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Newark School of the Arts Inc

EIN 22-1849047 · Newark, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak34 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NEWARK SCHOOL OF THE ARTS MISSION IS TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF YOUTH THROUGH ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION IN THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.

Income
$948,945
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 30%
Employees
75
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$119,904, executive director

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

Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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. $798,313 spent. THE SCHOOL HAS A STRONG COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEWARK PUBLIC SCHOOL'S DISTRICT, CHARTER AND OTHER PRIVATE SCHOOLS. NSA OFFERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, RESIDENCIES AND PERFORMANCES DURING AND AFTER SCHOOL TIME. THE SCHOOL PRESENTS UP TO 40 STUDENT, FACULTY AND GUEST ARTIST PERFORMANCES AND VISUAL ARTS EXHIBITIONS EACH YEAR, FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. IT IS UNIQUE IN THE NEWARK AREA FOR PROVIDING MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS TRAINING ON A LONG-TERM BASIS. THE SCHOOL ESTABLISHED DIGITAL MEDIA LAB FOCUSED ON TEACHING 21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGY IN MUSIC PRODUCTION, COMPOSITION AND GRAPHIC ARTS AND CONTINUES TO DEVELOP NEW PROGRAMS.
  2. IN THE LATE NINETIES, NSA DEVELOPED A PROFESSIONAL MUSIC DIVISION THAT GREW OUT OF THE NEED TO ACCOMMODATE ADVANCED STUDENTS WHO WISH TO PURSUE A CAREER IN THE ARTS. STUDENTS IN THE PROFESSIONAL DIVISION ARE REQUIRED TO AUDITION. THE PROFESSIONAL DIVISION HAS SOME OF THE MOST ADVANCED STUDENTS FROM NEW JERSEY. RECENT STUDENTS HAVE GONE ON TO STUDY AT MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC, MANNES SCHOOL, NEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY AND JUILLIARD. STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM HAVE PERFORMED AS PRELUDE ARTISTS AT NJPAC FOR PIANIST LANG LANG, CONDUCTOR CHARLES DUTOIT AND OPERA SINGER RENEE FLEMING. THEY DEEPEN THEIR KNOWLEDGE THROUGH OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET THE ARTISTS IN PERSON.
  3. SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF NSA ALUMNI HAVE GONE ON TO CAREERS IN THE ARTS. THEY INCLUDE WORLD-RENOWNED TAP DANCER SAVION GLOVER; LATIN SINGING SENSATION FRANKIE NEGRON, VOCALIST; KESHA KNIGHT PULLIAM- RUDY ON THE COSBY SHOW; COUNTER-TENOR DERRICK LEE RAGIN (METROPOLITAN OPERA/ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA); PIANIST HSING-AY HSU, ARTISTIC ADMINISTRATOR OF THE PENDULUM NEW MUSIC SERIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO IN BOULDER; KIMBERLYN MONFORD, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MUSIC AT TRINITY UNIVERSITY; MAURICE CHESTNUT, TAP DANCER; TYSHAWN SOREY, MACATHUR FELLOW, COMPOSER AND MUSICIAN.

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 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 June 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 February 1969.

    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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