Cuyahoga Valley Art Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CUYAHOGA VALLEY ART CENTER FOSTERS AN APPRECIATION OF VISUAL ART THROUGH EDUCATION, EXHIBITION, AND COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES. GUIDED BY A VISION OF A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO VISUAL ART, CVAC PROVIDES DIVERSE AND AFFORDABLE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR ARTISTS AT ALL SKILL LEVELS, FROM BEGINNERS TO PROFESSIONALS. THE ORGANIZATION IS COMMITTED TO CREATING ACCESSIBLE PATHWAYS TO ENGAGE WITH VISUAL ART, OFFERING HIGH-QUALITY CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, AND EXHIBITIONS THAT WELCOME MORE THAN 14,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY. IN ADDITION, CVAC SUPPORTS THE LEARNING COMMUNITY OF PRACTICING ARTISTS BY CULTIVATING NETWORKING, CRITIQUE, AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES, ENSURING THAT ARTISTS HAVE THE TOOLS AND CONNECTIONS THEY NEED TO THRIVE. THROUGH THESE COMMITMENTS, CVAC SERVES AS A VITAL CULTURAL HUB WHERE CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND COMMUNITY INTERSECT.
- Income
- $299,875
- Spending
- $299,761
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 1.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 68%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 14
- Highest pay
- $77,895, executive di
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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 41% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 50 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: 61 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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 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)
- $167,754 spent. VISUAL ART CLASSES & WORKSHOPS: CVAC'S EDUCATION PROGRAMMING IS THE HEART OF ITS MISSION, OFFERING QUARTERLY CLASS SESSIONS THAT AVERAGE 8-10 WEEKS IN LENGTH AND PROVIDE 14 PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE IN THEIR FIELD. THESE CLASSES NURTURE A DYNAMIC LEARNING COMMUNITY WITHIN SUMMIT COUNTY, SERVING OVER 1,300 STUDENTS IN 150+ CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS DURING 2024 ALONE. IN ADDITION TO WEEKLY CLASSES, CVAC HOSTS ONE- AND TWO-DAY WEEKEND WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE UNABLE TO ATTEND REGULAR SESSIONS. THESE WORKSHOPS NOT ONLY EXPAND ACCESS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS BUT ALSO ALLOW CVAC TO WELCOME GUEST ARTISTS FROM OUTSIDE ITS FACULTY, ENRICHING THE CURRICULUM WITH FRESH PERSPECTIVES AND SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE. TOGETHER, THESE OFFERINGS CREATE A VIBRANT, ACCESSIBLE, AND HIGH-QUALITY ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT FOSTERS BOTH ARTISTIC GROWTH AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION. VISUAL ART CLASSES & WORKSHOPS: CVAC'S EDUCATION PROGRAMMING IS THE HEART OF ITS MISSION, OFFERING QUARTERLY CLASS SESSIONS THAT AVERAGE 8-10 WEEKS IN LENGTH AND PROVIDE 14 PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE IN THEIR FIELD. THESE CLASSES NURTURE A DYNAMIC LEARNING COMMUNITY WITHIN SUMMIT COUNTY, SERVING OVER 1,300 STUDENTS IN 150+ CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS DURING 2024 ALONE. IN ADDITION TO WEEKLY CLASSES, CVAC HOSTS ONE- AND TWO-DAY WEEKEND WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE UNABLE TO ATTEND REGULAR SESSIONS. THESE WORKSHOPS NOT ONLY EXPAND ACCESS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS BUT ALSO ALLOW CVAC TO WELCOME GUEST ARTISTS FROM OUTSIDE ITS FACULTY, ENRICHING THE CURRICULUM WITH FRESH PERSPECTIVES AND SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE. TOGETHER, THESE OFFERINGS CREATE A VIBRANT, ACCESSIBLE, AND HIGH-QUALITY ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT FOSTERS BOTH ARTISTIC GROWTH AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION.
- $43,014 spent. EXHIBITIONS: EXHIBITIONS AT CVAC HIGHLIGHT THE RANGE AND EXCELLENCE OF OUR LOCAL VISUAL ARTIST COMMUNITY, PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS AND FREE CULTURAL ACCESS FOR THE PUBLIC. IN 2024, CVAC PRESENTED SEVEN EXHIBITIONS THAT RECEIVED SUBMISSIONS FROM 71 CITIES, 14 COUNTIES, AND 8 STATES, RESULTING IN 741 WORKS DISPLAYED BY 429 ARTISTS. THESE EXHIBITIONS WELCOMED MORE THAN 14,000 VISITORS TO THE GALLERY, WHICH REMAINS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DURING REGULAR HOURS. BY PRESENTING HIGH-QUALITY, JURIED, AND THEMED EXHIBITIONS, CVAC ELEVATES REGIONAL ARTISTS, BUILDS CROSS-COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, AND ENSURES THAT THE VISUAL ARTS REMAIN ACCESSIBLE AND CELEBRATED THROUGHOUT SUMMIT COUNTY AND BEYOND.
- $4,301 spent. MEMBERSHIP: CVAC MEMBERSHIPS ARE EMBRACED BY PRACTICING ARTISTS, COMMUNITY PATRONS, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES, EACH DEMONSTRATING THEIR DEDICATION TO SUPPORTING THE VISUAL ARTS IN SUMMIT COUNTY. MEMBERS RECEIVE EARLY REGISTRATION AND DISCOUNTED RATES FOR CLASSES, REDUCED EXHIBITION ENTRY FEES, EXCLUSIVE CRITIQUE NIGHTS, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES. ADDITIONAL BENEFITS INCLUDE DISCOUNTS AT A LOCAL FRAME SHOP AND A COMPLIMENTARY MEMBERSHIP TO THE AKRON ART MUSEUM. IN 2024, CVAC CELEBRATED A RECORD 529 MEMBERS-A MILESTONE THAT HIGHLIGHTS BOTH THE ORGANIZATION'S IMPACT AND THE COMMUNITY'S COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINING A VIBRANT ARTIST NETWORK.
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 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 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 February 1956.
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.
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