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Advocates for Arts Based Educationinc

EIN 20-3814839 · New Orleans, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ADVOCATES FOR ARTS-BASED EDUCATION CORPORATION IS A NONPROFIT ENTITY THAT OPERATES THE WILLOW SCHOOL. THE WILLOW SCHOOL IS A KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC SCHOOL LOCATED IN UPTOWN NEW ORLEANS. A CHARTER SCHOOL IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL OPERATED BY A NONPROFIT CORPORATION PURSUANT TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE LOCAL OR STATE SCHOOL BOARD WITH PUBLIC FUNDING. AS A TYPE 3 CHARTER, THE WILLOW SCHOOL IS A "LOCAL CHARTER" CONVERTED FROM AN EXISTING PUBLIC SCHOOL, THE WILLOW SCHOOL ELEMENTARY AND EXTENSION SCHOOL, AND IS STILL PART OF NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IN THE SUMMER OF 2005, THE WILLOW SCHOOL BEGAN PURSUING CHARTER STATUS WITH AN OVERWHELMING VOTE OF APPROVAL BY BOTH THE PARENTS AND STAFF OF THE SCHOOL AS PROVIDED BY THE LOUISIANA CHARTER SCHOOL LAW. THE WILLOW SCHOOL SUBMITTED ITS CHARTER PROPOSAL TO THE ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, WHO APPROVED THE CHARTER APPLICATION IN SEPTEMBER 2005.

Income
$32.3 million
Spending
$30.5 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 90%
Employees
403
Volunteers
146
Highest pay
$253,972, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $28.1 million spent. ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL AND PUPIL SUPPORT SERVICES - 2,220 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN GRADE K TO 12 PARTICIPATING IN ARTS-BASED EDUCATION WITH POSITIVE DISCIPLINE PROGRAMS AND UTILIZING THE LATEST NEUROLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND BRAIN RESEARCH AS WELL AS A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO LITERACY AND NUMERACY INSTRUCTION. SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDE SOCIAL WORKERS, GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, CURRICULUM COORDINATORS, AND A NURSE.
  2. $1.2 million spent. CO-CURRICULAR AND AFTER-SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS - OPTIONAL ATHLETICS, ARTS AND OTHER CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE ATTENDED BY APPROXIMATELY 1,387 STUDENTS ON EITHER A PART-TIME OR FULL TIME BASIS. THE PROGRAMS PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS A SAFE BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.
  3. $12,614 spent. SUMMER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS - OPTIONAL ARTS INTENSIVE, ATHLETICS, AND EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS ATTENDED BY APPROXIMATELY 361 STUDENTS ALLOWING FOR ADDITIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN LITERACY AND NUMERACY AS WELL AS ARTS EXPLORATIONS. STUDENTS PAID A FEE FOR ART AND ATHLETIC PROGRAMS THAT HELPED TO OFFSET THE COST OF THE PROGRAM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 January 2006.

    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.