Center for Architecture and Design
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN IS DEDICATED TO CREATING A PUBLIC-FOCUSED DIALOGUE ON ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN, AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. ESTABLISHED IN 2005, THE CENTER ENHANCES PUBLIC APPRECIATION FOR ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN THROUGH EXHIBITIONS, LECTURES, TOURS, FILM SERIES, AND OTHER PROGRAMS.
- Income
- $228,480
- Spending
- $330,454
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- 3.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 75%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 11
- Highest pay
- $190,177, 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
Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 28% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 45% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (2)
- $204,063 spent. ARCHITECTURE AND THE CITY FESTIVALTHE CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN CELEBRATED THE 21ST ANNUAL ARCHITECTURE + THE CITY FESTIVAL, MARKING THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE CENTER'S OPENING IN DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO. THE MONTH-LONG FESTIVAL FEATURED OVER 30 PROGRAMS, INCLUDING BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOURS, BOOK TALKS, FILM SCREENINGS, EXHIBITIONS, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, INVITING THE PUBLIC TO EXPERIENCE ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THE FESTIVAL OPENED WITH DESIGN + THE CITY, A SPECIAL EXHIBITION CURATED BY KIT HINRICHS, SHOWCASING LIMITED-EDITION WORKS BY LEADING BAY AREA DESIGNERS AND ARTISTS. THE OPENING NIGHT SOIRE BROUGHT TOGETHER LOCAL CREATORS, DESIGN ENTHUSIASTS, AND SUPPORTERS FOR AN EVENING OF ART, FOOD, MUSIC, AND CELEBRATION.
- 2024 MAKERS SERIESON JUNE 6, 2024, THE 2024 MAKERS SERIES OPENED WITH MARK ROGERO, FOUNDER OF CONCRETEWORKS, IN CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR LISE DE VITO. THE PROGRAM- PART OF THE CENTER'S BROADER "FRESH BREW" CONVERSATIONS- EXPLORED THE INTERSECTION OF CRAFT, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON "MAKING" AS MATERIAL, PROCESS AND DESIGN. ATTENDEES HEARD THE STORY OF HOW CONCRETEWORKS PUSHES CONCRETE BEYOND INDUSTRIAL UTILITY INTO ARTFUL, ARCHITECTURAL AND SUSTAINABLE EXPRESSIONS. THE SERIES IS PART OF THE CENTER'S "FRESH BREW" CONVERSATIONS AND SHOWCASE MAKERS WHOSE WORK IS DIRECTLY OR INTERSECTIONALLY RELATED TO ARCHITECTURE AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
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 June 2005.
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.