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Studios for the Performing Arts Operating Co

EIN 30-0390619 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CLARA PROVIDES ARTS EDUCATION, ACCESS, AND RESOURCES.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
37
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$85,000, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 June 30, 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 (4)
  1. $463,403 spent. CLARA PROVIDES EIGHT CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS WITH PERMANENT SPACE IN A DECOMMISSIONED SCHOOL PROPERTY. TENANTS ENJOY BELOW MARKET-RATE RENT IN EXCHANGE FOR HELPING CLARA PROVIDE FREE ARTS PROGRAMS TO DESIGNATED TITLE I SCHOOLS IN SACRAMENTO CITY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. IMPACT: ABOUT 2,500 STUDENTS SERVED THROUGH FREE PROGRAMMING IN FISCAL 2024. CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, REACHING MORE THAN 70,000 SACRAMENTO RESIDENTS, WRE ABLE TO INVEST MORE RESOURCES IN THEIR WORK RATHER THAN THEIR RENT.
  2. $737,232 spent. CLARA PROVIDES STUDENTS IN TITLE I SACRAMENTO COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH ACCESS TO CLASSES AND PERFORMANCES IN DANCE, MUSIC, AND THEATER. THIS INCLUDES 10-WEEK IN-SCHOOL ARTIST RESIDENCIES; PRE-AND POST-SHOW WORKSHOPS PAIRED WITH FREE TICKETS TO STUDENT MATINEES; LEADERSHIP AND CAREER-DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THROUGH THE ARTS; AND SUMMER CAMPS SERVING STUDENTS GRADES TK-12. CLARA ALSO OFFERS VIRTUAL TEACHING RESIDENCIES BRANDED AS "CLARA CLASSROOM", ALLOWING HE ORGANIZATION TO EXPAND ITS ARTS EDUCATION REACH BEYOND SACRAMENTO COUNTY. IN FY 2024, ABOUT 80,000 STUDENTS WERE COLLECTIVELY SERVED BY ONE OR MORE OF THESE PROGRAMS.
  3. $122,123 spent. CLARA PROVIDES REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE SPACE FOR A NUMBER OF SMALL ARTS GROUPS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WITH WEEKLY CLASSES AND REHEARSALS TAKING PLACE 6 DAYS PER WEEK. MORE THAN 30 CULTURAL GROUPS USE OUR EVENT AND CLASSROOM SPACE FOR THEIR COMMUNITY EVENTS EACH YEAR, SERVING ABOUT 5,000 SACRAMENTO RESIDENTS PER YEAR.
  4. THE ORGANIZATION HAS MADE APPLICATION WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE TO RECLASSIFY THE ORGANIZATION AS A PRIVATE FOUNDATION UNDER SECTION 509(A)(2), RATHER THAN AS A SUPPORTING FOUNDATION. THIS RETURN HAS BEEN FILED AS IF THE CHANGE IN STATUS HAS BEEN APPROVED, THOUGH THE DETERMINATION IS IN PROCESS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 March 2007.

    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.