Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Sheldon Arts Foundation

EIN 43-1489756 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THROUGH THE POWER OF MUSIC AND ART, THE SHELDON ENSURES THAT ALL HAVE ACCESS TO UNIQUE, RELEVANT AND INVENTIVE EXPERIENCES THAT CHANGE LIVES AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$4.4 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
-4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
69
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$221,670, 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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 25

    36 of 36 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 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. $1.5 million spent. MUSICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: THE SHELDON SEEKS TO PRESENT QUALITY MUSIC IN MANY DIVERSE GENRES. 41 IN PERSON CONCERTS THIS YEAR WERE SUCCESSFULLY PRESENTED IN THE HISTORIC SHELDON CONCERT HALL TO APPROXIMATELY 15,587 PATRONS. THE SHELDON ALSO SEEKS TO INTRODUCE, BUILD AN APPRECIATION FOR AND IN SOME CASES ADVANCE THE ARTISTIC CAPABILITIES OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN BOTH MUSIC AND THE VISUAL ARTS. THE SHELDON'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS REACHED A TOTAL OF 14,505 STUDENTS THROUGH A COMBINATION OF 27 LIVE PERFORMANCES, ITS STREAMING PLATFORM BEING DOWNLOADED DIRECTLY TO 1,929 STUDENTS, IN ADDITION TO EDUCATORS VISITING 4 SCHOOLS WITH OUR SOUND STUDIO PROGRAM AND AN ADDITIONAL 33 SCHOOLS WITH OUR SOLID (SCIENCE OF LEARNING INSTRUMENT DESIGN) PROGRAM. THESE IMPORTANT EDUCATION PROGRAMS INTRODUCE CHILDREN TO A WIDE RANGE OF MUSIC - INCLUDING JAZZ, FOLK, CLASSICAL, BLUES, WORLD MUSIC, AND MORE, WEAVING IN GRADE-RELEVANT LESSONS IN LITERACY, SOCIAL STUDIES, AND ST. LOUIS AND AMERICAN HISTORY. OUR LEWIS & CLARK PROGRAM WAS TAKEN TO MCKENDREE COLLEGE IN LEBANON, IL. THE ALL-STAR CHORUS, MADE UP OF 25 STUDENTS, PERFORMED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS'S TOUHILL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, CHORUS AMERICA AND THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC IN NASHVILLE, TN. THE SHELDON ART GALLERIES ALSO INTRODUCES YOUNG PEOPLE TO A WIDE RANGE OF VISUAL ARTS - INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHY, DRAWING, PAINTING, SCULPTURE, AND ARCHITECTURE THROUGH GALLERY TALKS.
  2. $1.0 million spent. COMMUNITY EVENTS AND BEVERAGE: BEGIN TO REBOUND, WITH SOME DELAYED RECOVERY BECAUSE RENTAL EVENTS TRADITIONALLY BOOK A YEAR IN ADVANCE.
  3. $451,012 spent. PRESERVATION AND OPERATION OF THE HISTORIC SHELDON CONCERT HALL.
  4. $233,158 spent. VISUAL ARTS: THE SHELDON SEEKS TO PRESENT QUALITY EXHIBITIONS IN MANY DIVERSE GENRES - 9 EXHIBITIONS WERE SUCCESSFULLY PRESENTED IN THE SHELDON ART GALLERIES THAT SERVED OVER 8,368 ADULTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE. GOLF THE GALLERIES DID NOT TAKE PLACE THIS YEAR DUE TO A FULL RENOVATION OF GALLERY AND HOSPITALITY SPACES WITHIN THE SHELDON. THE SHELDON ART GALLERIES HOSTED 2 ARTIST TALKS ALONG WITH A SPECIAL ARTIST TALK FEATURING MICHAEL WILSON AND LYLE LOVETT, 3 EDUCATION PROGRAMS/WORKSHOPS, A TRUNK SHOW FEATURING 7 ARTISTS, AS WELL AS GALLERY TOURS FOR STUDENTS.

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

  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 October 13, 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 June 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 April 1994.

    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 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.