Luminaria
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Luminaria delivers a contemporary arts program that includes a festival of international stature; supports downtown and the urban core; and brings attention to San Antonios multi-arts culture.
- Income
- $354,340
- Spending
- $412,860
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 73%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $81,419, executive dir.
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
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 41% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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)
- $257,193 spent. LUMINARIA CONTEMPORARY ARTS FESTIVAL:Luminaria is best known for its free Contemporary Arts Festival which draws thousands of people to the downtown area each year. The festival featured over 150 individual artists featuring fine art, film, poetry, large art installations, digital art, and live music. Artists from the San Antonio area comprised the majority of Featured Artists accompanied by artists from Austin, New York, Dallas, Houston, and Detroit.
- $32,831 spent. LUMINARIA PLACEMAKINGIn January, Luminaria was selected by Bexar County to create a large-scale mural at Mission County Park to commemorate the 53 migrants that perished in the nations largest human smuggling tragedy In the Summer, Luminaria inaugurated a Pop-Up Art Gallery hosting 3 exhibitions featuring more than 20 local artists. Maestros was held in May; She Is / Ella Es was held in June; and XicaNext in August.
- $5,238 spent. LUMINARIA ARTIST FOUNDATION GRANT PROGRAMSThe Working Artist Fund continues to award up to $550 for professional development activities per artist living and working in Bexar County. Twelve out of 96 applicants were awarded for support with workshops, travel, supplies and materials, photoshoots, mentorship, website development, and marketing initiatives. To date, the Working Artist Fund has awarded $$92,835 to 187 artists.
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 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.
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 December 2008.
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 October 21, 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.