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Dick and Jane Project

EIN 27-4261320 · Columbus, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceWeak40 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

USING MUSIC AS THE CATALYST, THE DICK AND JANE PROJECT INSPIRES MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO WRITE.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 77%
Employees
28
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$78,286, dir of opera

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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 76% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $1.2 million spent. WE, THE CHANGE: LAUNCHED IN 2021 AS A YEAR ROUND ARTS-BASED SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROGRAM IN FOUR COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS MIDDLE SCHOOLS. UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS, PRODUCERS, VIDEOGRAPHERS AND VISUAL ARTISTS, WE MET WITH SMALL GROUPS OF 15 STUDENTS AT EACH SCHOOL, FOR ONE CLASS PERIOD FIVE DAYS A WEEK. TOGETHER THEY CREATED ART ACROSS MULTIPLE GENRES AND MEDIUMS, INCLUDING A PROFESSIONALLY RECORDED SONG, A MUSIC VIDEO, VISUAL ARTWORK, CREATIVE WRITING PIECES, AND SELF ESTEEM FOCUSED VOCAL AND STAGE PERFORMANCE INSTRUCTION. THESE ART PROJECTS EXAMINED NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY IDENTIFIED BY STUDENTS, WHO WERE THEN ASKED TO DEVELOP A CONCRETE ACTION PLAN TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY. FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE PROJECT, THROUGH A STUDENT-LED AND STUDENT-DEFINED SERVICE PROJECT, PARTICIPANTS DREW CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THEIR OWN LIVED EXPERIENCES AND ISSUES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY. OTHER YOUTH/ ADULT PROGRAMMING: OUR YOUTH/ADULT WORKSHOPS INCORPORATE ARTS-BASED SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROCESSES TO GUIDE A SMALL GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THROUGH A CREATIVE PROCESS WITH SUPPORT FROM PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AND WAV STAFF TRAINED IN TRAUMA-INFORMED SUPPORT. THE CREATIVE PROCESSES RANGE FROM SONGWRITING TO VISUAL ARTS, TO CREATIVE WRITING, TO ORAL HISTORIES, TO VOCAL/ DANCE PERFORMANCE. IN 2023 WE WORKED WITH ADULT GROUPS AT THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS: GOODWILL, CATCH COURT, OHIO REFORMATORY FOR WOMEN, OHIO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NETWORK, PATHWAYS TO HEARTLAND, CORNERSTONE OF HOPE, COLUMBUS RECREATION AND PARKS DEPARTMENT, KALEIDOSCOPE AND COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS. WE, THE CHANGE: LAUNCHED IN 2021 AS A YEAR ROUND ARTS-BASED SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROGRAM IN FOUR COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS MIDDLE SCHOOLS. UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS, PRODUCERS, VIDEOGRAPHERS AND VISUAL ARTISTS, WE MET WITH SMALL GROUPS OF 15 STUDENTS AT EACH SCHOOL, FOR ONE CLASS PERIOD FIVE DAYS A WEEK. TOGETHER THEY CREATED ART ACROSS MULTIPLE GENRES AND MEDIUMS, INCLUDING A PROFESSIONALLY RECORDED SONG, A MUSIC VIDEO, VISUAL ARTWORK, CREATIVE WRITING PIECES, AND SELF ESTEEM FOCUSED VOCAL AND STAGE PERFORMANCE INSTRUCTION. THESE ART PROJECTS EXAMINED NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY IDENTIFIED BY STUDENTS, WHO WERE THEN ASKED TO DEVELOP A CONCRETE ACTION PLAN TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY. FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE PROJECT, THROUGH A STUDENT-LED AND STUDENT-DEFINED SERVICE PROJECT, PARTICIPANTS DREW CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THEIR OWN LIVED EXPERIENCES AND ISSUES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY. OTHER YOUTH/ ADULT PROGRAMMING: OUR YOUTH/ADULT WORKSHOPS INCORPORATE ARTS-BASED SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROCESSES TO GUIDE A SMALL GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THROUGH A CREATIVE PROCESS WITH SUPPORT FROM PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AND WAV STAFF TRAINED IN TRAUMA-INFORMED SUPPORT. THE CREATIVE PROCESSES RANGE FROM SONGWRITING TO VISUAL ARTS, TO CREATIVE WRITING, TO ORAL HISTORIES, TO VOCAL/ DANCE PERFORMANCE. IN 2023 WE WORKED WITH ADULT GROUPS AT THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS: GOODWILL, CATCH COURT, OHIO REFORMATORY FOR WOMEN, OHIO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NETWORK, PATHWAYS TO HEARTLAND, CORNERSTONE OF HOPE, COLUMBUS RECREATION AND PARKS DEPARTMENT, KALEIDOSCOPE AND COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 August 2011.

    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.