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Austin Area Commission for the Arts Inc

EIN 41-1650727 · Austin, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AUSTIN AREA ARTS APPLAUDS AND ADVANCES ALL ARTS BY WELCOMING DIVERSE, CREATIVE INDIVIDUALS TO SHARE THEIR UNIQUE TALENTS TO INSPIRE OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$655,332
Spending
$296,912
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
-1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
10
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$67,960, interim 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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 55% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $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

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $93,465 spent. ARTWORKS CENTER - PROVIDE A VENUE FOR ARTISTS TO CREATE, DISPLAY AND SELL THEIR ART. PROVIDE ART EDUCATION FOR ALL AGES. PROVIDE AN INTIMATE LIVE MUSIC VENUE. 106 RETAIL ARTISTS GENERATED $43,000+ GROSS RETAIL SALES. HOSTED 2 LIVE MUSIC, 5 GALLERY EXHIBITS, 8 OPEN MUSIC JAMS, 22 ADULT ART CLASSES, 48 KIDS ART CLASSES, 21 PRIVATE YOUTH LESSONS, 4 PRIVATE ADULT CLASSES = 95 TOTAL EVENTS. SERVED 814 CHILDREN / 1185 ADULTS = 1,999 TOTAL PLUS 201 ARTISTS.
  2. $70,272 spent. PARAMOUNT THEATRE - MAINTAIN THE HISTORIC 1929 PARAMOUNT THEATRE. PRESENT HIGH QUALITY LIVE MUSIC AND OTHER PERFORMING ARTS TO THE PUBLIC AT REASONABLE PRICES. OFFER LOW COST RENTAL VENUE TO THE AREA'S ARTS COMMUNITY. 2024 EVENTS: 4 DANCE PERFORMANCE, 3 TOURS, 11 PRIVATE MOVIES, 10 LIVE MUSIC SHOWS, 20 PUBLIC MOVIES, 1 CHILDREN'S PLAY = 49 TOTAL. SERVED 1,665 CHILDREN / 4,419 ADULTS = 6,064 TOTAL PLUS 357 ARTISTS.
  3. $34,148 spent. ARTWORKS FESTIVAL - CELEBRATE VISUAL, PERFORMING AND LITERARY ARTISTS WITH A FREE TWO-DAY EVENT IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN AUSTIN. EVENT CONTRIBUTES TO COMMUNITY QUALITY OF LIFE AND GENERATES ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR LOCAL LODGING, RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL. 6,600 VISITORS ENJOYED 63 JURIED FINE ART EXHIBITORS, 8 EMERGING ART EXHIBITORS, 12 HANDS-ON ART EXPERIENCES, 11 MUSIC ACTS, 12 AUTHORS, 6 PERFORMING ARTS OFFERINGS. THE EVENT WAS SUPPORTED BY 69 INDIVIDUAL DONORS, 33 BUSINESS DONORS AND 200+ VOLUNTEER SHIFTS FILLED.

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 September 1995.

    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.