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Artists Working in Education Inc

EIN 39-1945466 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

A.W.E.'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE YOUTH IN THE MILWAUKEE AREA WITH ARTS ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE HUMAN POTENTIAL, ADVANCE LEARNING AND CULTIVATE COMMUNITY.

Income
$461,198
Spending
$458,201
Spent on programs
58%
Reserves
7.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
28
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$83,560, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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, 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. $27,871 spent. ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST TO UNDERSTAND AND MAKE CREATIVE DECISIONS THAT ALIGN WITH BROADER COMMUNITY GOALS. AIR PROGRAMS TOOK PLACE IN SCHOOLS, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY SPACES: THEY EMPHASIZED HONORING AND LIFTING COMMUNITY VOICES AND EXPERIENCES. THEY ARE LED BY PROFESSIONAL AND EMERGING ARTISTS.
  2. $181,775 spent. OUR MOBILE TRUCK STUDIO PROGRAM OFFERS FREE, MEANINGFUL, DROP-IN ART-BASED ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES AND DEDICATED TEAMS OF TEACHING ARTISTS TO ACTIVATE PARKS, LIBRARIES, AND OTHER PUBLIC SPACES WITH ENGAGING HANDS-ON ART EXPERIENCES FOR YOUTH. OUR PROGRAM IS THE ONLY VISUAL ARTS PROGRAM FOCUSED ON INCREASING ACCESS TO ALL YOUTH ACROSS THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE.
  3. $56,409 spent. THE RISING ARTISTS COUNCIL (RAC) IS A UNIQUE PAID OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG ARTISTS AGED 13 - 18. AIMED AT FOSTERING ARTISTIC GROWTH AND PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR NETWORKING AMONG ASPIRING YOUNG ARTISTS IN THE COMMUNITY, AWE'S RAC PARTICIPANTS MEET WEEKLY TO LEARN NEW ARTISTIC TECHNIQUES, DEVELOP A PORTFOLIO OF ARTWORKS, NETWORK AND LEARN FROM WORKING MILWAUKEE ARTISTS WHILE PRODUCING A CULMINATING EXHIBITION SHOW. EACH SUMMER, AWE ALSO HOSTS SEVERAL HIGH SCHOOL INTERNS THROUGH MPS'S SUMMER ARTS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. THESE INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATE IN A COMMUNITY-BASED ART PROJECT AND WORK ALONGSIDE A DIGITAL MEDIA ARTIST TO DOCUMENT THE PROCESS AS WELL AS CREATE THEIR OWN BRAND AND DIGITAL ONLINE PRESENCE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 April 1999.

    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.