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Raw Art Works Inc

EIN 22-2854850 · Lynn, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RAW IGNITES THE DESIRE TO CREATE AND THE CONFIDENCE TO SUCCEED IN UNDERSERVED YOUTH.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
86
Volunteers
70
Highest pay
$174,990, 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: 47 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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

    12 of 12 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 (5)
  1. $175,076 spent. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GROUPS CHILDREN ARE WELCOMED INTO A CREATIVE CULTURE WHERE THEY LEARN THE VALUE OF BLENDING PAINTS AND IDEAS. OUR YOUNG ARTISTS LEARN THAT LISTENING WITH THEIR ENTIRE BODY MEANS YOU ARE RESPECTFUL, EXPLORING NEW ART MATERIALS MEANS YOU ARE COURAGEOUS, AND STAYING FOCUSED AND WORKING VERY HARD ON YOUR PIECE MEANS YOU ARE COMMITTED. RAW OFFERS A SUPPORTIVE STRUCTURE WHERE OUR KIDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SLOW DOWN, BREATHE, MAKE FRIENDS AND BEGIN TO CREATE VALUES TO LIVE BY. WE BELIEVE THERE IS A PLAYGROUND OF POSSIBILITIES FOR OUR LITTLE ARTISTS AND OUR STAFF IS COMMITTED TO DISCOVERING THE POTENTIAL THAT LIVES IN EACH AND EVERY SMOCK.
  2. $506,542 spent. MIDDLE SCHOOL GROUPS WHERE DO I BELONG? RAW HAS ANSWERED THIS QUESTION FOR OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL ARTISTS BY CREATING A CULTURE OF REAL CONNECTION. THE DIVERSITY OF NEED IS DEEP AND WIDE FOR THIS GROUP. SOME OF OUR KIDS ARE CONSTANTLY CONFRONTING FEELINGS OF AWKWARDNESS AND SOCIAL ISOLATION. OTHERS ARE BATTLING FEELINGS OF FALSE CONFIDENCE THEY HAVE HAD TO DEVELOP TO SURVIVE THE VIOLENCE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, OR POSSIBLY WITHIN THEIR HOME. THE IGNITION FOR THIS KIND OF HONESTY IS SPARKED BY RAWS ART THERAPISTS WHO INSPIRE THE CREATION OF ART IN ORDER TO REVEAL THE ARTISTS TRUE SELF. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS EXERCISE OF EXPLORATION IS WHEN THEY WERE ASKED TO CREATE A SELF-PORTRAIT BY CARVING IN WOOD. AS THEY DIG DEEPER HOPING TO DESCRIBE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHO THEY ARE ON THE OUTSIDE VS. THE INSIDE, THE GROUP BEGINS TO FEEL A PROFOUND SHIFT FROM ME TO WE AS THEY TALK ABOUT THEIR PIECE. THIS IS THE MOMENT AT WHICH THEY LEARN THE ART OF EMPATHY. EACH ARTIST CAN HEAR PARTS OF THEIR STORY IN SOMEONE ELSES STORY AND REALIZE: I AM NOT ALONE. THROUGH THIS SELF- DISCOVERY, THEY CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSIC, TELL MIDDLE SCHOOL JOKES AND ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO KEEPING IT MIDDLE SCHOOL REAL.
  3. $1.3 million spent. HIGH SCHOOL GROUPS OUR TEENS ARE CHALLENGED AND CHERISHED BY EVERYONE AT RAW. THEY ARE A VITAL EXAMPLE THAT WE ARE LIVING OUR MISSION - EVERY ARTIST IS ASKED TO SHOW US HIS OR HER COMMITMENT BY CONSISTENTLY IGNITING THEIR DESIRE TO CREATE AND EMBRACING THE CONFIDENCE TO SUCCEED WITH A DEEP SENSE OF PASSION AND PURPOSE. WHETHER A 15 YEAR OLD IS JUST BEGINNING THE FILM PROGRAM REEL TO REEL OR A CORE ARTIST IS GETTING SUPPORT TO BUILD A STRONG PORTFOLIO IN ORDER TO APPLY TO ART SCHOOL, IT IS ALL ABOUT DOING IT RIGHT. RIGHT IS A STANDARD SET BY EVERYONE, IN PARTICULAR THEIR PEERS. ALL OF OUR TEENS STRIVE TO ACHIEVE THEIR PERSONAL GOALS, WHICH FOR MANY IS TO BE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE. WE GUIDE SENIORS IN OUR PROGRAM PROJECT LAUNCH BY PROVIDING THEM WITH A VOLUNTEER MENTOR FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR. THE MENTOR WORKS DILIGENTLY TO HELP WITH THE ENTIRE APPLICATION SO THEY CAN BECOME STRONG CANDIDATES CANDIDATES IN THIS COMPETITIVE PROCESS. RAW TEENS ARE GROUNDED IN THE BELIEF THAT HARD WORK DOES PAY OFF. THEY HAVE LEARNED THAT THEY NEED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT ALONG THE WAY, AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO BOTH ASK FOR HELP AND SAY THANK YOU!
  4. $236,731 spent. ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THE ALUMNI PROGRAM IS A WEEKLY GROUP THAT GATHERS TO CREATE ART WORK FOR RAWS ANNUAL AUCTION. THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM IS A MOBILE ART PROGRAM THAT BRINGS ART-MAKING TO LYNN NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS DURING THE SUMMER.
  5. ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 236731. 0. 107733.

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 December 1987.

    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.

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.