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George a Spiva Center for the Arts

EIN 44-6006139 · Joplin, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair69 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SPIVA CENTER FOR THE ARTS REMAINS DEDICATED TO OUR MISSION OF CELEBRATING THE CREATIVE EXPERIENCE THROUGH EXHIBITIONS, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH. OUR VISION IS TO ENSURE THAT THE ARTS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL-REGARDLESS OF AGE, BACKGROUND, OR ABILITY-WHILE SERVING AS A CULTURAL ANCHOR FOR OUR REGION. THROUGH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING, IMPACTFUL EDUCATION, AND DYNAMIC EXHIBITIONS, WE STRIVE TO NURTURE CREATIVITY, FOSTER INCLUSIVITY, AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE VITALITY OF THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.

Income
$886,921
Spending
$595,098
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
30.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
6
Volunteers
155

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 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 30.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 75% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 36 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

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $26,911 spent. EDUCATION & OUTREACH: EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ARE CENTRAL TO SPIVA'S MISSION OF MAKING THE ARTS ACCESSIBLE AND ENGAGING FOR ALL. IN 2024, SPIVA OFFERED A WIDE VARIETY OF VISUAL ARTS CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, AND CAMPS FOR CHILDREN, TEENS, ADULTS, AND SENIORS. OUR SUMMER ART CAMPS REMAINED A VITAL CREATIVE OUTLET FOR AREA YOUTH, WHILE WEEKLY CLASSES SUPPORTED ARTISTS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS YEAR-ROUND. THE THIRD-GRADE COLLABORATIVE CONTINUED TO BRING OVER 1700 AREA THIRD GRADE STUDENTS TO SPIVA WHERE MANY OF THEM EXPERIENCED AN ART GALLERY FOR THE FIRST TIME. THEY LEARNED ABOUT ART, MADE ART, AND INSTALLED A COLLABORATIVE EXHIBIT. SPIVA ALSO EXPANDED ITS OUTREACH INITIATIVES TO BRING HIGH-QUALITY ART EXPERIENCES DIRECTLY INTO SCHOOLS, NON-PROFITS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND MORE-ESPECIALLY IN UNDERSERVED AND RURAL AREAS. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDED EXTERNAL ART PROGRAMMING, ART IN COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACES, AND COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS WITH EDUCATORS TO INTEGRATE ARTS INTO CLASSROOM LEARNING. OUTREACH PARTNERSHIPS HELPED REACH NEW AUDIENCES AND PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION BEYOND THE WALLS OF THE CENTER. SCHOLARSHIPS AND SPONSORSHIPS ENSURED THAT NO STUDENT WAS TURNED AWAY DUE TO FINANCIAL NEED, REINFORCING SPIVA'S COMMITMENT TO EQUITY IN THE ARTS.
  2. $42,792 spent. EXHIBITS: SPIVA PRESENTED 18 EXHIBITIONS IN 2025, FEATURING A MIX OF REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS ACROSS MULTIPLE GALLERY SPACES. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED MAJOR SOLO AND GROUP EXHIBITIONS, TRAVELING SHOWS, AND JURIED COMPETITIONS. OUR EXHIBITIONS SPANNED A WIDE RANGE OF MEDIUMS AND THEMES, REFLECTING OUR COMMITMENT TO ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE, CULTURAL DIVERSITY, AND CREATIVE EXPLORATION. INTERPRETIVE MATERIALS, DOCENT-LED TOURS, AND DIGITAL RESOURCES ENRICHED THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND DEEPENED ENGAGEMENT. MANY EXHIBITIONS WERE PAIRED WITH EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLIC PROGRAMMING TO ENCOURAGE DIALOGUE AND CONNECTION BETWEEN ARTISTS AND AUDIENCES. SPIVA'S GALLERIES REMAINED VIBRANT SPACES FOR CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND ARTISTIC DISCOVERY.
  3. $296,531 spent. PROGRAMS & EVENTS: SPIVA CENTER FOR THE ARTS OFFERS A DYNAMIC LINEUP OF PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THAT ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY, CELEBRATE CREATIVITY, AND EXPAND ACCESS TO THE ARTS. SIGNATURE EVENTS SUCH AS THE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP SHOW, ART ON TAP, AND SPIVA IN BLOOM BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AROUND SHARED CULTURAL EXPERIENCES AND HELP FOSTER A VIBRANT, INCLUSIVE ARTS COMMUNITY. IN 2025, SPIVA ALSO HOSTED ARTIST RECEPTIONS, PUBLIC LECTURES, AND COLLABORATIVE EVENTS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT HIGHLIGHTED REGIONAL TALENT AND ENCOURAGED DIALOGUE THROUGH THE ARTS. THESE EFFORTS SUPPORT SPIVA'S MISSION TO MAKE THE ARTS ACCESSIBLE AND MEANINGFUL FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS. SPECIAL ATTENTION WAS GIVEN TO REMOVING BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION, WITH SEVERAL EVENTS OFFERED FREE OR AT LOW COST TO ENSURE BROAD COMMUNITY ACCESS.

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 August 1959.

    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.