Arts in Stark
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF ARTSINSTARK IS TO USE THE ARTS TO ADVANCE COMMUNITY GOALS AROUND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM, WELL-BEING AND EDUCATION, IN ORDER TO MAKE STARK COUNTY A THRIVING AND VIBRANT REGION.
- Income
- $2.7 million
- Spending
- $3.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- -2.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 64%
- Employees
- 22
- Volunteers
- 60
- Highest pay
- $139,876, president and ceo
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
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 7% 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
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 24% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 30% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2534 of 34 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
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 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)
- $1.1 million spent. ARTSINSTARK ADMINISTERS A PROGRAM THAT ANNUALLY AWARDS OPERATING AND SPECIAL PROJECT GRANTS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, AND ARTISTS ACROSS STARK COUNTY. THE ORGANIZATION LEADS PUBLIC ART INITIATIVES AND COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS THAT ENHANCE THE CULTURAL VIBRANCY OF THE ENTIRE COUNTY. ADDITIONALLY, ARTSINSTARK OVERSEES THE SMARTS PROGRAM, WHICH INTEGRATES THE ARTS INTO EDUCATION TO SUPERCHARGE LEARNING IN COUNTY SCHOOLS.
- $1.4 million spent. ARTSINSTARK MAINTAINS THE CULTURAL CENTER FOR THE ARTS CAMPUS, AN EIGHT-ACRE HUB FOR ARTS AND CULTURE IN DOWNTOWN CANTON. THE CAMPUS INCLUDES A 330,000-SQUARE-FOOT MAIN FACILITY, AN URBAN GREENSPACE PARK, AND THE NEWLY RENOVATED EN-RICH-MENT ARTS EDUCATION CENTER. THE CULTURAL CENTER IS HOME TO FOUR RESIDENT ORGANIZATIONS-CANTON BALLET, CANTON MUSEUM OF ART, EN-RICH-MENT, AND SING STARK!-WHICH COLLECTIVELY BRING THE ARTS TO MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY.
- $371,990 spent. ARTSINSTARK'S MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS EFFORTS FOCUS ON BUILDING AWARENESS OF AND PARTICIPATION IN ARTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT STARK COUNTY. THE ORGANIZATION PRIMARILY UTILIZES DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS, PAID ADVERTISING, DIRECT OUTREACH, AND PARTNERSHIPS, INCLUDING TOOLS SUCH AS ARTPASS AND THE ARTFUL NEWSLETTER, TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT PROGRAMS, ARTISTS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND CULTURAL EVENTS TO BOTH AUDIENCES IN THE COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1968.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.