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University City Arts League Inc

EIN 23-1687751 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ARTS EDUCATION, DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARTS, AND BRINGS THE ARTS INTO COMMUNITY.

Income
$583,634
Spending
$452,173
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 67%
Employees
4
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$17,290, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 97 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 (2)
  1. $188,022 spent. FOUNDED IN 1967, THE ARTS LEAGUE (UNIVERSITY CITY ARTS LEAGUE, UCAL, TAL) IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD HUB FOR ARTS EDUCATION IN WEST PHILADELPHIA. OUR CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER CHAMPIONS INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING WITH A WIDE ARRAY OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS, CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, AND RESIDENCIES. WE ARE COMMITTED TO OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH SURROUNDING SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, INDIVIDUALS, AND OUR NEIGHBORS. HISTORICALLY DEDICATED TO CULTIVATING AND SUSTAINING NEW TALENT BY WAY OF OFFERING CONSISTENT PAID OPPORTUNITIES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT,AND EXHIBITING SPACE TO THE BROADER ARTS COMMUNITY. THE ARTS LEAGUE FUNCTIONS AS AN AMPLIFIER FOR CREATIVE VOICES OF ALL BACKGROUNDS,PROVIDING THE SPACE FOR EXPLORATION, GROWTH, AND JOY. OUR PROGRAMMING IS SPLIT BETWEEN THREE MAIN AREAS COMMUNITY ARTS, CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS. FOUNDED IN 1967, THE ARTS LEAGUE (UNIVERSITY CITY ARTS LEAGUE, UCAL, TAL) IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD HUB FOR ARTS EDUCATION IN WEST PHILADELPHIA. OUR CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER CHAMPIONS INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING WITH A WIDE ARRAY OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS, CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, AND RESIDENCIES. WE ARE COMMITTED TO OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH SURROUNDING SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, INDIVIDUALS, AND OUR NEIGHBORS. HISTORICALLY DEDICATED TO CULTIVATING AND SUSTAINING NEW TALENT BY WAY OF OFFERING CONSISTENT PAID OPPORTUNITIES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT,AND EXHIBITING SPACE TO THE BROADER ARTS COMMUNITY. THE ARTS LEAGUE FUNCTIONS AS AN AMPLIFIER FOR CREATIVE VOICES OF ALL BACKGROUNDS,PROVIDING THE SPACE FOR EXPLORATION, GROWTH, AND JOY. OUR PROGRAMMING IS SPLIT BETWEEN THREE MAIN AREAS COMMUNITY ARTS, CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS.
  2. $188,022 spent. OUR COMMUNITY ARTS (CA) PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO OFFERING COMPREHENSIVE ARTS EDUCATION TO SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS IN WEST PHILADELPHIA, ENSURING ACCESSIBILITY BY PROVIDING THE PROGRAM FOR FREE. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE ALL NECESSARY SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, ALONG WITH TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE FACILITY WHEN NEEDED. THE INITIATIVE COLLABORATES WITH THREE LOCAL ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS, FOUR RECREATIONAL CENTERS, PUBLIC PARKS, AND VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS IN WEST AND SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA, INCLUDING UNIVERSITY CITY. THE PROGRAM'S REACH EXTENDS TO THE 19104, 19131, 19151, 19139, 19143, 19142, 19145, AND 19153 ZIP CODES, SERVING AN ANNUAL AVERAGE OF 3,000 PEOPLE. NOTABLY, 39% OF THE ONSITE PROGRAM AUDIENCE FALLS UNDER THE LOW-INCOME CATEGORY, WHILE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE, 87%, OF THE OUTREACH AUDIENCE IS CONSIDERED LOW INCOME. OUR COMMUNITY ARTS (CA) PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO OFFERING COMPREHENSIVE ARTS EDUCATION TO SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS IN WEST PHILADELPHIA, ENSURING ACCESSIBILITY BY PROVIDING THE PROGRAM FOR FREE. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE ALL NECESSARY SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, ALONG WITH TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE FACILITY WHEN NEEDED. THE INITIATIVE COLLABORATES WITH THREE LOCAL ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS, FOUR RECREATIONAL CENTERS, PUBLIC PARKS, AND VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS IN WEST AND SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA, INCLUDING UNIVERSITY CITY. THE PROGRAM'S REACH EXTENDS TO THE 19104, 19131, 19151, 19139, 19143, 19142, 19145, AND 19153 ZIP CODES, SERVING AN ANNUAL AVERAGE OF 3,000 PEOPLE. NOTABLY, 39% OF THE ONSITE PROGRAM AUDIENCE FALLS UNDER THE LOW-INCOME CATEGORY, WHILE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE, 87%, OF THE OUTREACH AUDIENCE IS CONSIDERED LOW INCOME.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 July 1974.

    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.