Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE RENAISSANCE SOCIETY IS AT ITS CORE A SPACE OF POSSIBILITY. FOR ARTISTS, WE OFFER AN UNFETTERED PLATFORM FOR BOLD EXPERIMENTATION. OUR WORK WITH ARTISTS FREQUENTLY RESULTS IN NEWLY COMMISSIONED ART, AND THESE PRESENTATIONS IN OUR GALLERY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SPUR FURTHER SCHOLARLY AND CREATIVE REFLECTIONS IN OUR PUBLICATIONS AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS. FOR VISITORS, WE OFFER INTIMATE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE DEEPLY WITH ART AND ARTISTS WHO PROVIDE CRITICAL RESPONSES TO OUR PRESENT MOMENT. ALL EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS ARE FREE TO ATTEND.
- Income
- $2.1 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 55 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 86%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 24
- Highest pay
- $246,331, 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 55.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 93% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 24 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 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)
- $963,490 spent. EXHIBITIONS AND NEW WORK PRODUCTIONS INVITES ARTISTS TO CREATE ART FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO BE DISPLAYED IN THE GALLERY. EXHIBITIONS CAN BE EITHER AN INDIVIDUAL ARTIST OR A GROUP OF ARTISTS. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY FOUR EXHIBITIONS PER YEAR IN ADDITION TO TWO NEWLY COMMISSIONED PERFORMANCE PROGRAMS. THE FISCAL 2025 EXHIBITIONS WERE EXHIBITONS BY NEIL BELOUFA, ISABEL FRANCES MCGUIRE, WAKALIGA UGANDA, AND XIMENA GARRIDO-LECCA WITH COMMISSIONED INTERMISSIONS PERFORMANCES BY DOROTA GAWEDA AND EGLE KULBOKAITE, AND JACQUELINE KIYOMI GORK.
- $266,051 spent. PUBLICATIONS AND EDITIONS. PUBLICATIONS ARE BOOKS CREATED TO SUPPORT THE ARTISTS EXHIBITING. IN FISCAL 2025 THE RENAISSANCE SOCIETY PRODUCED A BOOK BY ARIA DEAN WITH THREE OTHERS IN PRODUCTION. THE RENAISSANCE ALSO PRODUCES AND DISTRIBUTES EDITIONS BY CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS, AND HAS SOLD WORKS OF ART. IN FY25 THE RENAISSANCE SOCIETY PRODUCED EDITIONS BY NEIL BELOUFA.
- $156,565 spent. EDUCATIONAL EVENTS ARE INTENDED TO EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC. 30 EVENTS WERE HELD IN FISCAL 2025 THAT INCLUDED 7 ARTIST TALKS AND LECTURES, 3 PANEL DISCUSSIONS, 2 SCREENINGS, 1 BOOK LAUNCH, 5 CONCERTS, 4 PERFORMANCES, 3 EXHIBITION WALK-THROUGHS, 1 STUDENT OPEN HOUSE, AND 4 OPENING RECEPTIONS.
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
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 June 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 May 1953.
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.