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East Side Arts Council

EIN 41-1702777 · St Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE EAST SIDE ARTS COUNCIL IS TO COLLABORATE WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND ARTISTS TO CELEBRATE AND EXPERIENCE THE ARTS.

Income
$210,818
Spending
$223,395
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
15.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
4
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$40,810, 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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $185,981 spent. WHEN YOU GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES, IT CREATES A SENSE OF CONNECTION AND BELONGING. WE BELIEVE THAT WHEN COMMUNITIES KNOW AND UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER, WE ALL BENEFIT. HALF OF SAINT PAUL'S POPULATION LIVES ON THE EAST SIDE, WHICH BOASTS A VARIETY OF CULTURES. COMING FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS CAN SOMETIMES PRESENT CHALLENGES, BUT WE BELIEVE DIVERSITY IS OUR COMMUNITY'S GREATEST STRENGTH.EAST SIDE ARTS COUNCIL USES ART TO BRIDGE CULTURAL GAPS AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS OPPORTUNITIES THAT REFLECT OUR MULTICULTURAL POPULATIONS. OUR PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS ALLOW THE DIVERSE POPULATION OF THE EAST SIDE TO SHARE AND CELEBRATE CULTURE, OFFERING A SENSE OF BELONGING AND PURPOSE. WE EXIST TO ADDRESS SHORTCOMINGS ON THE EAST SIDE, FROM A LACK OF FUNDING FOR ART PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS TO THE ISOLATION SOME SENIORS EXPERIENCE IN RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES.EAST SIDE ARTS COUNCIL USES ART TO BRIDGE CULTURAL GAPS AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS OPPORTUNITIES THAT REFLECT OUR MULTICULTURAL POPULATIONS. OUR PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS ALLOW THE DIVERSE POPULATION OF THE EAST SIDE TO SHARE AND CELEBRATE CULTURE, OFFERING A SENSE OF BELONGING AND PURPOSE. WE EXIST TO ADDRESS SHORTCOMINGS ON THE EAST SIDE, FROM A LACK OF FUNDING FOR ART PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS TO THE ISOLATION SOME SENIORS EXPERIENCE IN RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES. OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS INCLUDED ARTMOBILE WHICH BROUGHT FREE ARTS CLASSES TO TWELVE COMMUNITY SITES IN THE SUMMER OF 2025. OUR TEACHING ARTISTS TAUGHT AFTER SCHOOL CLASSES IN VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH 10 SAINT PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS. DURING SCHOOL ARTIST RESIDENCIES ALSO OCCURRED AT 4 INNER CITY SCHOOLS ON THE EAST SIDE. WE ALSO PROVIDED ARTISTS TO TEACH FREE WEEKLY YOUTH ARTS CLASSES AT 10 SITES THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH SAINT PAUL PARKS AND RECREATION FOR SUMMER BLAST. WE REACHED 8,438 YOUTH WITH THESE PROGRAMS.CREATIVE CONNECTIONS FOR SENIORS 62+ IS OUR PROGRAM THAT BRINGS FREE AND ACCESSIBLE ART TO COMMUNITY SPACES ON THE EAST SIDE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS. IN 2024, THIS INCLUDED ARTIST-TAUGHT CLASSES IN VISUAL ARTS, POETRY AND STORYTELLING WHICH TOOK PLACE AT ARLINGTON HILLS COMMUNITY CENTER, CAMBRIC SENIOR APARTMENTS, AND LABOR PLAZA. OUR URBAN DESIGN PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH ARTISTS TO BRING PUBLIC ART AND CREATIVE PLACEMAKING TO THE EAST SIDE WHICH INCLUDED AN ART BENCH ADDITION TO OUR TRIANGLE PARK IN RAILROAD ISLAND IN 2025. SAINT PAUL PORT AUTHORITY ALSO PARTNERED WITH US TO CREATE PUBLIC ART FOR THE OUTSIDE OF THE NEW POLICE TRAINING CENTER

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 November 6, 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 December 1991.

    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 November 4, 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.