Arts Holding Hands and Hearts Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
AHHAH'S MISSION IS TO BUILD EQUITY AND JUSTICE BY EMPOWERING YOUTH, STRENGTENING FAMILIES AND MOBILIZING COMMUNITIES THROUGH ARTS, LITERACY, AND MINDFULNESS. AHHAH USES MULTIPLE INTENTIONAL STRATEGIES TO OFFSET THE STRESSFUL EFFECTS OF LONGTERM POVERTY. PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO ENGAGE YOUTH IN MINDFUL, ARTISTIC INITIATIVES, BUILDING RESILENCY AND ESTABLISHING POSITIVE PATHWAYS FOR A PRODUCTIVE AND FULFILLING FUTURE. AHHAH'S COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAMS CONNECT AND ENGAGE YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH THE COMMUNITIES SERVED IN CHESTER COUNTY, PA, ESPECIALLY COATESVILLE,PA AND KENNETT SQUARE,PA.
- Income
- $509,143
- Spending
- $423,504
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 5.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 78%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 47
- Highest pay
- $42,000, executive di
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 42% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
10 of 10Gave 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $262,075 spent. LITERACY PROGRAMS THE CHESTER COUNTY IMAGINATION LIBRARY (CCIL) IN 2021, AHHAH INITIATED THE CCIL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY. THE PROGRAM SENDS ONE FREE BOOK PER MONTH TO THE HOME OF ANY CHESTER COUNTY CHILD AGED 0-5 YEARS WHO REGISTERS. FROM JULY 1, 2024 TO JUNE 30, 2025 112,683 BOOKS WERE MAILED TO CHILDREN IN CHESTER COUNTY. 10,082 CHILDREN WERE REGISTERED AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. THIS PROGRAM IS FREE TO FAMILIES. THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY A GENEROUS DONATION FROM JUSTAMERE FOUNDATION, THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, FUNDRAISERS, AND OTHER GENEROUS DONATIONS. IMAGINATION LIBRARY BOOK CLUB & BILINGUAL STORYTIME RECORDINGS IN JANUARY 2024 AHHAH LAUNCHED AN IMAGINATION BOOK CLUB AND STORYTIME PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES FREE WEEKLY BOOKCLUB/STORYTIMES FOR CHILDREN AGES2-4 AT THE KENNETT LIBRARY USING THE CCIL BOOKS. ONCE A MONTH AHHAH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KENNETT LIBRARY AND ONE OF THE 34+ PARTNERS SERVING ESL FAMILIES, AHHAH VIDEO RECORDS ONE OF THE CCIL BILINGUAL BOOKS THAT IS PUT ON AHHAH'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND SENT TO THE ESL PARTNERS TO SHARE WITH THEIR FAMILIES. OTHER LITERACY INITIATIVE AHHAH'S LITERACY INITIATIVES ENABLES YOUTH TO SUCCEED IN LIFE BY HELPING THEM BECOME POWERFUL READERS, WRITERS, AND THINKERS. IN 2015 AHHAH LAUNCHED THE "PULL" (POP UP LENDING LIBRARY) CAMPAIGN IN COATESVILLE, PA WITH 25 PULL STATIONS BUILT, PAINTED AND STEWARDED BY THE COATESVILLE YOUTH AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. PULL IS A VOLUNTARY COMMUNITY PROGRAM; BOOKS ARE DONATED AND THE PULLS ARE BUILT, DECORATED, INSTALLED, STOCKED, RESTOCKED AND MAINTAINED BY VOLUNTEER TEAMS FROM THE COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROW IN LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT CHESTER COUNTY. DURING THE YEAR ENDED 6/30/25 THERE WERE OVER 100 PULL STATIONS AND OVER 500,000 BOOKS COLLECTED AND DISITRIBUTED. DONATION STATIONS ARE LOCATED IN THE KENNETT LIBRARY, THE OXFORD LIBRARY, AND CCOIC IN COATESVILLE. STUDFENTS FROM CCIU DISCOVER TEAM LABEL, SORT AND DISTRIBUTE BOOKS. LITERACY PROGRAMS THE CHESTER COUNTY IMAGINATION LIBRARY (CCIL) IN 2021, AHHAH INITIATED THE CCIL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY. THE PROGRAM SENDS ONE FREE BOOK PER MONTH TO THE HOME OF ANY CHESTER COUNTY CHILD AGED 0-5 YEARS WHO REGISTERS. FROM JULY 1, 2024 TO JUNE 30, 2025 112,683 BOOKS WERE MAILED TO CHILDREN IN CHESTER COUNTY. 