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Arts Place Inc

EIN 35-1379424 · Portland, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ARTS PLACE NURTURES THE CREATIVE SPIRIT BY MAKING ARTS EXPERIENCES, EDUCATION, AND SERVICES ACCESSIBLE TO THE REGION'S RESIDENTS, ARTISTS, AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS

Income
$533,950
Spending
$809,695
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
-3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
14
Volunteers
600
Highest pay
$70,000, executive director

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: 40 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 52% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% 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: 97 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $226,141 spent. FACILITY OPERATIONS - FACILITY MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN A MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ARTS PLACE, INC. SINCE 1983. ARTS PLACE OPERATES THREE COMMUNITY ARTS CENTERS. THE JAY COUNTY CAMPUS OF ARTS PLACE IS LOCATED IN PORTLAND INDIANA AND ALSO SERVES AS THE CORPORATE HOME FOR ARTS PLACE. THIS CAMPUS SERVES JAY AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES IN INDIANA AND OHIO. THE AUGLAIZE/MERCER CENTER OF ARTS PLACE IS LOCATED IN ST. MARYS OHIO AND SERVES AUGLAIZE, MERCER AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES. THE BLACKFORD COUNTY ARTS CENTER LOCATED IN HARTFORD CITY INDIANA SERVES BLACKFORD AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES IN INDIANA.
  2. $108,136 spent. MUSICWORKS - DRAWING THE LARGEST NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN CREATIVEWORKS IS OUR MUSIC INSTRUCTION PROGRAM. INSPIRED BY THE MUSIC SETTLEMENT MOVEMENT, ARTS PLACE BEGAN THIS MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM IN 1983. INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP INSTRUCTION IS AVAILABLE IN BRASS, GUITAR, HARP, PERCUSSION, PIANO, ORCHESTRAL STRINGS, WOODWINDS, AND VOICE. ENSEMBLES CONDUCTED INCLUDE PERCUSSION, BRASS, ORCHESTRAL STRINGS, FLUTE, AND COMMUNITY BAND AND CHOIR. INTRODUCTORY MUSIC INSTRUCTION IS AVAILABLE FOR PRESCHOOLERS THROUGH THE FIRST STEPS CLASS. THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO BE OFFERED AT THE BLACKFORD COUNTY ARTS CENTER AND THE JAY COUNTY CAMPUS OF ARTS PLACE.
  3. $54,938 spent. ARTS IN THE PARKS - THIS POPULAR PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED IN 1977 AND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE ARTS FOR CHILDREN DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. OVER 16,000 CHILDREN HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM SINCE ITS INCEPTION. THE WORKSHOPS ARE DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN AGES SIX THROUGH TWELVE AND PROVIDE INTENSIVE INTRODUCTIONS TO SPECIFIC ART-FORM MEDIUMS. WORKSHOPS ARE TYPICALLY LED BY PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AND ARTS EDUCATORS, WHO ARE REFERRED TO AS TEACHING ARTISTS. IN JUNE 2024 THE PROGRAM INCLUDED FOURTEEN COMMUNITIES IN FIVE COUNTIES IN INDIANA AND OHIO.
