Anderson Ranch Arts Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER (THE RANCH) IS A VIBRANT LEARNING COMMUNITY DEVOTED TO FOSTERING CREATIVITY AND GROWTH THROUGH THE EXPLORATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE VISUAL ARTS. ANDERSON RANCH'S MISSION IS TO ENRICH LIVES WITH ART, INSPIRATION, AND COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $7.7 million
- Spending
- $7.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- 2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 63%
- Employees
- 68
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $273,130, president and 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
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $3.2 million spent. WORKSHOPS: WORKSHOPS ARE AT THE HEART OF ANDERSON RANCH'S MISSION, PROVIDING A DYNAMIC AND IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE IN CREATIVITY FOR PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES AND SKILL LEVELS. THESE WORKSHOPS BRING TOGETHER A VIBRANT MIX OF STUDENTS AND DISTINGUISHED FACULTY, RESULTING IN TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES THAT FOSTER ARTISTIC GROWTH AND COMMUNITY. OUR DEDICATED STAFF, STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES, AND SCENIC CAMPUS CREATE AN INSPIRING ENVIRONMENT THAT ATTRACTS A DIVERSE ARRAY OF PARTICIPANTS. WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING OUR PROGRAMS ACCESSIBLE TO PROMISING ARTISTS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS. ANDERSON RANCH PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS FUNDED BY INDIVIDUAL DONORS AND FOUNDATIONS, THROUGH BOTH ENDOWED FUNDS AND SPECIAL GIFTS. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, AND WE PARTNER WITH 80 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS TO ADVANCED EMERGING ARTISTS. OUR INNOVATIVE ARTISTIC INTERNSHIP AND AWARD PROGRAM SUPPORTS EMERGING ARTISTS, OFFERING HANDS-ON STUDIO EXPERIENCE AND FOSTERING INCLUSIVITY. ANDERSON RANCH ALSO MAINTAINS A STRONG DEDICATION TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING (DEIB) WITH NEARLY HALF OF OUR FACULTY IDENTIFYING AS BIPOC, DEMONSTRATING OUR COMMITMENT TO A WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY.
- $1.3 million spent. CAMPUS SERVICES: ANDERSON RANCH OFFERS ESSENTIAL ON-CAMPUS AMENITIES TO ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE A DORMITORY, CAFE, LIBRARY, ART SUPPLIES STORE, AND EXHIBITION SPACE. BY PROVIDING FOOD, HOUSING, SUPPLIES, AND EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES, THE RANCH FOSTERS AN IMMERSIVE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ARTISTIC GROWTH.
- $224,998 spent. THE ANDERSON RANCH ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE CREATIVE, INTELLECTUAL, AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OF BOTH EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED VISUAL ARTISTS. RESIDENTS BENEFIT FROM DEDICATED STUDIO TIME AND ACCESS TO WORLD-CLASS FACILITIES IN AN ENVIRONMENT FREE FROM DAILY DISTRACTIONS, ALLOWING THEM TO FOCUS DEEPLY ON THEIR WORK. THE PROGRAM ENCOURAGES INTERDISCIPLINARY EXPLORATION AND FOSTERS A COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY OF WORKING ARTISTS WHO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL EXCHANGES OF IDEAS. RESIDENTS ALSO RECEIVE VALUABLE FEEDBACK FROM ESTEEMED VISITING CRITICS, FURTHER ENRICHING THEIR ARTISTIC JOURNEY.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1974.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
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