Springboard for the Arts
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CULTIVATE VIBRANT ARTS COMMUNITIES BY CONNECTING ARTISTS WITH THE SKILLS, INFORMATION AND SERVICES THEY NEED TO MAKE A LIVING AND A LIFE.
- Income
- $8.3 million
- Spending
- $7.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 10.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 85%
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 95
- Highest pay
- $237,142, 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 2513 of 13 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 (4)
- $1.0 million spent. THE RURAL PROGRAM ENHANCES SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS AND COMMUNITIES IN THE UPPER MIDWEST THROUGH WORKSHOPS, CONSULTATIONS, A RESOURCE CENTER, AND A VISITING ARTIST PROGRAM IN FERGUS FALLS. LOCAL INITIATIVES IN OTTER TAIL COUNTY INCLUDE AN EQUIPMENT LENDING LIBRARY AND A GUARANTEED MINIMUM INCOME PROGRAM, BENEFITING AROUND 200 ARTISTS AND 3,250 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN 2025. REGIONALLY, THE PROGRAM FEATURES THE RURAL REGENERATOR FELLOWSHIP FOR 12 ARTISTS, THE ANNUAL RURAL FUTURES SUMMIT FOR 150 LEADERS, THE FALLS COMMUNITY ARTS EXCHANGE, AND THE ARTISTS ON MAIN STREET INITIATIVE, REACHING ABOUT 195 ARTISTS, 25 LEADERS, AND 500 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN 2025.
- $702,572 spent. SPRINGBOARD FOR THE ARTS' COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CREATES PATHWAYS FOR ARTISTS TO MEANINGFULLY CONNECT WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS SHARED CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, ECONOMIC JUSTICE, HOUSING, AND TRANSPORTATION. BUILDING ON SPRINGBOARD'S LONG HISTORY OF DEMONSTRATING HOW ARTISTS STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY WELL-BEING, THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS PROJECTS THAT FOSTER CONNECTION, JOY, AND CIVIC IMAGINATION. THIS INCLUDES ARTISTS RESPOND: WEAVING SOCIAL CONNECTION, WHICH COMMISSIONS ARTISTS TO BUILD BELONGING AND REDUCE SOCIAL ISOLATION THROUGH CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS MINNESOTA, AND SPRINGBOARD ON ICE, WHICH TRANSFORMS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ICE RINK INTO A SPACE FOR PERFORMANCE, LEARNING, AND COMMUNITY CELEBRATION. THE PROGRAM ALSO PARTNERS WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS TO ENGAGE RESIDENTS IN ENVISIONING THE FUTURE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES. THROUGH TRAINING, PROJECT SUPPORT, AND CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATIONS, WE POSITION ARTISTS AS CIVIC PARTNERS AND ESSENTIAL LEADERS IN SHAPING MORE CONNECTED, EQUITABLE, AND CREATIVE PLACES ACROSS MINNESOTA.
- $1.5 million spent. SPRINGBOARD FOR THE ARTS' ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMMING PROVIDES VITAL RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS, INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ACCESS TO HEALTH AND LEGAL SERVICES, AND A RESOURCE LAB. IN FY25, WE ENHANCED OUR RESOURCE CENTER WITH COMPUTER WORKSTATIONS, ADOBE CREATIVE CLOUD, AND EXPANDED IN-PERSON SUPPORT, SERVING OVER 3,000 ARTISTS THROUGH WORKSHOPS, CONSULTATIONS, AND PANELS. WE ALSO DEVELOPED OUR ARTIST CAREER CONSULTANTS AND FACILITATED A SUCCESSFUL HYBRID APPROACH FOR THE WORK OF ART WORKSHOPS. THE GUARANTEED MINIMUM INCOME PILOT EXPANDED TO SUPPORT 100 ARTISTS FROM DIVERSE COMMUNITIES FOR 5 YEARS, PROMOTING RACIAL AND GENDER EQUITY. THE GROWTH FUND AWARDED $2,500 TO 50 ARTISTS AND CREATIVE BUSINESSES, WHILE OUR MAKERS-TO-MARKET PROGRAM HOSTED TWO SUCCESSFUL POP-UP MARKETS, BENEFITING 35 VENDORS AND ATTRACTING AROUND 300 ATTENDEES EACH.
- $3.7 million spent. SPRINGBOARD'S NATIONAL WORK INCLUDES CONSULTING FOR CLIENTS AND PARTNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, OUR TECHNICAL TRAINING ART-TRAIN, AND THE CREATIVE CHANGE COALITION. CLIENT WORK INCLUDES CUSTOMIZED PROGRAM ADVISING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PRESENTING, AND WORKSHOPS. THE CREATIVE CHANGE COALITION IS A NATIONAL COALITION OF PLACE-BASED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT CENTER PEOPLE, CREATIVITY, AND EQUITY. THE COALITION INCLUDES REGULAR, PUBLIC, AND FREE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WEBINARS, FIELD CONVERSATIONS, DISCUSSION AND CONNECTION OPPORTUNITIES FOR COALITION MEMBERS, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND INITIATIVES AIMED AT INCREASING VISIBILITY AND EFFICACY OF THE FIELD OF CREATIVE, PLACE-BASED, COMMUNITY-INFORMED WORK. SPRINGBOARD FOR THE ARTS' INCUBATOR: A FISCAL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES FISCAL SPONSORSHIP FOR ARTS GROUPS AND INDIVIDUAL ARTIST PROJECTS THAT DO NOT WANT (OR ARE NOT READY) TO BECOME TAX-EXEMPT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. IN FY24 WE MANAGED REVENUES FOR THE 207 ARTIST-LED PROJECTS IN THE PROGRAM DURING THAT PERIOD.
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 October 1991.
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.
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