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Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education

EIN 36-3969334 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CAPE WORKS TOWARD A FUTURE IN WHICH STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES ARE EMPOWERED BY THE INTEGRATION OF THE ARTS INTO THEIR LIVES, IN REALIZATION OF THEIR ACADEMIC, CREATIVE, AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 41%
Employees
7
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$110,008, 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

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 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. $1.5 million spent. CAPE WORKS WITH 40 CHICAGO AND SUBURBAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO FOSTER COLLABORATIONS AMONG PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS, CLASSROOM TEACHERS, AND ARTS TEACHERS WHO INTEGRATE THE ARTS ACROSS THE CURRICULUM. COLLABORATIONS TAKE PLACE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY OR AFTER AND OFTEN INCLUDE PROGRAMS FOR PARENTS. THE CAPE MODEL INCLUDES EMBEDDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS THAT SUPPORTS THEIR WORK IN CLASSROOMS. CAPE SERVES LOW-INCOME SCHOOLS THAT STRUGGLE TO PROVIDE A ROBUST ARTS EDUCATION FOR THEIR STUDENTS, AND FOR SCHOOLS THAT LACK ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS. CAPE'S APPROACH TO TEACHING ENHANCES LEARNING IN THE ARTS AS WELL AS IN OTHER CORE ACADEMIC AREAS SUCH AS READING, MATH, SCIENCE, AND SOCIAL STUDIES. AS WELL AS IN SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING.
  2. $77,018 spent. ALL CAPE STUDENTS, ARTISTS AND TEACHERS CREATE AND TAKE PART IN EXHIBITIONS AND PERFORMANCES HELD AT THE CAPE GALLERY, LOCATED IN THE BRIDGEPORT NEIGHBORHOOD OF CHICAGO. THE 4,000 SQUARE FOOT SPACE HOSTS 5 MAIN EXHIBITIONS PER YEAR, FEATURING WORK FROM CAPE'S IN-SCHOOL, AFTER-SCHOOL, AND PARENTARTIST PROGRAMS. STUDENTS REGULARLY VISIT THE SPACE TO PERFORM FOR EACH OTHER AND TO REFLECT ON THEIR OWN LEARNING AS AN ARTIST. CAPE HOSTS NUMEROUS EVENTS EVERY YEAR, INCLUDING TEACHER WORKSHOPS, ARTIST CONVERSATIONS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, AND OPENING EVENTS. THE CAPE GALLERY IS A COMMUNITY SPACE FOR THE EXPLORATION AND EXHIBITION OF ARTS-INTEGRATED LEARNING.
  3. $31,871 spent. CAPE IS CONTINUALLY LEARNING AND INCORPORATING NEW STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS. EACH CAPE PROGRAM INITIATIVE INCLUDES A SUBSTANTIAL RESEARCH AND EVALUATION COMPONENT DESIGNED TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF TEACHERS AND TEACHING ARTISTS. CAPE HAS BROUGHT A NEW LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING AND INNOVATION TO THE FIELD OF LEARNING THROUGH THE ARTS BY REGULARLY PUBLISHING AND SHARING ITS WORK. CAPE'S RESEARCH HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT ARTS LEARNING PROVIDES MULTIPLE BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, ARTISTS, PARENTS, AND SCHOOLS.

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 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 June 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 December 1994.

    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.

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.