Friends of the Brentwood Art Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
The mission of the Friends of the Brentwood Art Center is to operate an art center to provide high quality education and instruction in the fine arts to both children and adults of all levels, to conduct outreach programs in arts education, and to otherwise promote and foster arts education in the community. The Brentwood Art Center, provides outstanding in-person and online arts educational experiences to diverse students of all ages and backgrounds, taught by an exceptional faculty. Community outreach programs include a Veterans Program, which provides weekly art classes to veterans on the campus of the Westwood VA. Brentwood Art Center has worked with other nonprofits to provide free community arts education programs at the Art Center and out in the community. During this period, to ensure equitable access to the arts, Brentwood Art Center provided financial aid to 48 students in need. Also, during this time, BAC offered 22 low-cost art workshops open to the entire Los Angeles commu
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- -0.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 75%
- Employees
- 66
- Highest pay
- $99,226, executive dir.
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: 54 out of 100. Higher than 25% 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
16 of 20It owes 30% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1563% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $756,006 spent. Provided 34,060 hours of fine arts instruction to approximately 2,267 participants including children, teens, adults, and seniors.
- Provide financial support to low-income adults and children by reducing or eliminating school fees to ensure equitable access to the arts. Provided fee reductions and supplies to 48 participants.
- Exempt Purpose Achievements: During FY 2024-25, Brentwood Art Center's Veterans Art Program provided 205 hours of fine arts training to 790 veterans, representing a 47% increase in participation compared with the prior year. BAC offers programs onsite at the Veterans Administration in Westwood.
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 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 June 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 July 2014.
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.