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Richland Academy of the Arts

EIN 34-1681948 · Mansfield, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceFair55 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO FOSTER, THROUGH ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, THE CREATIVE POTENTIAL THAT EXISTS IN EVERYONE TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR COMMUNITY, AND THE WORLD AT LARGE.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
46
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$86,727, executive dir.

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 54% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 107% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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 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 (2)
  1. $693,909 spent. THE RICHLAND ACADEMY OF THE ARTS (RAA) EXISTS TO PROVIDE QUALITY PROGRAMMING IN ARTS EDUCATION AND OFFERS INSTRUCTION IN DANCE, MUSIC, VISUAL ARTS, THEATRE, AND MARTIAL ARTS. STUDENTS AND CUSTOMERS INCLUDE INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES, FROM INFANTS TO 60+. OUR TARGETED CLIENTELE IS SCHOOL-AGED STUDENTS, WITH UNIQUE PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR ADULTS AND SENIORS. REGISTRATION DATA INDICATES OUR CUSTOMERS RESIDE IN THIRTEEN COUNTIES WITH 89% LIVING IN RICHLAND COUNTY.THE RAA WAS FOUNDED IN 1991 AS A NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY MULTI-ARTS EDUCATION CENTER. LOCATED AT 75 NORTH WALNUT STREET IN THE DOWNTOWN CARROUSEL DISTRICT OF MANSFIELD, THE RAA HAS DEVELOPED A DIVERSE AND VALUED CURRICULUM WHERE ITS ACADEMIC CALENDAR INCLUDES YEAR-ROUND CLASSES. DURING THE 2021-2022 YEAR, 1,396 STUDENTS REGISTERED FOR AND ATTENDED A TOTAL OF 8,243 WEEKLY CLASSES AND A TOTAL OF 8,661 PEOPLE ATTENDED PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS ON AND OFF CAMPUS. THE RAA RECEIVED DONATED SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $77,965 FOR USE IN EDUCATION, PROGRAMS, AND PERFORMANCES. THIS AMOUNT IS NOT REFLECTED ON THE 990 FORM PER IRS INSTRUCTIONS.
  2. $216,667 spent. IN 2006, THE RICHLAND ACADEMY OF THE ARTS (RAA) IMPLEMENTED WHAT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN THE RAA AND THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCTION (ODE) TO BECOME A SPONSOR OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ARE INNOVATIVE FREE PUBLIC SCHOOLS DESIGNED BY EDUCATORS, PARENTS, OR CIVIC LEADERS THAT ARE OPEN BY CHOICE AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THE STATE OF OHIO FOR RESULTS. CHARTER SCHOOLS (CALLED COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN OHIO) ARE INDEPENDENT AND INNOVATIVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THAT FOSTER PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND STUDENTS. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS HAS REPORTED THAT FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, THE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL MOVEMENT HAS BEEN A LEADER IN INNOVATION AND EDUCATION REFORM. RAA HAS EARNED AN "EFFECTIVE" SPONSOR RATING EACH YEAR SINCE 2017 BASED ON A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT CONDUCTED BY THE ODE. DURING THE 2023-2024 ACADEMIC YEAR, THE RAA SPONSORED SEVEN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS INCLUDING: CASE PREPARATORY ACADEMY IN AKRON, CESAR CHAVEZ COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOLS IN COLUMBUS, COLUMBUS BILINGUAL ACADEMY NORTH, LORAIN BILINGUAL PREPARATORY ACADEMY, BRIDGES PREPARATORY ACDEMY IN TIFFIN, SPRINGFIELD SPORT ACADEMY IN SPRINGFIELD, AND NORTHSIDE PREPARATORY ACADEMY IN CINCINNATI. THE RAA IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS WITH ARTS PROGRAMMING.

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

  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 2025.

    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 September 1991.

    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.