  4. $252,050 spent. GOVERNANCE - OVERSIGHT OF THE CORPORATION IS PROVIDED BY THE ARTS PLACE CORPORATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTED BY THE MEMBERSHIP. LOCAL LEADERSHIP FOR THE AUGLAIZE/MERCER CENTER AND THE BLACKFORD COUNTY ARTS CENTER IS PROVIDED BY THEIR INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY BOARDS APPOINTED BY THE CORPORATE BOARD. THE COMMUNITY BOARD MAKES PROGRAMMING RECOMMENDATIONS, PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO THE CENTER, AND SERVES AS LEADERSHIP IN RAISING FUNDS FOR ACTIVITIES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES.PUBLIC ART - A PROMINENT FEATURE OF THE JAY COUNTY CAMPUS IS ITS PUBLIC ART. THESE WORKS INCLUDE THE MASSIVE TILE RELIEF MURAL, LANDSCAPE'S LEGACY BY CLEVELAND ARTIST RHONDA FRANKLIN. THIS CERAMIC INSTALLATION WAS THE RESULT OF A THREE-YEAR PROJECT THAT INCLUDED OVER 40 APPRENTICES AND VOLUNTEERS. ON THE GROUNDS MAY BE FOUND THE BRONZE SCULPTURE AUTUMN BY HAROLD "TUCK" LANGLAND OF GRANGER, INDIANA. THE PERMANENT COLLECTION INCLUDES SEVERAL OTHER SCULPTURES, AS WELL AS DOZENS OF PAINTINGS AND WOODCUTS. A LARGE MURAL, DESIGNED AND PAINTED BY SARAH HESS, IS LOCATED AT 207 EAST SPRING STREET IN MEMORIAL PARK. THIS MURAL PROJECT WAS FUNDED BY THE OHIO ARTS COUNCIL AND WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN ARTS PLACE, THE CITY OF ST. MARYS, THE ST. MARYS AREA RESOURCE TEAM, THE ST. MARYS COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION, AND THE ST. MARYS COMMUNITY LIBRARY. ARTWORKS - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES INSTRUCTION IN THE VISUAL ARTS. CLASS OFFERINGS, FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS, INCLUDED DRAWING, PRINTMAKING, CERAMIC HAND BUILDING, WEAVING, JEWELRY MAKING, WATERCOLORS, ALCOHOL INKS, RESIN CASTING, TIE DYING, SCULPTURE, MASK-MAKING, NEEDLE FELTING, QUILTING, OIL PAINTING, CERAMIC TILES, CERAMIC WHEEL THROWING, AND BASKET WEAVING. INSTRUCTION WAS PROVIDED AT ALL THREE OF THE ARTS PLACE CENTERS. EXHIBITS - THIS PROGRAM IS CONDUCTED AT ALL THREE ARTS PLACE CENTERS AND OFTEN INCLUDE ARTISTS RECEPTIONS. A YEAR-ROUND SCHEDULE OF EXHIBITIONS IS PRESENTED AT ALL THREE CENTERS AND INCLUDES LOCAL/REGIONAL AND ARTISTS FROM THE MIDWEST. THE LARGEST SPACE, THE HUGH N. RONALD GALLERY AT THE JAY COUNTY CAMPUS, PROVIDES A HIGHLY FLEXIBLE EXHIBITION SPACE. SMALLER GALLERIES ARE OPERATED AT THE BLACKFORD AND AUGLAIZE/MERCER CENTERS. JURIED ART SHOWS WERE HELD AT THE BLACKFORD COUNTY ARTS CENTER AND THE AUGLAIZE/MERCER CENTER OF ARTS PLACE. PERFORMANCES - PRESENTING PERFORMING ARTISTS REMAINS A CENTRAL PART OF ARTS PLACE PROGRAMMING. PERFORMANCES ARE HOSTED IN HALL-MOSER THEATRE AT THE JAY COUNTY CAMPUS OF ARTS PLACE AND AT THE HUDSON FAMILY PARK AMPHITHEATER IN PORTLAND. PERFORMANCES IN BLACKFORD COUNTY ARE HELD AT THE BLACKFORD COUNTY ARTS CENTER OR OUTDOORS AT WEILER PARK. ARTS OUTREACH ACTIVITIES - ARTS PLACE PROVIDES THE ARTS BEYOND OUR PHYSICAL LOCATIONS WITH PROGRAMMING SUCH AS ARTS IN THE PARKS AND THE GRAND LAKE AREA LITERATURE FESTIVAL. ARTS PLACE IS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN EACH OF THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE WITH COLLABORATIONS WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS, OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, ARTISTS, SERVICE GROUPS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PRIVATE CITIZENS, ETC.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1977.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.