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New Jersey Performing Arts Center Corporation

EIN 22-2889703 · Newark, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O.

Income
$74.4 million
Spending
$73.6 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
-1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 44%
Employees
726
Volunteers
74
Highest pay
$2.0 million, president & 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

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% 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. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    68 of 70 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. $37.0 million spent. PERFORMANCES AND PERFORMANCE RELATED PROGRAMS: PRESENTED 1,260 PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS (OF WHICH 538 WERE FREE OF CHARGE) WITH 670,258 PATRONS IN ATTENDANCE. PROGRAMS INCLUDED ORCHESTRA, RECITAL, MUSICAL THEATER, DANCE, POP, VARIETY, JAZZ AND OTHER DISCIPLINES, PERFORMED BY LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS.
  2. $14.1 million spent. THEATER OPERATIONS: PROVIDED SERVICES FOR THE MANAGEMENT, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE ARTS CENTER, PARKING FACILITIES AND CHAMBERS PLAZA FOR PUBLIC USE AND ENJOYMENT.
  3. $6.7 million spent. SOCIAL IMPACT: NJPAC'S SOCIAL IMPACT INITIATIVE LEVERAGES THE ARTS TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES IN OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. WE DO THIS THROUGH PROGRAMS INCLUDING: ARTS TRAINING FOR STUDENTS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS, IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES, PERFORMANCES FOR SCHOOL GROUPS, ARTS PROGRAMS IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS, AN ARTS-ON-PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM, PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS NEW JERSEY. CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O. PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS SOCIAL IMPACT PROGRAMS, CONTINUED FROM PART III: SCHOOLTIME PERFORMANCES BRING MORE THAN 15,000 SCHOOL STUDENTS TO THE NJPAC CAMPUS TO ATTEND CLASSICAL AND WORLD-MUSIC CONCERTS, DANCE PERFORMANCES, AND MUSICALS. IN-SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES BRING THE THRILL OF LIVE PERFORMANCE DIRECTLY TO SCHOOLS. FOR SCHOOLS SEEKING A DEEPER COMMITMENT, NJPAC OFFERS IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES IN DANCE, THEATER, AND MUSIC. THE SESSIONS LAST FROM FIVE TO TWELVE WEEKS. ARTS TRAINING: WORKING DIRECTLY WITH NJPAC TRAINED TEACHING ARTISTS, STUDENTS AGES 10-18 PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS IN JAZZ PERFORMANCE AND COMPOSITION, DEVISED THEATER, MUSICAL THEATER, HIP HOP, VIDEO, AND POETRY. STUDENTS HAVE A VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO PERFORM DURING THE YEAR. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHING ARTISTS AND CLASSROOM TEACHERS. ARTS AND WELL-BEING PROGRAMS OFFER A VARIETY OF ARTS PROGRAMS TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS NEW AND EXPECTANT MOTHERS, FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, AND PATIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS IN HOSPITAL SETTINGS. ARTS & WELLBEING ALSO PROVIDES SOCIAL PRESCRIPTIONS TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PARTAKE IN THE OFFERINGS (IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A MAJOR NJ HEALTHCARE SYSTEM).
  4. $3.6 million spent. MARKETING AND PUBLIC AFFAIRSNJPAC KEEPS THE PUBLIC AND THE MEDIA FULLY INFORMED ABOUT ITS PROGRAMS, EVENTS AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
  5. $1.9 million spent. REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENTPLANNING, IMPROVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF OWNED/LEASED REAL ESTATE IN FURTHERANCE OF NJPAC'S MISSION OF BEING A CATALYST IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF ITS HOME CITY OF NEWARK.

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 1988.

    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.