Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

United States Artists Inc

EIN 22-3903993 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INVEST IN AMERICA'S FINEST ARTISTS AND ILLUMINATE THE VALUE OF ARTISTS TO SOCIETY.

Income
$9.6 million
Spending
$8.3 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
31.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 61%
Employees
19
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$320,802, president and 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 31.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $3.6 million spent. USA FELLOWSHIPS ARE $50,000 UNRESTRICTED AWARDS FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND COLLABORATIVES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND ITS TERRITORIES AND AWARDED IN THE FOLLOWING DISCIPLINES: ARCHITECTURE, CRAFTS, DANCE, FILM, MEDIA, MUSIC, THEATER AND PERFORMANCE, TRADITIONAL ARTS, VISUAL ART, AND WRITING. THEY ARE AWARDED TO ARTISTS AT ANY CAREER STAGE - EMERGING, MID-CAREER, AND ESTABLISHED. EACH YEAR, THE FELLOWSHIP RECOGNIZES ARTISTS WHO DEMONSTRATE ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE, INNOVATIVE VISION, SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TO THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE, AND PROFESSIONAL MOMENTUM. USA BERRESFORD PRIZE IS AN ANNUAL AWARD THAT HONORS CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE ADVANCEMENT, WELLBEING, AND CARE OF ARTISTS IN SOCIETY.
  2. $3.2 million spent. Collaborative projects with other organizations to research, create, document, and facilitate new award programs and services to support artists.
  3. $225,146 spent. THE NATIONAL ARTS POLICY ALLIANCE (NAPA) AND ARTISTS CAPITAL FUNDS (ACF) ARE COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE FIELD OF ARTS AND CULTURE, FOCUSED ON RESEARCHING EXISTING POLICY AND FINANCIAL BARRIERS FACING INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS. NAPA EVALUATES THE NEED FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT CONNECTS ARTISTS WITH RESEARCH, POLICY, AND COALITION RESOURCES TO SUPPORT GIG-ECONOMY ARTISTS. ACF EXAMINES CHALLENGES RELATED TO CASH FLOW, GROWTH, AND SUSTAINABILITY WHILE REVIEWING EXISTING RESOURCES AND POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS. TOGETHER, NAPA AND ACF AIMS TO BUILD RESEARCH AND PROGRAM INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ENHANCES THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF ARTISTS AND STRENGTHENS THEIR ESSENTIAL ROLE IN SOCIETY.

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 2004.

    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.