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Assembly for the Arts

EIN 34-1936190 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CONVENE, COORDINATE, AND COLLABORATE WITH EVERYONE WHO LIVES AND WORKS IN GREATER CLEVELAND TO STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT THOSE IN THE REGION WHO CREATE, PRESENT, EXPERIENCE AND APPRECIATE ALL FORMS OF ARTS AND CULTURE.

Income
$5.2 million
Spending
$4.8 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 67%
Employees
10
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$229,904, president an

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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 357% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $4.5 million spent. LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS (FY 2024-2025) PUBLIC SUPPORT & ADVOCACY: SUCCESSFULLY SPEARHEADED RESEARCH FOR PUBLIC FUNDING OF ARTS AND CULTURE, LEADING TO A SUCCESSFUL LEVY THAT WILL GENERATE AN ESTIMATED 130 MILLION FOR SOME 300 REGIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS. THE MEASURE PASSED WITH 71.2% VOTER APPROVAL. ARTIST SUPPORT & GRANTMAKING: - CREATIVE IMPACT FUND (CIF): EXPANDED THE PROGRAM TO SUPPORT 29 INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS (UP FROM 16 IN 2024) WITH UNRESTRICTED GRANTS TOTALING 215,000 FOR COMMUNITY-BASED CIVIC PROJECTS. - BOOST FUND: LAUNCHED AND MANAGED A FLEXIBLE FUNDING STREAM THAT PROVIDED ACCESSIBLE, SMALL-SCALE GRANTS TO 147 LOCAL ARTISTS. TRANSFORMATIVE ARTS FUND (TAF) MANAGEMENT: SERVED AS THE ADMINISTRATOR FOR A 3 MILLION ARPA INVESTMENT FROM THE CITY OF CLEVELAND. THIS SUPPORTED 7 LARGE-SCALE PUBLIC ART PROJECTS, RESULTING IN PAYMENTS TO 400 ARTISTS AND CONTRACTS WITH 300 LOCAL BUSINESSES. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: PROVIDED STRATEGIC ADVICE AND BUSINESS COACHING TO OVER 1,300 UNIQUE USERS VIA ONLINE AND IN-PERSON CONSULTANCIES. PARTNERED WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE COSE TO FOSTER "ART AT WORK" NETWORKING, CONNECTING CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS WITH THE BROADER BUSINESS COMMUNITY. FISCAL SPONSORSHIP: ACTED AS THE FIDUCIARY AND STRATEGIC PARTNER FOR 14 GRASSROOTS PROJECTS, FACILITATING ACCESS TO OVER 240,000 IN FUNDING FOR MISSION-DRIVEN INITIATIVES INCLUDING YOUTH WORKSHOPS AND COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS. REGIONAL HUB DEVELOPMENT: COMPLETED THE STRATEGIC RELOCATION TO THE MIDTOWN COLLABORATION CENTER IN JANUARY 2025, ESTABLISHING A PHYSICAL "ARTS HUB- AND CO-LOCATING WITH THE CLEVELAND ARTS PRIZE AND THE ARTS EDUCATION CONSORTIUM TO DRIVE SECTOR-WIDE SYNERGY. REGARDING THE VOLUNTEER COUNT, I AM WORKING WITH DEIDRE TO CONFIRM THE FINAL NUMBER FOR THIS PERIOD GIVEN THE INCREASED ENGAGEMENT FROM THE LEVY CAMPAIGN AND TAF PANELS. LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS (FY 2024-2025) PUBLIC SUPPORT & ADVOCACY: SUCCESSFULLY SPEARHEADED RESEARCH FOR PUBLIC FUNDING OF ARTS AND CULTURE, LEADING TO A SUCCESSFUL LEVY THAT WILL GENERATE AN ESTIMATED 130 MILLION FOR SOME 300 REGIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS. THE MEASURE PASSED WITH 71.2% VOTER APPROVAL. ARTIST SUPPORT & GRANTMAKING: - CREATIVE IMPACT FUND (CIF): EXPANDED THE PROGRAM TO SUPPORT 29 INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS (UP FROM 16 IN 2024) WITH UNRESTRICTED GRANTS TOTALING 215,000 FOR COMMUNITY-BASED CIVIC PROJECTS. - BOOST FUND: LAUNCHED AND MANAGED A FLEXIBLE FUNDING STREAM THAT PROVIDED ACCESSIBLE, SMALL-SCALE GRANTS TO 147 LOCAL ARTISTS. TRANSFORMATIVE ARTS FUND (TAF) MANAGEMENT: SERVED AS THE ADMINISTRATOR FOR A 3 MILLION ARPA INVESTMENT FROM THE CITY OF CLEVELAND. THIS SUPPORTED 7 LARGE-SCALE PUBLIC ART PROJECTS, RESULTING IN PAYMENTS TO 400 ARTISTS AND CONTRACTS WITH 300 LOCAL BUSINESSES. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: PROVIDED STRATEGIC ADVICE AND BUSINESS COACHING TO OVER 1,300 UNIQUE USERS VIA ONLINE AND IN-PERSON CONSULTANCIES. PARTNERED WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE COSE TO FOSTER "ART AT WORK" NETWORKING, CONNECTING CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS WITH THE BROADER BUSINESS COMMUNITY. FISCAL SPONSORSHIP: ACTED AS THE FIDUCIARY AND STRATEGIC PARTNER FOR 14 GRASSROOTS PROJECTS, FACILITATING ACCESS TO OVER 240,000 IN FUNDING FOR MISSION-DRIVEN INITIATIVES INCLUDING YOUTH WORKSHOPS AND COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS. REGIONAL HUB DEVELOPMENT: COMPLETED THE STRATEGIC RELOCATION TO THE MIDTOWN COLLABORATION CENTER IN JANUARY 2025, ESTABLISHING A PHYSICAL "ARTS HUB- AND CO-LOCATING WITH THE CLEVELAND ARTS PRIZE AND THE ARTS EDUCATION CONSORTIUM TO DRIVE SECTOR-WIDE SYNERGY. REGARDING THE VOLUNTEER COUNT, I AM WORKING WITH DEIDRE TO CONFIRM THE FINAL NUMBER FOR THIS PERIOD GIVEN THE INCREASED ENGAGEMENT FROM THE LEVY CAMPAIGN AND TAF PANELS.

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 April 2001.

    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.