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Newark Arts Council

EIN 22-2412819 · Newark, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NEWARK ARTS' MISSION IS TO POWER THE ARTS TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO LIVE IN, WORK IN, AND VISIT NEWARK.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
14
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$124,168, 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

Fair: 54 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 16 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. $809,875 spent. FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS, NEWARK ARTS HAS BEEN THE FISCAL SPONSOR/CONDUIT FOR DOZENS OF ARTS INITIATIVES - OFTEN INCUBATING THEM UNTIL THEY CAN BECOME STANDALONE 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS. NA ACTS AS A FISCAL SPONSOR/CONDUIT FOR: ARTS ED NEWARK, FOUR CORNERS PUBLIC ART, LINCOLN PARK ALLIANCE, THE CREATIVE CATALYST FUND (CCF), AND THE HARRIET TUBMAN MONUMENT.
  2. $439,770 spent. ARTS ED NEWARK, CREATED UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF NEWARK ARTS, IS A STRATEGIC ALLIANCE OF 90+ EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING PUBLIC, CHARTER, AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS; ARTISTS; ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS; YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ENTITIES; BUSINESSES; FUNDERS; AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. AEN COLLABORATES TO ENSURE THAT ALL CHILDREN IN GRADES PRE-K THROUGH 12 HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY, SEQUENTIAL ARTS EDUCATION OPPIRTUNITIES, BOTH IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL.
  3. $253,432 spent. NEWARK'S LARGEST FESTIVAL OF VISUAL ARTS AND OTHER ART FORMS. IN 2022, NEWARK ARTS FESTIVAL: ARTFUL HEALING OPENING NIGHT DREW MORE THAN 1,000 VISITORS AT THE NEWARK MUSEUM OF ART (NMOA). FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THE MUSEUM HOSTED THE FESTIVAL'S MAIN GROUP EXHIBITION IN ONE OF ITS GALLERIES. IN 2021, THE NEWARK ARTS FESTIVAL: CREATIVE RESILIENCE RETURNED TO AN IN-PERSON, 2-MONTH LONG EVENT THAT ATTRACTED NEARLY 10,000 ATTENDEES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. CENTERED IN AN 18,000 SQUARE-FOOT HAHNE & CO. BUILDING RETAIL SPACE, THE FESTIVAL CREATED A POST-COVID DOWNTOWN DESTINATION AND GARNERED BROADCAST AND NATIONAL PRINT COVERAGE FOR ITS DIONNE WARWICK: QUEEN OF TWITTER FEATURE EXHIBIT AND GALLERY OF 158 WORKS BY LOCAL ARTISTS.

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 September 1985.

    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.