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Indianapolis Art Center Inc

EIN 35-1088735 · Indianapolis, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE INDY ART CENTER'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE ART EXPERIENCES THAT INSPIRE CREATIVITY, EDUCATE, ENGAGE, AND ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$6.2 million
Spending
$5.1 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
9.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
298
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$183,648, president and exec. direct

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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 21 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 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 (4)
  1. $1.9 million spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND ART CLASSES: THE ART CENTER PROMOTES LIFE-LONG LEARNING THROUGH HANDS-ON ART CLASSES, WORKSHOPS AND ART ACTIVITIES. PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO SERVE A WIDE VARIETY OF AUDIENCES AND SKILL LEVELS, RANGING FROM BEGINNING TO ADVANCED STUDENTS, AGES TWO AND UP. EACH YEAR, THE ART CENTER OFFERS MORE THAN 1900 STUDIO AND ONLINE ART CLASSES AND PROGRAMS IN A VARIETY OF MEDIUMS INCLUDING DRAWING, PAINTING, CERAMICS, METALSMITHING, GLASS BLOWING, WOODWORKING, PRINTMAKING, DIGITAL ARTS, PHOTOGRAPHY, SCULPTURE, AND TEXTILES AS WELL AS VISITING ARTIST LECTURES, DEMOS AND WORKSHOPS. TO MEET THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE ART CENTER OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF HANDS-ON ART EXPERIENCES INCLUDING TWO-HOUR SAMPLE CLASSES ("MAKE IT TAKE ITS"), ONE AND TWO-DAY WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES RANGING FROM FOUR TO FIFTEEN WEEKS IN LENGTH. ANNUALLY, THESE PROGRAMS SERVE APPROXIMATELY 9,000 PEOPLE. CLASSES ARE FEE-BASED; HOWEVER, TUITION ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO LOW TO MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND VETERANS. CLASSES ARE SELECTED BY THE ART CENTER'S EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND 100-MEMBER FACULTY BASED ON CURRENT TRENDS IN ARTS EDUCATION AND FEEDBACK FROM STUDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE ART CENTER OFFERS EDUCATION CREDITS AT LOCAL UNIVERSITIES AND PROVIDES PROGRAMMING AT SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $145,958 spent. EXHIBITIONS: THE ART CENTER'S EXHIBITION PROGRAM PRESENTS UP TO 20 MAJOR ANNUAL CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITIONS IN SEVEN GALLERY SPACES. THESE 6-8 WEEKLONG EXHIBITIONS INCLUDE TWO ANNUAL EXHIBITIONS, A STUDENT SHOW AND A FACULTY SHOW, AS WELL AS CURATED AND JURIED EXHIBITIONS FOCUSING ON THE STATE OF CONTEMPORARY ART LOCALLY, REGIONALLY, AND NATIONALLY. THE ART CENTER HAS DEVELOPED A REPUTATION AS A STRONG CONTEMPORARY GALLERY AND STRIVES TO BRING COMPELLING WORK TO THE INDIANAPOLIS COMMUNITY THAT ENGAGES AND CHALLENGES THE MIND AND SPIRIT. IN ADDITION TO THE MAJOR EXHIBITIONS, THE ART CENTER MANAGES AUXILIARY STUDENT, OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY GALLERIES AS WELL AS A 9.5-ACRE SCULPTURE GARDEN ("ARTSPARK"). SEEKING TO ENGAGE MORE OF THE COMMUNITY, THE ART CENTER ACTIVELY PURSUES COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO INCREASE REACH, VISIBILITY, AND SCOPE.
  3. $401,386 spent. COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS: THE BROAD RIPPLE ART FAIR (BRAF): ESTABLISHED IN 1971, BRAF IS THE ART CENTER'S LARGEST 2-DAY PROGRAM AND KICKOFF TO INDIANAPOLIS' SUMMER FESTIVAL SEASON. AS INDIANA'S TOP NATIONALLY RANKED FAIR, BRAF ATTRACTS OVER 10,000 VISITORS, SHOWCASING 175+ PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AND 30 EMERGING ARTISTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BRAF FEATURES FREE CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES, AN OPEN HOUSE AT THE ART CENTER, MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT CURATED BY INDY JAZZ FEST, FOOD COURTS, AND CRAFT-BREWED BEER AND WINE. BRAF TAKES PLACE THE THIRD WEEKEND IN MAY ON THE GROUNDS OF THE ART CENTER. ALL PROCEEDS FROM BRAF DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE ART CENTER'S CORE PROGRAMS: EDUCATION, EXHIBITIONS, AND OUTREACH.
  4. $1.2 million spent. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS: THESE PROGRAMS SERVE AS A CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS TO SHARE THEIR IDEAS, EXPLORE THEIR CURIOSITY, GROW THEIR CONFIDENCE, DEVELOP CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS, AND CELEBRATE THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. SPECIFIC PROGRAMS INCLUDE ARTREACH, SENIOR ARTREACH, ADULT ARTREACH, ART TROOP, VETERANS ART DAY, ART BUS, AND MORE.

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

  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 October 13, 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 August 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 November 1961.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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