Goggle Works
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO TRANSFORM LIVES THROUGH UNIQUE INTERACTIONS WITH ART.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- -31.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 57%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 30
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
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 76% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 2517 of 17 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.
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 (1)
- $1.2 million spent. GOGGLEWORKS OPERATES ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST INTERACTIVE ART CENTERS, OFFERING YEAR-ROUND ACCESS TO EXHIBITIONS, ARTIST STUDIOS, CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, YOUTH PROGRAMS, PUBLIC EVENTS, FILM PROGRAMMING, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND CREATIVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD, GOGGLEWORKS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE BROAD PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE ARTS THROUGH FREE GALLERY ADMISSION, HANDS-ON CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS, ARTISTS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND CIVIC INSTITUTIONS. THE ORGANIZATION SERVES CHILDREN, FAMILIES, ARTISTS, STUDENTS, ENTREPRENEURS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, WITH A PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON EXPANDING ACCESS FOR RESIDENTS OF READING AND BERKS COUNTY.GOGGLEWORKS' CORE PROGRAMS INCLUDE STUDIO ART EDUCATION FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS, AFTER-SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAMMING, ARTIST RESIDENCIES, EXHIBITIONS, PUBLIC ART AND CULTURAL EVENTS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES, COMMUNITY-BASED FOOD AND GARDEN PROGRAMS, AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT CONNECT THE ARTS TO EDUCATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION, AND QUALITY OF LIFE. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO SUPPORTS A CAMPUS OF WORKING ARTISTS, CREATIVE BUSINESSES, PARTNER NONPROFITS, AND PUBLIC GATHERING SPACES THAT HELP STRENGTHEN DOWNTOWN READING AS A CULTURAL AND CIVIC HUB.GOGGLEWORKS PROVIDED ARTS EDUCATION, EXHIBITIONS, PUBLIC PROGRAMS, ARTIST SUPPORT, YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE SHORT-YEAR PERIOD. PROGRAMS INCLUDED HANDS-ON CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS IN A WIDE RANGE OF STUDIO DISCIPLINES, YOUTH AND FAMILY ARTS PROGRAMS, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, FREE PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS, ARTIST STUDIO ACCESS, FILM AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMING, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO ADVANCED NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED INITIATIVES THROUGH GOGGLEWORKS GARDENS AT LAUER'S PARK, PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND PLANNING FOR EXPANDED PUBLIC GREEN SPACE, CREATIVE PLACEMAKING, FOOD ACCESS, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.THROUGH THESE ACTIVITIES, GOGGLEWORKS SERVED AS A MAJOR CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL ANCHOR IN DOWNTOWN READING, PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE ARTS EXPERIENCES, SUPPORTING ARTISTS AND CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS, OFFERING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS, AND CONTRIBUTING TO BROADER COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION EFFORTS.CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS: SERVING OVER 1,900 PER YEAR, WHICH PROVIDE CORE PROGRAMMING TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. THERE ARE ALSO PRIVATE WORKSHOPS AVAILABLE FOR RETREATS AND CHARITABLE OUTREACH.ARTSBRIDGE OUTREACH PROVIDED EDUCATION, ART THERAPY AND ACCESS TO ARTS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL, DEVELOPMENTAL, OR EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES.SCHOLARSHIP PLACEMENT: PLACING MORE THAN 100 STUDENTS WITH FINANCIAL NEED IN THE CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS LISTED ABOVE, REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL MEANS.ADMISSION: FREE VISITATION AND PARKING FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR TOURS OF FOUR GALLERIES, EIGHT WORKSHOPS SPACES, 35 ARTIST STUDIOS, AND OTHER ARTS SPACES.AFTER SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAM (ASAP): SERVING 500-550 SCHOOL CHILDREN ANNUALLY WITH AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS PROVIDING ARTS EDUCATION AND EXPLORATION, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS WITHIN INNER-CITY READING.ARTS FESTIVAL READING: SERVING 2,500 ANNUALLY WITH 45 JURIED ARTISTS, DEMONSTRATIONS, WORKSHOPS, FOOD VENDORS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.FILM SCREENINGS: SERVING NEARLY 15,000 PER YEAR, THE FILM THEATER SHOWS THREE SCREENINGS ON WEEKENDS, AND SEVERAL MORE SCREENINGS ON WEEKDAYS.DEMONSTRATIONS: AVAILABLE ON GALLERY OPENINGS AND DURING OTHER EVENTS AT NO COST TO ROUGHLY 5,000 PER YEAR.RETAIL STORE: PROMOTING THE SALE OF WORK OF GW STUDIO ARTISTS, STUDENTS, OTHER REGIONAL ARTISTS, AND SELLS ART SUPPLIES TO ARTISTS AND STUDENTS.RENTAL FACILITIES TENANT ARTISTS AND RESIDENT ORGANIZATION STUDIOS (ORGANIZATIONS, MANY OF WHICH ARE NONPROFIT), AS WELL AS SPACE RENTALS FOR PRIVATE EVENTS SUCH AS WEDDINGS, CONFERENCES, PARTIES AND OTHER SPECIAL OCCASIONS.CATERING FOR EVENT RENTALS - GW EXCLUSIVELY PARTNERED WITH DOUBLETREE TO CATER FOR ANY EVENTS TAKING PLACE AT GW.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2006.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.