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New Jersey Center for Visual Arts a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation

EIN 22-6046896 · Summit, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE VISUAL ARTS CENTER OF NEW JERSEY NURTURES THE CAPACITY FOR PERSONAL EXPRESSION, EXPANDS THE CREATIVE EXPERIENCE AND FOSTERS STRONGER COMMUNITIES BY EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO SEE, MAKE AND LEARN ABOUT ART. THROUGH EXHIBITION, STUDIO SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, THE ART CENTER ENGENDERS CONNECTION, CURIOSITY AND CREATIVE RISK-TAKING AMONG ITS CONSTITUENTS.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 53%
Employees
142
Volunteers
99
Highest pay
$185,642, executive dir.

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

Good: 81 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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

    22 of 22 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. $1.4 million spent. THROUGH STUDIO SCHOOL CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS, THE VISUAL ARTS CENTER OF NEW JERSEY SERVES OVER 1,100 STUDENTS EVERY SEMESTER. THE VISUAL ARTS CENTER OF NEW JERSEY'S STUDIP SCHOOL IS THE LARGEST NON-UNIVERSITY ARTS PROGRAM IN THE STATES. STUDENTS OF PRE-SCHOOL AGE TO OCTOGENARIANS ENROLL EACH SEMESTER. A RENOWNED FACULTY OF PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS OFFER CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS IN DRAWING, PAINTING, CERAMICS, PHOTOGRAPHY, DIGITAL MEDIA, PRINTMAKING, SCULPTURE, JEWELRY DESIGN AND MORE. THE ART CENTER'S STUDIO SCHOOL CALENDAR IS DIVIDED INTO THREE TEN-WEEK SEMESTERS. FALL, WINTER AND SPRING AND A SHORTER SIX WEEK SUMMER SEMESTER. SUMMER SEMESTER INCLUDES CHILDREN'S ART SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM SERVING NEARLY 1,000 STUDENTS AGE 4-18.
  2. $421,940 spent. THE VISUAL ARTS CENTER OF NEW JERSEY IS A LEADING INSTITUTION OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS IN THE TRISTATE REGION. ITS MUSEUM EXHIBITION PROGRAM PRESENTS ARTISTICALLY AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITIONS TO OVER 8,600 VISITIORS ANNUALLY. TO ADDRESS AN INCREASINGLY GLOBAL SOCIETY, THE ART CENTER FEATURES ARTISTS FROM NEAR AND FAR. MANY ARE FROM NEW JERSEY AND NEARBY NEW YORK, FROM ACROSS THE US AND FROM AROUND THE WORLD. IN CONJUCTION WITH EACH SEASON OF EXHIBITIONS, THE ART CENTER PRESENTS A VARIETY OF EXHIBITION RELATED PROGRAMMING TO PROVIDE UNIQUE AND INVALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE ART IN NEW AND EXCITING WAYS. APPROXIMATELY 34 VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION, INCLUDING THE ART CENTER DOCENT PROGREAM WHICH LEADS TOURS THAT SERVE ALMOST 600 PEOPLE EACH YEAR.
  3. $240,152 spent. THE VISUAL ARTS CENTER OF NEW JERSEY'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS ARE CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH OUR MISSION OF BRINGING ART AND PEOPLE TOGETHER AND OUR COMMITTMENT TO MAKING ART ACCESSIBLE TO ALL AUDIENCES. THESE PROGRAMS SERVE OVER 1,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY, MAKING EDUCATIONAL VISUAL ARTS EXPERIENCES AVAILABLE TO UNDER SERVED, ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, AND MARGINALIZED AUDIENCES. THESE AUDIENCES INCLUDE AT-RISK YOUTH, THE ELDERLY, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, CHILDREN FROM DUAL WORKING PARENT HOUSEHOLDS, AND LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. WE SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF SUMMIT AND SURROUNDING AREAS INCLUDING PEOPLE LIVING IN HUDSON, UNION, ESSEX, SUSSEX AND SOMERSET COUNTIES. PROGRAMS INCLUDE PROVIDING ARTS EDUCATION FOR FORMERLY HOMELESS WOMEN ATTENDING KENMORE HIGH SCHOOL IN JERSEY CITY; "ARTS ALIVE" A PROGRAM FOR ELIZABETH HIGH SCHOOL AND 8TH GRADE STUDENTS FROM THROUGHOUT THE ELIZABETH DISTRICT; AND THE ARTS FROM THE HEART PARTNERSHIP WITH SAGE ELDER-CARE FOR PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM DEMENTIA OR ALZHEIMER'S.

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 April 1962.

    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.