Beck Center for the Arts
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO INSPIRE, ENRICH, AND TRANSFORM LIVES THROUGH DYNAMIC ARTS EXPERIENCES. BECK CENTER FOR THE ARTS IS A NON-PROFIT, PERFORMING ARTS AND ARTS EDUCATION ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO INSPIRING AND ENRICHING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR NORTHEASTERN OHIOANS. WE COMBINE PROFESSIONAL THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS WITH COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM-BASED ARTS EDUCATION IN CREATIVE ARTS THERAPIES, DANCE, MUSIC, THEATER, AND VISUAL ARTS, SERVING OVER 150,000 ANNUALLY IN CUYAHOGA, LORAIN, LAKE, MEDINA, AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
- Income
- $4.1 million
- Spending
- $4.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- -7.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 55%
- Employees
- 139
- Volunteers
- 453
- Highest pay
- $131,076, president & ceo (retired april 2025)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
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
0 of 10Did not give 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 August 31, 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)
- $1.9 million spent. BECK CENTER PROVIDES ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS WEEKLY TO OVER 4,000 INDIVIDUALS FROM A FIVE-COUNTY AREA ON OUR CAMPUS AND AT COMMUNITY LOCATIONS. WE OFFER OVER 300 CLASSES, LESSONS, AND PROGRAMS IN DANCE, MUSIC, THEATER, VISUAL ARTS, AND CREATIVE ARTS THERAPIES. OUR THEATER AND DANCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS STAGE SEVEN PRODUCTIONS EACH YEAR ATTENDED BY OVER 10,000 PARENTS, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS. BECK CENTER IS COMMITTED TO MAKING OUR ARTS PROGRAMMING ACCESSIBLE. WE OFFER MANY FREE PROGRAMS AND HAVE A ROBUST FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUALS OF ALL MEANS CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE ARTS. WE ALSO PROVIDE SENSORY-FRIENDLY PROGRAMMING AND ADAPTIVE ARTS PROGRAMMING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
- $1.7 million spent. BECK CENTER'S PROFESSIONAL THEATER STAGES THOUGHT-PROVOKING, VIBRANT, AND DIVERSE OFFERINGS IN OUR 480-SEAT SENNEY THEATER AND OUR 98-SEAT STUDIO THEATER. EACH YEAR, GREATER THAN 25,000 PATRONS ATTEND OVER 110 PERFORMANCES IN OUR TWO SPACES. FOR EACH PERFORMANCE, WE SET ASIDE A NUMBER OF $15 SMART SEATS (TM) TO MAKE SURE OUR PRODUCTIONS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE UNABLE TO ATTEND. IN FEBRUARY OF EACH YEAR, WE COLLABORATE WITH THE BALDWIN-WALLACE MUSICAL THEATER PROGRAM ON A MUSICAL IN THE SENNEY THEATER. BALDWIN-WALLACE HAS ONE OF THE TOP MUSICAL THEATER PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 October 13, 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 August 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 February 1945.
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 October 21, 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.