The Art Center Highland Park
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 48% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION IS A NON-PROFIT ART ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO EDUCATION IN THE CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ARTS THROUGH CLASSES, OUTREACH PROGRAMS, GALLERY EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 48%
- Reserves
- -3.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 61%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 17
- Highest pay
- $116,525, executive director
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
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
5 of 20It owes 73% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1548% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (3)
- $395,292 spent. EDUCATION - PROVIDE OVER 400 ART INSTRUCTION PROGRAMS EVERY YEAR, LED BY A PROFESSIONAL, WORKING ARTIST. THE ORGANIZATION'S FACILITIES, SUPPLIES, AND RESOURCES ARE ON A PAR WITH ANY INSTRUCTION FACILITY ANYWHERE. STUDENTS RANGE FROM BEGINNERS TO SEASONED PROFESSIONALS ENHANCING THEIR SKILLS, FROM YOUNG CHILDREN TO SENIORS. CLASSES ARE OFFERED ON EVERY LEVEL OF NEED, INCLUDING COURSES IN OTHER LANGUAGES (CURRENTLY IN SPANISH), WITH A CONTROLLED STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO.
- $132,891 spent. EXHIBITS - THE ORGANIZATION IS HOME TO MUSEUM-QUALITY GALLERIES, AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION EXHIBITS NEW CONTEMPORARY ARTWORKS BY LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL ARTISTS. THE ORGANIZATION EXHIBITS ARTISTS RANGING FROM EMERGING TO ESTABLISHED ARTISTS, FEATURING BOTH 2D AND 3D WORKS IN VARIOUS MEDIA. THE ORGANIZATION'S GALLERIES ARE THE PREMIER LOCATION ON THE NORTH SHORE FOR A FREE, CULTURAL, VISUAL ARTS EXPERIENCE.
- $9,084 spent. ART ENRICHMENT - OFFER MEMBERS PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE MULTI-LEVEL PARTICIPATION FOR SENIORS, STUDENTS, FAMILY, AND INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS. THE AFFILIATE CIRCLE PROVIDES EXPERIENTIAL PROGRAMMING FOR A MORE ROBUST MEMBERSHIP LEVEL. WITH AFFILIATE CIRCLE, THE ORGANIZATION'S STAFF VISIT ARTISTS IN THEIR STUDIOS, GO BEHIND THE SCENES WITH LOCAL ART PROVIDERS AND ARRANGE VARIOUS SPECIAL INVITATION EVENTS. OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOCUS ON THE UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS FROM OTHER SUBURBAN AREAS THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE A SIMILAR ACCESS TO ARTS PROGRAMS.
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 October 1964.
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.