Arts Orange County
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ARTS ORANGE COUNTY IS THE LEADER IN BUILDING APPRECIATION OF, PARTICIPATION IN, AND SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS AND ARTS EDUCATION IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, SERVING AS THE OFFICIALLY-DESIGNATED LOCAL ARTS AGENCY OF THE COUNTY OF ORANGE AND STATE-LOCAL PARTNER OF THE CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL, A STATE AGENCY.
- Income
- $668,000
- Spending
- $782,025
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 10.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 61%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $190,000, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 31% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2529 of 29 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
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 June 30, 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)
- $340,433 spent. ARTS COMMUNITY BUILDING AND ARTS LEADERSHIP - BUILDING APPRECIATION OF, PARTICIPATION IN AND SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS AND ARTS EDUCATION THROUGHOUT ORANGE COUNTY, CA. DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, ARTS ORANGE COUNTY CONVERTED ITS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GATHERINGS TO VIRTUAL PLATFORMS, CONDUCTING MORE THAN 100 ONLINE MEETINGS OF 12 DIFFERENT COHORTS OF ARTISTS AND ARTS LEADERS. POST PANDEMIC, ARTS ORANGE COUNTY HAS CONTINUED CONVENING THESE COHORTS BOTH VIRTUALLY AND IN-PERSON. PROVIDING EXPERTISE IN CULTURAL PLANNING AND PUBLIC ART PROJECT MANAGEMENT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING COUNTY OF ORANGE, CITIES OF COSTA MESA, FULLERTON, IRVINE, NEWPORT BEACH, BREA AND PLACENTIA.
- $181,467 spent. PRODUCTIONS AND EXHIBITIONS, INCLUDING (1) IMAGINATION CELEBRATION, AMONTH-LONG FESTIVAL OF ARTS FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, INCLUDING DIADEL NINO, A FESTIVAL OF ARTS FOR UNDERSERVED FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, (2) VOICES: VETERANS STORYTELLING PROJECT, WHICH ENGAGES MILITARY VETERANS IN CREATIVE WRITING PROJECTS THAT RECOUNT THEIR STORIES OF LIFE BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER MILITARY SERVICE, (3) POETRY OUT LOUD, COUNTYWIDE STUDENT POETRY RECITAL COMPETITION, (4) CREATIVE WRITING CLASSES FOR TRANSITIONAL AGE YOUTH IN ORANGE COUNTY JAIL, AND (5) CREATIVE EDGE LECTURE FEATURING BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT FOUNDER MIKE MORHAIME.
- $80,126 spent. SPARK OC PROGRAMS INCLUDE REGULARLY SCHEDULED NEWSLETTERS, E-MAIL PROMOTIONS AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS. SPARK OC ALSO FEATURES A COMPREHENSIVE COUNTYWIDE INVENTORY OF MORE THAN 1,000 WORKS OF ART IN PUBLIC PLACES, WITH INFORMATION AND LOCATOR MAPS. THE INVENTORY IS UPDATED MONTHLY TO REFLECT ADDITIONS AND WORKS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN REMOVED.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 June 2025.
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 August 1995.
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 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.