON SPACE WITH OTHER CREATIVES, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION, SKILL SHARING, AND SELLING WORK AT A PREMIER LOCATION IN DOWNTOWN OWEGO. THE STUDIOS EXTEND THE GALLERY SPACES OF THE MAIN TAC GALLERY BELOW DURING PUBLIC OPENINGS.ARTFULLY SQUARED: ARTFULLY SQUARED IS AN ANNUAL, CROWD-SOURCED EXHIBITION. CREATIVES OF ALL AGES AND ALL MEDIA CREATE AND DONATE SMALL ARTWORKS TO DISPLAY AND SELL IN THE GALLERY. ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT TAC MISSION PROGRAMS. THIS IS AN EXPERIENCE WHERE ARTISTS TO MAKE THEIR WORK AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE.JUNE EXHIBITION: IF YOU KEEP A STAR IN A CAGE WAS AN EXPERIMENTAL AND PERFORMANCE-BASED EXHIBITION AT CLOUD CROFT STUDIOS IN 2025. IT MEDIDATED ON THEMES OF POP CULTURE, WOMANHOOD, AND SURVEILLANCE IN THE EARLY 21ST CENTURY. IT SERVED 8 ARTISTS, 4 MUSICIANS, AND 200 VISITORS.
- $34,535 spent. Everyday Life, Every Day Art (ELEDA): A Juried Regional Art ShowIn 2025, ELEDA was a tremendous success in its goal to serve the arts and serve through the arts. It experienced a nearly 50% increase in the number of participating artists (127) and artwork submissions (304). Over the course the exhibition, ELEDA organizers sold $16,972 worth of artwork, counted 836 visitors which has an estimated tourism impact of $33,440 over September in Owego paid $3,600 in awards, and raised $3,400 to support TACs Beyond the Gallery programming.
- $30,043 spent. Do Rad Things with Artist in ResidenceTAC received a grant to bring international Artist in Residence, Mark Rivard, and his program Do Rad Things, to Owego Free Academy (OFA) in March 2025.. Rivard led seminars on Monday, March 3, through Thursday, March 6, with content that included a motivational speech that reached over 1,000 students, discussions of art as entrepreneurship, design sessions using the skateboard as canvas, and one-on-one instruction. The week culminated with a public exhibition featuring 150 students skateboard art in downtown Owego. Approximately 300 students, parents, and educators visited on the opening night, and 150 more visitors enjoyed student work throughout the month-long exhibition. According to educators, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and allowed students, many of whom do not participate in traditional afterschool activities, to be a part of this special event.
- $24,122 spent. TAC Gallery SpaceLocated in Historic Downtown Owego, TACs Main and Youth Galleries is the primary program that connects TAC with its artists and its community. In 2025, TAC hosted 647 artists of all disciplines. Jan. 5 Senior Artists (Main), 0 (Youth) Feb. 1 (Main), 5 (Youth) Mar. 150 (Main & Youth)April 120 (Main), 22 (Youth) May 80 (Main & Youth) June 9 (Main), 2 (Youth)July 1 (Main), 14 (Youth) Aug. 2 (Main), 6 (Youth) Sept. 200 (represented), 2 (Youth)Oct. 39 (Main & Youth) Nov. 1 (Main), 9 (Youth) Dec. 1 (Main), 0 (Youth)
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
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 November 6, 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 August 2025.
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 March 1979.
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 November 4, 2026.
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