Art Buddies
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF ART BUDDIES IS TO BRING THE POWER OF ONE-TO-ONE CREATIVE MENTORING TO TWIN CITIES CHILDREN FROM HIGH NEED SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES. ART BUDDIES HELPS CHILDREN CONNECT THE CHILD WITH THEIR SELF AND THEIR COMMUNITY, TO GIVE THEM AGENCY OVER THEIR ARTISTRY AND IDEAS, TO INSPIRE CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND SENSE OF PERSONAL AGENCY, AND TO HELP THE CHILD BUILD A STRONG SENSE OF CREATIVE CONFIDENCE. ART BUDDIES ANNUALLY PAIRS 200 CREATIVE MENTORS, ONE-TO-ONE WITH 200 TWIN CITIES PUBLIC SCHOOL KIDS (AGES 8-11). EACH PROGRAM FEATURES 8-10 WEEKLY WORKSHOPS. MENTORS ALSO HELP THE KIDS DEVELOP WRITING, PROJECT PLANNING AND STORYTELLING SKILLS BY CREATING A SPECIAL JOURNAL OF THEIR ART BUDDIES EXPERIENCE CALLED A BUDDY BOOK. AT THE END OF EACH PROGRAM, THE KIDS BECOME "STARS" POSING WITH THEIR CREATIONS AND MENTORS FOR PORTRAITS BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS. THE CHILDREN CELEBRATE THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH A PARADE AND PRESENTATION FOR SCHOOLMATES, TEACHERS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THE ART
- Income
- $123,817
- Spending
- $161,773
- Reserves
- 7.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Highest pay
- $64,375, exec dir & p
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 31% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending July 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)
- $134,284 spent. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025, ART BUDDIES SERVED OVER 200 CHILDREN, AGES 8-11, FROM HIGH NEED SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES IN MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL. ART BUDDIES PROVIDES ITS FREE CREATIVE MENTOR PROGRAMMING AND ART EDUCATION TO SCHOOLS AT WHICH AT LEAST 75% OF THE STUDENT BODY RECEIVES FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM, AS THE METRIC FOR POVERTY. ANY SCHOLAR AT A PARTICIPATING SCHOOL IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR FREE PROGRAM. 90% OF PARTICIPATING CHILDREN WERE CHILDREN OF COLOR. WE RECRUITED 200 CREATIVE MENTORS TO WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE CHILDREN. WE PRODUCED EIGHT AFTER- SCHOOL ART BUDDIES PROGRAMS, AT OUR PARTNER SCHOOLS: WHITTIER INTERNATIONAL ELEMENTARY, LUCY LANEY ELEMENTARY, HALL STEM ACADEMY, AND BANCROFT ELEMENTARY. OUR MENTORS HELPED THE CHILDREN DO THE FOLLOWING: 1. FORM A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH A CREATIVE ADULT 2. DISCOVER THEIR CREATIVE POTENTIAL AND LEARN APPLIED ARTISTIC SKILLS 3. BOOST THEIR SELF-ESTEEM BY CREATING SOMETHING AMBITIOUS AND UNIQUE 4. INCREASE THEIR MOTIVATION TO LEARN BY GIVING THEM AN EXCITING REASON TO COME TO SCHOOL AND EXPLORE 5. LEARN THE CREATIVE PROCESS OF CONCEIVING, PLANNING AND PRODUCING 6. EXPLORE CREATIVE CAREER POSSIBILITIES THE CHILDREN'S TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS CONTINUALLY CONFIRM THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF THE ART BUDDIES PROGRAM. THE TEACHERS OBSERVED STUDENT IMPROVEMENT IN PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITY, BEHAVIOR, ATTITUDE, MOTIVATION TO LEARN, SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND SOCIAL SKILLS. THEY REPORT THE MASTERY STUDENTS DEVELOP IN ART BUDDIES, AS WELL AS THE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS THEY FORM WITH CREATIVE ADULTS THAT ENHANCE THEIR STUDENTS' SELF-ESTEEM.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending July 31, 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 July 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 April 1995.
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.