Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Artsquest

EIN 23-2280560 · Bethlehem, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O.

Income
$34.2 million
Spending
$25.9 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 55%
Employees
0
Volunteers
1,273
Highest pay
$387,896, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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

    17 of 18 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $13.6 million spent. STARTED IN 1984, MUSIKFEST TODAY IS CONSIDERED THE NATION'S LARGEST FREE MUSIC FESTIVAL WITH MORE THAN 550 PERFORMANCES ON 17 STAGES, 16 OF WHICH ARE FREE. THIS 10-DAY FESTIVAL ATTRACTED MORE THAN 1.1 MILLION PEOPLE FROM 45 STATES AND ONE DOZEN COUNTRIES IN 2017. AS THE LARGEST PROGRAM RUN BY ARTSQUEST, MUSIKFEST IS FAMILY-ORIENTED AND PRESENTS VIRTUALLY EVERY STYLE OF MUSIC INCLUDING BLUES, JAZZ, ROCK, COUNTRY, CLASSICAL, LATIN, FOLK, AMERICANA, AND BLUEGRASS. THE FESTIVAL IS SUPPORTED BY SPONSORSHIP, MEMBERSHIP, GRANTS, MERCHANDISE SALES, AND FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICE. ARTSQUEST WORKS WITH MORE THAN 25 REGIONAL ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS TO INCORPORATE THEM INTO THIS FESTIVAL. OVER THE PAST DECADE, ARTSQUEST HAS EXPANDED ON ITS ANNUAL FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES BY ADDING CHRISKINDLMARKT, OKTOBERFEST AND OTHER SMALLER FESTIVALS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
  2. $7.9 million spent. BANANA FACTORY: ARTSQUEST ESTABLISHED THE BANANA FACTORY ARTS & EDUCATION CENTER IN JANUARY 1998. TODAY, THE BANANA FACTORY PROVIDES OVER 300 VISUAL ARTS AND EDUCATION CLASSES AND CAMPS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHY, CERAMICS, GLASS-BLOWING, PAINTING, DRAWING, JEWELRY, MIXED MEDIA, AND SCULPTURE. THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF DONORS AND SPONSORS, ARTSQUEST OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS TO ANY ADULT OR CHILD IN FINANCIAL NEED. THE ARTS CENTER OFFERS THREE FREE GALLERIES AND MORE THAN 25 STUDIOS TO REGIONAL VISUAL ARTISTS AT SUBSIDIZED RENTAL RATES IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE ARTIST DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGEMENT. SUBSIDIZED SPACE IS ALSO MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PENNSYLVANIA YOUTH THEATRE AND THE VOLUNTEER CENTER OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY. THE BANANA FACTORY ALSO HOUSES SEVERAL ARTSQUEST OFFICES CRITICAL TO ADMINISTERING THE OPERATIONS OF THIS CENTER AND THE ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE.
  3. $942,900 spent. STEELSTACKS/ARTSQUEST PERFORMING ARTS CENTER: IN 2011, ARTSQUEST OPENED STEELSTACKS, A 10-ACRE ARTS, CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL CAMPUS LOCATED ON THE FORMER BETHLEHEM STEEL PLANT SITE IN BETHLEHEM, PA ON WHAT WAS THE LARGEST BROWNFIELD SITE UNDER DEVELOPMENT IN THE UNITED STATES. STEELSTACKS PROVIDES ACCESS TO A DIVERSE ARRAY OF CONCERTS, CLASSES, FESTIVALS AND EVENTS, USING ARTS AS A VEHICLE FOR URBAN REVITALIZATION. THE MAIN BUILDING ON THE CAMPUS IS THE ARTSQUEST CENTER, A 67,000-SQUARE-FOOT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER DESIGNED TO MEET THE COMMUNITY'S DIVERSE ARTS AND EDUCATION NEEDS. THE ARTSQUEST CENTER INCLUDES A 2-SCREEN CINEMA THAT OFFERS YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMMING FOR INDEPENDENT, FOREIGN, DOCUMENTARY AND LOCALLY MADE FILMS AS WELL AS A FLEXIBLE 2-STORY PERFORMANCE SPACE FOR THE PRESENTATION OF MUSIC, DANCE AND THEATRE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 February 1987.

    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.