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Franklinton Arts District

EIN 26-3218899 · Columbus, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceGood79 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 37% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

FURTHERING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARTS AND ARTISTS IN THE COMMUNITY OF FRANKLINTON THROUGH AWARENESS AND EDUCATION, AND TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP RELATED TO EXPANDING THE ACCEPTANCE, APPRECIATION, SUPPORT AND IMPACT OF THE ARTS IN FRANKLINTON.

Income
$209,429
Spending
$274,439
Spent on programs
38%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
2
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$51,942, executive di

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

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    37% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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.

  • 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, 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 (5)
  1. $46,803 spent. URBAN SCRAWL: COMMUNITY ARTS EVENT WITH FRANKLINTON AND COLUMBUS ARTISTS SHOWCASING THEIR TALENTS. LIVE ARTMAKING WITH ARTISTS CREATING WORK ON MOBILE MURALS, PLUS FEATURED ARTISTS WORKING ON PERMANENT MURALS. FIFTY PLUS ARTISTS PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENT. ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY, LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERS.
  2. $16,867 spent. ART FOR FRANKLINTON: AN EXCITING ART AUCTION FUNDRAISER FEATURING EXTRAORDINARY ARTWORK CREATED AT THE ANNUAL SCRAWL EVENT IN FRANKLINTON. THE EVENT BRINGS ART COLLECTORS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, ARTISTS, AND PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE TOGETHER TO BID ON THE JURY-SELECTED PIECES. THIS IMPORTANT EVENT HAS RAISED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR THE FRANKLINTON ARTS DISTRICT AND CONTINUES TO HAVE A REMARKABLE IMPACT ON FRANKLINTON AND COUNTLESS CREATIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY. FUNDS RAISED ARE SHARED THROUGH OUR BELLOWS AWARD PROGRAM, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, PLACEMAKING, AND DEVELOPING THE FUTURE OF ARTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS EVENT GO TOWARD FUNDING THE ARTS, ARTS EDUCATION, ARTS PROGRAMMING, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS IN FRANKLINTON.
  3. $13,931 spent. ROUNDUPS: A NEW PILOTED PROGRAM WITH LAND-GRANT BREWING THAT INVESTED ROUND UP DOLLARS FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS' TABS AND CREATED A NEW FUND FOR MUSIC AND PUBLIC ART IN FRANKLINTON.
  4. $25,214 spent. ARTSWAY: SUMMER TECH YOUTH MURAL PROGRAM IS A 10- SESSION PROGRAM WHICH PAIRS YOUNG ARTISTS WITH PROFESSIONAL MURALISTS TO LEARN THE BASICS OF CREATING A MURAL AND ENDS WITH THEM PLACING ONE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. ADDITIONALLY, THE LAST TWO SESSIONS PROVIDE AUGMENTED REALITY INSTRUCTION AND ACTIVATION. STUDENTS CREATE AN ANIMATION THAT BRINGS THE MURAL TO LIFE ON THEIR PHONES. FRANKLINTON FRIDAYS: FRANKLINTON ARTS DISTRICT'S MONTHLY ART CRAWL AND MUSIC SERIES TO EXPERIENCE WHAT THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY HAS TO OFFER. RESIDENTS AND GUESTS EXPERIENCE THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF FRANKLINTON'S GALLERIES, STUDIOS, MAKERSPACES, AND VENUES.
  5. ARTSWAY: SUMMER TECH YOUTH MURAL PROGRAM IS A 10- SESSION PROGRAM WHICH PAIRS YOUNG ARTISTS WITH PROFESSIONAL MURALISTS TO LEARN THE BASICS OF CREATING A MURAL AND ENDS WITH THEM PLACING ONE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. ADDITIONALLY, THE LAST TWO SESSIONS PROVIDE AUGMENTED REALITY INSTRUCTION AND ACTIVATION. STUDENTS CREATE AN ANIMATION THAT BRINGS THE MURAL TO LIFE ON THEIR PHONES. FRANKLINTON FRIDAYS: FRANKLINTON ARTS DISTRICT'S MONTHLY ART CRAWL AND MUSIC SERIES TO EXPERIENCE WHAT THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY HAS TO OFFER. RESIDENTS AND GUESTS EXPERIENCE THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF FRANKLINTON'S GALLERIES, STUDIOS, MAKERSPACES, AND VENUES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2011 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on February 15, 2015.

    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 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 March 2015.

    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.