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Carpe Artista

EIN 45-2479668 · Smyrna, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak24 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TRANSFORMING CULTURES GLOBALLY BY DEVELOPING LOCAL ARTS COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE NURTURING OF YOUNG CREATIVES TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL IN FOUR CORE VALUES: CHARACTER, CALLING, CRAFT, AND COMMUNITY.

Income
$633,422
Spending
$703,344
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
-15.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 68%
Employees
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 24 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 386% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    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.

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $301,014 spent. CARPE ARTISTA ENGAGES IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS THROUGH ORGANIZING EVENTS THAT BRING AWARENESS TO THE ECONOMIC AND INNOVATION BENEFITS OF A THRIVING ARTISTIC COMMUNITY. THESE EVENTS ENGAGE LOCAL BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRY TO PARTNER FOR CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT, WHILE STRIVING TO PROMOTE THE CREATIVE ARTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. CARPE ARTISTA COORDINATES FESTIVALS, CONCERTS, SHOWS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND OTHER PUBLIC CULTURAL EVENTS APPROXIMATELY 20,000 PEOPLE BENEFITED IN 2022
  2. $294,966 spent. CARPE ACADEMY PROVIDES ARTISTIC TRAINING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT THROUGH AWARD-WINNING CAMPS, ONGOING CLASSES, AND PRIVATE INSTRUCTION USING INTERACTIVE TEACHING METHODS IN VISUAL ARTS, MUSIC, AND THEATER. WITH OUR FOCUS ON THESE CORE VALUES CHARACTER, CRAFT, CALLING AND COMMUNITY CARPE ARTISTA SEEKS TO ASSIST CREATIVES IN REACHING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. NEWLY IN DEVELOPMENT, THE ACADEMY PROGRAM HAS BEEN EXPANDED BY ADDING A BRANCH OF CAREER TRAINING CALLED C3T CARPE CREATIVE CAREER TRAINING. CARPE ARTISTA WILL PARTNER WITH THE RUTHERFORD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, TO PILOT THIS PROGRAM. C3T WILL PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO EARN CTE CERTIFICATIONS THAT WILL PREPARE THEM FOR FUTURE CAREER DEVELOPMENT IN THE ARTS. PLANS INCLUDE PARTNERING WITH THE TENNESSEE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO SOLIDIFY THE PROGRAMS INCLUSION IN TENNESSEE STATE SCHOOLS.APPROXIMATELY 400 STUDENTS BENEFITED IN 2022.
  3. $30,464 spent. CARPE ARTISTA PROVIDES A JOB TRAINING PROGRAM THROUGH THE DAILY OPERATION OF CARPE CAFE, A COFFEE SHOP LOCATED IN SMYRNAS HISTORIC DEPOT DISTRICT. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AGE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HANDS-ON TRAINING TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER OBJECTIVES. THE CAFE INCORPORATES ARTS EDUCATION WITH LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES, STUDIO SPACE FOR VISUAL ART DISPLAYS, AND PERIODIC ARTS INSTRUCTION. APPROXIMATELY 16,000 PEOPLE BENEFITED IN 2022.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 September 2014.

    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.