10,082 CHILDREN WERE REGISTERED AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. THIS PROGRAM IS FREE TO FAMILIES. THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY A GENEROUS DONATION FROM JUSTAMERE FOUNDATION, THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, FUNDRAISERS, AND OTHER GENEROUS DONATIONS. IMAGINATION LIBRARY BOOK CLUB & BILINGUAL STORYTIME RECORDINGS IN JANUARY 2024 AHHAH LAUNCHED AN IMAGINATION BOOK CLUB AND STORYTIME PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES FREE WEEKLY BOOKCLUB/STORYTIMES FOR CHILDREN AGES2-4 AT THE KENNETT LIBRARY USING THE CCIL BOOKS. ONCE A MONTH AHHAH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KENNETT LIBRARY AND ONE OF THE 34+ PARTNERS SERVING ESL FAMILIES, AHHAH VIDEO RECORDS ONE OF THE CCIL BILINGUAL BOOKS THAT IS PUT ON AHHAH'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND SENT TO THE ESL PARTNERS TO SHARE WITH THEIR FAMILIES. OTHER LITERACY INITIATIVE AHHAH'S LITERACY INITIATIVES ENABLES YOUTH TO SUCCEED IN LIFE BY HELPING THEM BECOME POWERFUL READERS, WRITERS, AND THINKERS. IN 2015 AHHAH LAUNCHED THE "PULL" (POP UP LENDING LIBRARY) CAMPAIGN IN COATESVILLE, PA WITH 25 PULL STATIONS BUILT, PAINTED AND STEWARDED BY THE COATESVILLE YOUTH AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. PULL IS A VOLUNTARY COMMUNITY PROGRAM; BOOKS ARE DONATED AND THE PULLS ARE BUILT, DECORATED, INSTALLED, STOCKED, RESTOCKED AND MAINTAINED BY VOLUNTEER TEAMS FROM THE COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROW IN LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT CHESTER COUNTY. DURING THE YEAR ENDED 6/30/25 THERE WERE OVER 100 PULL STATIONS AND OVER 500,000 BOOKS COLLECTED AND DISITRIBUTED. DONATION STATIONS ARE LOCATED IN THE KENNETT LIBRARY, THE OXFORD LIBRARY, AND CCOIC IN COATESVILLE. STUDFENTS FROM CCIU DISCOVER TEAM LABEL, SORT AND DISTRIBUTE BOOKS.
- $126,299 spent. RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMS STEP UP, STEP OUT, MAKE A DIFFERENCE (SUS0) SUSO IS A 30 WEEK AFTER SCHOOL EMPOWERMENT, SELF-CARE, AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR GIRLS IN 7TH-12TH GRADES, MOTIVATED PRIMARILY BY OUR RECOGNITION THAT CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND ACES IMPACT GIRLS DISPROPORTIONATELY AND DISTINCTIVELY. THE PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO SUPPORT THE GIRLS OF COATESVILLE IN SHIFTING THEIR GREATER MENTAL WELLBEING FROM "SURVING" TO "THRIVING" . IN 2024-2025 THIS PROGRAM WAS OFFERED AT THE COATESVILLE YMCA. EACH GIRL AND THEIR FAMILY RECEIVED A FREE MEMBERSHIP TO THE Y. EXPRESSIVE ARTS PROGRAMS AHHAH'S RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMS USE THE EXPRESSIVE ARTS TO COMMUNICATE THE EXPERIENCES OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED AND IMPACTED BY THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO THEIR PEERS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. WE USE TRAUMA RESPONSIVE AND MINDFULNESS TECHNIQUES TO CREATE SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SPACES FOR YOUTH TO SHARE THEIR AUTHENTIC VOICES AND EXPERIENCES. ULTIMATELY, PARTICIPANTS EMERGE WITH CONFIDENCE, INCREASED RESILIENCE, AND POSITIVE PATHWAYS TOWARD PRODUCTIVE AND FULFILLING FUTURES. OUR EXPRESSIVE ARTS PROGRAMS INCLUDE WRITING, VISUAL ARTS, COOKING ARTS, AND FILMMAKING. 2025 MARKED THE ELEVENTH YEAR SERVING YOUTH IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. AHHAH PROVIDED MINDFULNESS, EXPRESSIVE ARTS AND COOKING PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AT CHESTER COUNTY YOUTH CENTER, CONCERN 4 KIDS AND DAIKON EVENING REPORT CENTER. JUSTICE RESTORED 3.0 JULY 2023, JUSTICE RESTORED 3.0 WAS PUBLISHED WHICH IS A COLLECTION OF WRITINGS FROM INCARCERATED YOUTH AT THE CHESTER COUNTY YOUTH CENTER AND DRAWINGS FROM STUDENTS IN THE CHESTER COUNTY FUTURES AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN KENNETT, COATESVILLE, PHOENIXVILLE, AND