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Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures Inc

EIN 25-1657947 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF PITTSBURGH ARTS & LECTURES IS TO CONNECT CELEBRATED AUTHORS WITH THE COMMUNITY, ELEVATE CIVIC DISCOURSE, AND INSPIRE CREATIVITY AND A PASSION FOR THE LITERARY ARTS. OUR COMMITMENT TO KNOWLEDGE, LEARNING, INTEGRITY, AND ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE GUIDES AND INFORMS OUR WORK. WE ENDEAVOR TO INSPIRE MEMBERS OF DIVERSE COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE AUTHORS WHO SPEAK ON ISSUES THAT REFLECT OUR VALUES SUCH AS JUSTICE, COMPASSION, CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, ACCEPTANCE, COURAGE, AND EQUITY.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$918,541
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
86.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 37%
Employees
8
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$131,005, executive director

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

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 86.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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

    13 of 13 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 May 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 (1)
  1. $680,265 spent. PA&L SERVES OUR MISSION THROUGH FIVE SIGNATURE PROGRAMS. LECTURES TAKE PLACE IN THE HISTORIC CARNEGIE MUSIC HALL, CARNEGIE LIBRARY LECTURE HALL, AND THE POETRY ROOM IN THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY MAIN.TEN EVENINGS IS OUR MAINSTAGE SERIES PRESENTING AUTHORS WITH LITERARY ACCLAIM GENEROUSLY SHARING THEIR RESEARCH AND CREATIVE PROCESS IN CONVERSATIONAL LECTURES. WORDS & PICTURES PRESENTS CELEBRATED CHILDREN'S AND YOUNG ADULT AUTHORS TO READERS OF ALL AGES. POETS ALOUD FEATURES FREE READINGS BY NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PUBLISHED POETS. MADE LOCAL SHOWCASES TALENTED LOCAL AUTHORS AS WELL AS BOOKS AND WRITERS WITH A PITTSBURGH CONNECTION. NEW & NOTED BRINGS NATIONALLY TOURING AUTHORS TO PITTSBURGH WITH THEIR NEWLY RELEASED TITLES. PA&L PRESENTED A TOTAL OF 25 PROGRAMS LAST FISCAL YEAR. TICKETS SOLD TOTALED 14,558 AND REGISTRATION FOR FREE EVENTS TOTALED 2,345.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 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 May 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 June 1991.

    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.

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