Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BY SHARING RESOURCES AND FOSTERING MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS THAT STRENGTHEN THE REGION'S CREATIVE COMMUNITY, THE GREATER PITTSBURGH ARTS COUNCIL BUILDS A MORE RESOURCED, CONNECTED, AND INFORMED ARTS SECTOR, EMPOWERING ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS (SEE SCH O) THROUGHOUT SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 3.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 51%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $135,523, ceo
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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 50% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 37% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 2515 of 15 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
10 of 10Gave 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 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 (1)
- $1.3 million spent. IN FY25, THE GREATER PITTSBURGH ARTS COUNCIL ADVANCED ITS MISSION TO SUPPORT AND UPLIFT THE REGION'S ARTS COMMUNITY THROUGH STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS IN GRANTS, ADVOCACY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND PROMOTIONAL INITIATIVES THAT STRENGTHENED THE CREATIVE SECTOR ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.GRANTMAKINGTHE ARTS COUNCIL AWARDED $779,500 IN GRANTS IN FY25, DIRECTLY BENEFITING 36 ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND 207 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. SEE SCH OTHE ARTS COUNCIL DISTRIBUTED $354,000 IN ONE-TIME GRANTS TO ARTISTS WHO EXPERIENCED INCOME LOSS DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THESE FUNDS, PROVIDED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WERE PART OF THE STATE'S PANDEMIC RELIEF EFFORTS. THROUGH THE PENNSYLVANIA COUNCIL ON THE ARTS' CREATIVE SECTOR FLEX FUND PROGRAM, THE ARTS COUNCIL DISTRIBUTED $180,000 IN GRANTS TO LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS. AN ADDITIONAL $88,000 SUPPORTED CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH THE PCA'S CREATIVE ENTREPRENEUR ACCELERATOR PROGRAM.THE ARTS COUNCIL ALSO AWARDED $7,500 IN GRANTS TO BLACK ARTISTS THROUGH THE BLACK ARTIST EMPOWERMENT GRANT AND PARTNERED WITH PROGRAM TO AID CITIZEN ENTERPRISE TO DISTRIBUTE $150,000 IN GRANTS TO ARTISTS REPRESENTING THE GLOBAL MAJORITY.ADVOCACYA STRONG COMMITMENT TO ARTS ADVOCACY DEFINED FY25 FOR THE ARTS COUNCIL. THIS YEAR, THE ARTS COUNCIL LAUNCHED AN ADVOCACY TOUR TO ENGAGE PHILANTHROPIC LEADERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THEIR HOME DISTRICTS, GUIDING THEM ON A TROLLEY TOUR OF LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO SHOWCASE TANGIBLE EXAMPLES OF PUBLIC DOLLARS AT WORK AND HOW THESE INVESTMENTS LEVERAGE PRIVATE FUNDING TO STRENGTHEN THE CREATIVE SECTOR.IN ADDITION TO THESE OUTREACH EFFORTS, THE ARTS COUNCIL HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH AND ALLEGHENY COUNTY GOVERNMENTS TO ENSURE THAT CULTURE IS CENTRAL TO THEIR COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROCESSES. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDE SUPPORTING THE COUNTY IN PURSUING A STANDALONE CULTURAL PLAN TO STRATEGICALLY GUIDE INVESTMENT AND POLICY IN THE ARTS.RECOGNIZING THE IMPACT OF NATIONAL POLICY ON THE LOCAL ARTS ECOSYSTEM, THE ARTS COUNCIL HAS ALSO TRACKED CHANGES RESULTING FROM FEDERAL PRIORITIES AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS UNDER THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, HELPING LOCAL ARTISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS NAVIGATE EVOLVING REGULATIONS AND FUNDING LANDSCAPES.ENGAGEMENTBETWEEN JULY 1, 2024, AND JUNE 30, 2025, THE ARTS COUNCIL CONDUCTED 118 ENGAGEMENTS, TOTALING 151 WORK HOURS AND REACHING 67 INDIVIDUALS AND 51 ORGANIZATIONS. THESE INTERACTIONS INCLUDED 89 ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT MEETINGS, 16 SITE VISITS, 6 EXTERNAL PRESENTATIONS, AND 7 CONVENING EVENTS, ALL DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN AND CONNECT THE REGION'S ARTS COMMUNITY.IN ADDITION, THE ARTS COUNCIL HOSTED 10 CREATIVE HIVE NETWORKING EVENTS, ATTRACTING 694 ATTENDEES WITHIN THE CREATIVE SECTOR, FOSTERING COLLABORATION AND KNOWLEDGE-SHARING ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONSTHROUGH ITS DIGITAL PLATFORMS, THE ARTS COUNCIL ACTIVELY PROMOTED THE WORK OF ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS IN FY25. DURING THIS PERIOD, THE ARTS COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTED 3,083 ARTS EVENTS ACROSS 52 WEEKLY EVENT ROUNDUP POSTS, AND 846 JOB OPPORTUNITIES WERE SHARED THROUGH 12 DEDICATED JOB ROUNDUP POSTS.THESE EFFORTS REFLECT THE ARTS COUNCIL'S ONGOING COMMITMENT TO CHAMPIONING THE ARTS AS A VITAL DRIVER OF ECONOMIC, CULTURAL, AND SOCIAL GROWTH IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, WHILE CONNECTING ARTISTS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY TO MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES.THE ARTS COUNCIL ALSO MADE INVESTMENTS IN NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO HELP EXPAND OUR REACH AND BREADTH AS AN INFORMATION HUB.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1995.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 2026.
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