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Arts Council of Princeton

EIN 22-6108090 · Princeton, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ARTS COUNCIL OF PRINCETON'S (ACP) MISSION IS BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ARTS.PROGRAMS INCLUDE ARTS EDUCATION, EXHIBITIONS, CONCERTS & EVENTS IN ITS PAUL ROBESON CENTER IN PRINCETON AND THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 51%
Employees
34
Volunteers
253
Highest pay
$156,571, executive di

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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 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 (5)
  1. $733,963 spent. EDUCATION: GROUNDED IN THE BELIEF THAT ARTS AND ARTS EDUCATION ARE VITAL TO A HEALTHY SOCIETY, ACP OFFERS YEAR-ROUND CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS IN PAINTING, DRAWING, CERAMICS, TEXTILE ARTS, PRINTMAKING, DANCE, MUSIC, AND LITERARY ARTS TO CHILDREN, TEENS, AND ADULTS AT ITS PAUL ROBESON CENTER FOR THE ARTS. EACH SEMESTER, ACP OFFERS AN AVERAGE OF 100 CLASSES, ALONGSIDE SUMMER ART CAMP PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO DEEPEN THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS, ENGAGE IN CREATIVE EXPRESSION, AND CONNECT WITH PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS. SCHOLARSHIPS ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY FOR STUDENTS FACING FINANCIAL BARRIERS. MANY CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS ARE INTEGRATED WITH ACP'S EXHIBITIONS AND PERFORMANCES, ALLOWING PARTICIPANTS TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH PROFESSIONAL VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTISTS. EDUCATION: GROUNDED IN THE BELIEF THAT ARTS AND ARTS EDUCATION ARE VITAL TO A HEALTHY SOCIETY, ACP OFFERS YEAR-ROUND CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS IN PAINTING, DRAWING, CERAMICS, TEXTILE ARTS, PRINTMAKING, DANCE, MUSIC, AND LITERARY ARTS TO CHILDREN, TEENS, AND ADULTS AT ITS PAUL ROBESON CENTER FOR THE ARTS. EACH SEMESTER, ACP OFFERS AN AVERAGE OF 100 CLASSES, ALONGSIDE SUMMER ART CAMP PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO DEEPEN THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS, ENGAGE IN CREATIVE EXPRESSION, AND CONNECT WITH PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS. SCHOLARSHIPS ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY FOR STUDENTS FACING FINANCIAL BARRIERS. MANY CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS ARE INTEGRATED WITH ACP'S EXHIBITIONS AND PERFORMANCES, ALLOWING PARTICIPANTS TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH PROFESSIONAL VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTISTS.
  2. $352,894 spent. COMMUNITY ARTS AND EVENTS: THE ACP DEMONSTRATES ITS BELIEF IN THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE ARTS THROUGH AN ARRAY OF FREE AND TICKETED OFFERINGS THAT FOSTER CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE, AND CONTRIBUTE TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SIGNATURE EVENTS SUCH AS PORCHFEST, THE HOMETOWN HALLOWEEN PARADE, THE DA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION, AND PRINCETON'S ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY CELEBRATION BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN VIBRANT, INCLUSIVE WAYS. FREE AND TICKETED EVENTS INCLUDE MUSIC, ART, FOOD, AND FAMILY-ORIENTED CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, ENSURING ACCESSIBILITY FOR A WIDE AUDIENCE. OUTREACH INITIATIVES INCLUDE ARTREACH, WHICH DELIVERS FREE WEEKLY HANDS-ON ART EXPERIENCES TO OVER 400 UNDERSERVED STUDENTS ANNUALLY, AND CREATIVE AGING PROGRAMS, BRINGING MEANINGFUL ART EXPERIENCES TO SENIORS IN SUBSIDIZED LIVING FACILITIES. COMMUNITY ARTS AND EVENTS: THE ACP DEMONSTRATES ITS BELIEF IN THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE ARTS THROUGH AN ARRAY OF FREE AND TICKETED OFFERINGS THAT FOSTER CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE, AND CONTRIBUTE TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SIGNATURE EVENTS SUCH AS PORCHFEST, THE HOMETOWN HALLOWEEN PARADE, THE DA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION, AND PRINCETON'S ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY CELEBRATION BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN VIBRANT, INCLUSIVE WAYS. FREE AND TICKETED EVENTS INCLUDE MUSIC, ART, FOOD, AND FAMILY-ORIENTED CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, ENSURING ACCESSIBILITY FOR A WIDE AUDIENCE. OUTREACH INITIATIVES INCLUDE ARTREACH, WHICH DELIVERS FREE WEEKLY HANDS-ON ART EXPERIENCES TO OVER 400 UNDERSERVED STUDENTS ANNUALLY, AND CREATIVE AGING PROGRAMS, BRINGING MEANINGFUL ART EXPERIENCES TO SENIORS IN SUBSIDIZED LIVING FACILITIES.
  3. $168,079 spent. PRESENTING: THE ACP CURATES AWARD-WINNING EXHIBITIONS SHOWCASING PROFESSIONAL, FACULTY, AND STUDENT ARTISTS, ACCOMPANIED BY ARTIST TALKS, WORKSHOPS, AND OTHER PROGRAMMING TO ENRICH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH CONTEMPORARY ART. ITS THEATER HOSTS YEAR-ROUND PERFORMANCES IN MUSIC, POETRY, DANCE, THEATER, AND FILM, BOTH ACP-PRODUCED AND THROUGH COLLABORATIONS WITH A WIDE ARRAY OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. PROGRAMS LIKE STORY & VERSE, A FREE MONTHLY OPEN MIC EVENT CELEBRATING THE POWER OF SPOKEN WORD, POETRY, AND STORYTELLING, PROVIDE AN INCLUSIVE PLATFORM FOR LOCAL VOICES WHILE FOSTERING CREATIVITY AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION.
  4. $200,383 spent. GENERAL PROGRAMS: BEYOND ITS CORE OFFERINGS, ACP PROVIDES DIVERSE CREATIVE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO ENGAGE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS. THESE INCLUDE ART-THEMED BIRTHDAY PARTIES, MISSION-RELATED RENTALS, AND COLLABORATIONS SUCH AS CONCERTS, READINGS, AND PERFORMANCES. ACP ALSO OFFERS CONTRACT SERVICES, WITH ITS ARTISTS AND TECHNICAL STAFF PROVIDING CREATIVE EXPERTISE TO OTHER NONPROFIT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
  5. GENERAL PROGRAMS: BEYOND ITS CORE OFFERINGS, ACP PROVIDES DIVERSE CREATIVE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO ENGAGE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS. THESE INCLUDE ART-THEMED BIRTHDAY PARTIES, MISSION-RELATED RENTALS, AND COLLABORATIONS SUCH AS CONCERTS, READINGS, AND PERFORMANCES. ACP ALSO OFFERS CONTRACT SERVICES, WITH ITS ARTISTS AND TECHNICAL STAFF PROVIDING CREATIVE EXPERTISE TO OTHER NONPROFIT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

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 November 6, 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 1968.

    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 November 4, 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.