Pioneer Works Art Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROMOTE THE CREATION OF AND PARTICIPATION IN THE ARTS AND SCIENCES.
- Income
- $10.0 million
- Spending
- $8.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- -8.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 93
- Volunteers
- 23
- Highest pay
- $305,138, chief executive officer
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: 40 out of 100. Higher than 11% 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
10 of 20It owes 36% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 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
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 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 (4)
- $2.8 million spent. ARTS PROGRAMS:DESPITE BEING CLOSED FOR MOST OF 2024, PIONEER WORKS CONTINUED TO OFFER A LIMITED SELECTION OF EXHIBITS, PERFORMANCES, CONCERTS, WORKSHOPS, AND BOOK TALKS, MANY OF WHICH HIGHLIGHTED THE INTERSECTION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WITH ART. PROGRAMMING WAS ADAPTED TO FIT THE REDUCED OPERATING SCHEDULE.
- $1.4 million spent. SCIENCES:DESPITE BEING CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC FOR EIGHT MONTHS IN 2024, PIONEER WORKS CONTINUED TO DELIVER SCIENCE PROGRAMMING THROUGH SELECT LIVE EVENTS, ONLINE BROADCASTS, PUBLICATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ENGAGED WITH LECTURES, HANDS-ON SCIENCE WORKSHOPS, AND EDUCATIONAL CONTENT THAT PROMOTED CURIOSITY, SCIENCE EDUCATION, AND COLLABORATION.
- $724,480 spent. SIGNATURE PROGRAMS:PIONEER WORKS CONTINUED TO HOST A SELECTION OF FLAGSHIP PROGRAMS THAT CELEBRATE THE INTERSECTION OF ART, SCIENCE, AND COMMUNITY. THESE INCLUDED PRESS PLAY, A WEEKEND FAIR OF BOOKS, RECORDS, AND TALKS, AND SECOND SUNDAYS, OUR MONTHLY OPEN-HOUSE EVENT FEATURING LIVE MUSIC AND OPEN STUDIOS. SELECT SPECIAL EVENTS AND COLLABORATIONS ROUNDED OUT THE YEAR'S PROGRAMMING.
- $931,674 spent. RESIDENCY:SUPPORTING ARTISTS WITH SPACE, NETWORK CONNECTIONS, AND A PLATFORM TO DEVELOP AND ADVANCE THEIR CRAFT IN MUSIC, ART, AND TECHNOLOGY.COMMUNITY PROGRAMS:PIONEER WORKS PRIORITIZED EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING K12 SCHOOL VISITS AND SPECIAL INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO CONNECT LOCAL AUDIENCES WITH ART, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY. DESPITE LIMITED PUBLIC ACCESS, THE ORGANIZATION REMAINED COMMITTED TO SERVING ITS IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY THROUGH ACCESSIBLE, EDUCATION-FOCUSED PROGRAMMING.
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
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 November 6, 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 December 2024.
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 March 2013.
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 November 4, 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.