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Woodlands Waterway Arts Council Inc

EIN 20-2239984 · Spring, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE AND EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS AS AUTHORIZED BY THE TEXAS NON-PROFIT CORPORATIONS ACT.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
54%
Reserves
6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 75%
Employees
4
Volunteers
400

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    54% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 38 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 25 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 July 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)
  1. $592,749 spent. The Woodlands Arts Council events expanded this year. The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival welcomed over 20,000 visitors, of which 3000 were children, 200 artists, 45 performers, and 500 volunteers. The festival had a significant economic impact on the artists and the area. It offered educational opportunities for our patrons to learn about their techniques and enjoy the many performances throughout the weekend. The inaugural Texas Fine Craft Show presented a new opportunity for artists to showcase their handmade, functional creations to our patrons and support their small businesses.
  2. $101,903 spent. In 2024, The Woodlands Arts Council featured four free exhibits in the office space that we converted into a gallery in 2023. The Gallery serves as an opportunity for us to invite and educate the public about art, and to celebrate the talents of local artists. We provide the artist with an opportunity to share their technique with the public during an opening, which is free and open to the public. We have also used the space to showcase collections from local patrons. The gallery is open for free on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 1pm-4pm each week.
  3. The Young Makers Market was established in 2024. Artists ages nine through eighteen apply to sell their original artworks in a one-day mini-arts festival inspired by our flagship event, The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival. The 40-50 invited artists participate in a workshop that highlights entrepreneurship, marketing, product photography, and leadership, featuring a keynote speaker from the working artist community, hosted at Market Street, The Woodlands. Thousands of visitors come out to experience the market and support these young artists in our community. In 2025, we had an astounding 100 applicants for the September 2025 show.
  4. The Because Art Matters committee is responsible for year-round programming at TWAC. Our critical aim is to impact Montgomery County arts educators, students, and organizations through programs that support their endeavors. The Student Art Scholarship program invites graduating seniors to submit a three(3) piece portfolio of visual and/or literary works of art and answer questions about their creative process. Students are then interviewed by a jury of arts professionals in the community to discern awards. In 2025, we awarded $60,000 to 14 talented students from across Montgomery County, including a $20,000 scholarship to a truly outstanding student, marking our 20th year as an organization. The microgrant program offers three groups arts educators, artists, and arts organizations the chance to apply for funds for projects with budgets ranging from $250 to $5,000. In 2025, we awarded $35,000 to visual arts applicants and facilitated an additional $43,000 in partnership with The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion for performing arts applicants, totaling $78,000 in grants. In 2024-2025, a total of $95,000 was awarded through our Student Art Scholarship program and Microgrant program. In the past decade, $1.4 million has been distributed through BAM programming.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 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 July 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 September 2005.

    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.