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Hyde Park Art Center

EIN 36-2887294 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OF THE HYDE PARK ART CENTER (THE ART CENTER) IS TO STIMULATE AND SUSTAIN THE VISUAL ARTS IN CHICAGO. IT DOES SO BY CHALLENGING AND SUPPORTING ARTISTS, CONNECTING ARTISTS TO A BROADER PUBLIC, AND CREATING A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE VISUAL ARTS. THE ART CENTER'S FLAGSHIP PROGRAMS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ANYONE TO SEE, MAKE, LEARN ABOUT, AND DISCUSS ART.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
12.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 60%
Employees
33
Volunteers
37
Highest pay
$148,640, co-executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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

    23 of 23 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (5)
  1. $982,408 spent. OAKMAN CLINTON SCHOOL & STUDIOS: THE ART CENTER'S OPEN-ACCESS COMMUNITY-BASED SCHOOL - THE ONLY ART SCHOOL OF SUCH BREADTH ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY TRAINING IN THE VISUAL ARTS BY PROFESSIONAL WORKING ARTISTS WITH 2,500 ENROLLMENTS ANNUALLY. IN SPRING 2022, THE ART CENTER LAUNCHED OPEN ARTS, A CORE CURRICULUM OF CONTRIBUTE-WHAT-YOU-CAN COURSES. OPEN ARTS INCLUDES ALL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES AND TWO-THIRDS OF OTHER COURSES WITH OFFERINGS FOR EVERY AGE, SKILL LEVEL, AND MEDIA - THE FIRST ART SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY TO RUN ON THIS MODEL.PATHWAYS K-8: PARTNERING WITH A CORE GROUP OF SCHOOLS ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE, THE ART CENTER DELIVERS VISUAL-ARTS EDUCATION TO NEARLY 1,100 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS. THIS COMMITMENT TO SOUTH SIDE NEIGHBORHOODS AIMS TO TRANSFORM ARTS EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND CHANGE THE FUTURE OF CHICAGO'S ARTS LANDSCAPE.
  2. $805,264 spent. CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITIONS: PRESENTING 13 EXHIBITIONS ANNUALLY, THE ART CENTER PROVIDES EMERGING AND GROUNDBREAKING ARTISTS WITH EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALLOW THEM TO TAKE ON AMBITIOUS AND TRANSFORMATIONAL NEW PROJECTS AND GARNER GREATER RECOGNITION BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY. THE ART CENTER HAS PLAYED AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN LAUNCHING BOTH THE CAREERS OF INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND ARTIST MOVEMENTS.
  3. $726,106 spent. TEEN PROGRAMS: THE ART CENTER PROVIDES A CREATIVE SPACE AND COMMUNITY FOR 250 TEENS WITH SEVEN AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS. THROUGH A COMBINATION OF TEEN-DRIVEN INDEPENDENT AND ARTIST-LED GROUP PROJECTS, TEENS DEVELOP THEIR OWN ART PRACTICES ALONGSIDE LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT.
  4. $258,500 spent. JACKMAN GOLDWASSER RESIDENCY: THE ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAM BRINGS ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO LIVE AND WORK IN CHICAGO ALONGSIDE LOCAL RESIDENT ARTISTS. THE PROGRAM ENCOURAGES CREATIVE EXCHANGE AND CATALYZES GLOBAL NETWORKS FOR CHICAGO'S ARTISTS AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, WHILE POSITIONING CHICAGO AT THE FOREFRONT OF ARTISTIC INNOVATION AND CULTURAL LEADERSHIP.
  5. $239,531 spent. FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS: THE ART CENTER PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE ARTMAKING IN A FUN AND FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT THROUGH A VARIETY OF EVENTS THAT DEMYSTIFY CONTEMPORARY ART. THE PUBLIC GETS TO KNOW AND SUPPORT THE ARTISTS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. THROUGH EVENTS LIKE ARTIST DISCUSSIONS AND OPEN-STUDIO DAYS, VISITORS HAVE A CHANCE TO MEET ARTISTS AND BE INQUISITIVE ABOUT THEIR CREATIVE PROCESS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 May 1978.

    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.