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Open Hearts Art Center

EIN 27-0087282 · Asheville, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OPEN HEARTS ART CENTER IS SUPPORTIVE STUDIO AND ART GALLERY DEDICATED TO REPRESENTING AND EMPOWERING ADULTS WITH VARIED ABILITIES TO CONNECT TO AND REACH THEIR POTENTIAL THROUGH THE ARTS

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 81%
Employees
36
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$88,735, director

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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 6 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (3)
  1. $1.0 million spent. PROVIDED A HABILITATIVE DAY PROGRAM ENVIRONMENT IN PERSON AND VIA TELEHEALTH FOR APPROXIMATELY 51 INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO WORK ON SET GOALS FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF INDEPENDENCE. THESE SET GOALS INCLUDED BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THEIR SOCIAL, PHYSICAL, AND INTRAPERSONAL WELL BEING. IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, VISUAL, PERFORMANCE, MULTI-DIMENSIONAL, AND LINGUISTICAL ARTS CLASSES ARE HELD 5 DAYS A WEEK, 6 HOURS A DAY, APPROXIMATELY 248 DAYS OF THE YEAR. OPEN HEARTS IS THE ONLY PROGRAM IN THE COMMUNITY THAT PROVIDES COLLEGE LEVEL ARTS CLASSES AT A PACE DESIGNED FOR THIS POPULATION.
  2. $11,003 spent. THE BOUNDLESS ART PROJECT IS AN INITIATIVE PROJECT IS AN INITIATIVE PROJECT OF OPEN HEARTS TO INTEGRATE OUR CLIENTS DEEPER WITH ITS LOCAL ARTS COMMUNITY. THIS PROJECT MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR CLIENT ARTISTS TO TAKE ART RELATED, EDUCATIONAL, AND LOCAL TRIPS. THIS IS ALSO THE TIME WHERE CLIENT ARTISTS HELPED TO MAINTAIN THEIR BOOTHS AT VARIOUS VENDING LOCATIONS, MAKE CONTACTS IN THEIR ART COMMUNITIES AND PRACTICE THE NECESSARY SOCIAL AND BUSINESS SKILLS NEEDED TO TURN THEIR ART INTO A MEANINGFUL LIVING.
  3. PROVIDED THE SUPPLIES, GUIDANCE, AND MARKETING OF ARTS AND HELD LIVE EVENTS AND 12 OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO SELL THEIR WORK TO THE PUBLIC. OPEN HEARTS ART CENTER ARTISTS SOLD $79,442 IN ARTWORK.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.