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Hallwalls Inc

EIN 16-1104232 · Buffalo, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO RECOGNIZE AND SERVE A VITAL COMMUITY ARTISTIC PRESENCE WHICH I SGLOBAL IN ITS OUTLOOK CHALLENGING IN ITS IDEAS PLURALISTIC IN ITS CONCERNS AND DIVERSE IN ITS EXPRESSION. HALLWALL'S TWO-FOLD MISSION IS TO SERVE ARTISTS BY SUPPORTING THE CREATION AND PRESENTATION OF NEW WORK IN THE VISUAL MEDIA PERFORMING AND LITERARY ARTS AND TO SERVE THE PUBLIC BY MAKING THESE MORKS AVAILABLE TO AUDIENCES. WE ARE DEDICATED IN PARTICULAR TO WORK BY ARTISTS WHICH CHALLENGES AND EXTENDS THE TRADITIONAL BOUNDRIES OF THE VARIOUS ART FORMS AND WHICH IS CRITICALLY ENGAGED WITH CURRENT ISSUES IN THE ARTS AND THROUGH THE ARTS-IN SOCIETY.

Income
$494,083
Spending
$511,930
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 44%
Employees
5
Volunteers
105
Highest pay
$60,292, 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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 30% 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 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (1)
  1. $397,431 spent. HALLWALLS IS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION SERVING AUDIENCES IN BUFFALO ERIE COUNTY AND OTHER WESTERN NEW YORK COUNTIES. YEAR-ROUND PUBLIC PROGRAMS COMPRISE A MIX OF GALLERY EXHIBITIONS AND INSTALLATIONS BY EMERGING AND DISTINGUISHED PROFESSIONAL VISUAL ARTISTS BOTH NATIONAL AND LOCAL IN-PERSON TALKS BY LOCAL AND VISITING ARTISTS AND CURATORS ARTISTS' RESIDENCIES LIVE CONCERTS OF JAZZ AND NEW MUSIC FLIM AND VIDEO SCREENINGS LITERARY READINGS PERFORMANCE ART SCHOLARLY LECTURES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS MOST IN CO-SPONSORSHIP WITH ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS, BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE ARTS. HALLWALLS SECONDARY PROVIDES OCCASIONAL IN-SCHOOL ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO OUR LONGSTANDING EDUCATIONAL PARTNER BUFFALO ACADEMY FOR VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS (BAVPA) AS WELL AS OTHER SCHOOLS.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1978.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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