OXFORD HIGH SCHOOLS. IN 2024 THE JUSTICE 3.0 TRAVELING ARTS EXHIBIT WAS ON DISPLAY THROUGHOUT CHESTER COUNTY. THE EXHIBIT HAS BEEN DISPLAYED AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES, CHURCHES, YMCA'S AND WAS ON DISPLAY AT AHHAH'S 2ND ANNUAL RESTORATIVE JUSTICE OPEN HOUSE AT UPTOWN KNAUER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. THE WRITING AND ART FROM JUSTICE RESTORED 3.0 GENERATES DIALOGUE IN THE COMMUNITY AROUND MASS INCARCERATION OF CHILDREN IN THE U.S. AND A MEANS TO ADVOCATE FOR POLICY CHANGE TO END THE CRADLE TO PRISON PIPELINE OF CHILDREN IN POVERTY AND OF COLOR. RESTORATIVE FILMMAKING PROGRAM AHHAH'S FILMMAKING PROGRAM IS ONE OF AHHAH'S SIGNATURE INITIATIVES, KNOWN FOR ITS CREATIVE, INNOVATIVE, AND TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH TO ADDRESSING THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH THAT AFFECT OUR YOUTH POPULATION, PARTICULARLY THOSE AFFECTING MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OUTCOMES. THE FILMMAKING PROGRAM HAS BEEN TRANSFORMATIVE FOR PARTICIPANTS, NOT ONLY TEACHING PRACTICAL AND TEAM-BUILDING SKILLS THAT CAN TRANSLATE TO MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT, BUT ALSO INSTILLING THEM WITH CONFIDENCE AND A SENSE OF OVERALL WELLBEING. AHHAH'S FILMMAKING PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED FOR YOUTH ON PROBATION IN CHESTER COUNTY IN JANUARY 2023 TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN VALUABLE MEDIA PRODUCTION SKILLS FOR FILM WHILE FULFILLING COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS. WE BRING IN INDUSTRY EXPERTS IN THE FIELDS OF AUDIO, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND EVEN FILM ROBOTICS TO TEACH OUR GROUPS HOW TO CREATE, INSPIRE, AND WORK AS A TEAM. THE PROGRAM IS A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT WITH THE CHESTER COUNTY PROBATION CENTER. SECOND- AND THIRD-YEAR STUDENTS RECEIVE A STIPEND AS ASSISTANTS WORKING WITH A NEW COHORT OF YOUTH ON PROBATION. THE CULMINATION OF THE PROGRAM IS THE SCREENING OF THEIR SHORT DOCUMENTARY INVISIBLE NO MORE: VOICES AND LIVES OF YOUTH IMPACTED BY THE CARCERAL SYSTEM. JANUARY 2025 AHHAH PARTNERED WITH THE COATESVILLE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE FILMMAKING PROGRAM WAS ABLE TO MEET IN COATESVILLE'S SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL MEDIA TV LAB THAT HAD BEEN CLOSED SINCE 2010. RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMS STEP UP, STEP OUT, MAKE A DIFFERENCE (SUS0) SUSO IS A 30 WEEK AFTER SCHOOL EMPOWERMENT, SELF-CARE, AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR GIRLS IN 7TH-12TH GRADES, MOTIVATED PRIMARILY BY OUR RECOGNITION THAT CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND ACES IMPACT GIRLS DISPROPORTIONATELY AND DISTINCTIVELY. THE PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO SUPPORT THE GIRLS OF COATESVILLE IN SHIFTING THEIR GREATER MENTAL WELLBEING FROM "SURVING" TO "THRIVING" . IN 2024-2025 THIS PROGRAM WAS OFFERED AT THE COATESVILLE YMCA. EACH GIRL AND THEIR FAMILY RECEIVED A FREE MEMBERSHIP TO THE Y. EXPRESSIVE ARTS PROGRAMS AHHAH'S RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMS USE THE EXPRESSIVE ARTS TO COMMUNICATE THE EXPERIENCES OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED AND IMPACTED BY THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO THEIR PEERS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. WE USE TRAUMA RESPONSIVE AND MINDFULNESS TECHNIQUES TO CREATE SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SPACES FOR YOUTH TO SHARE THEIR AUTHENTIC VOICES AND EXPERIENCES. ULTIMATELY, PARTICIPANTS EMERGE WITH CONFIDENCE, INCREASED RESILIENCE, AND POSITIVE PATHWAYS TOWARD PRODUCTIVE AND FULFILLING FUTURES. OUR EXPRESSIVE ARTS PROGRAMS INCLUDE WRITING, VISUAL ARTS, COOKING ARTS, AND FILMMAKING. 2025 MARKED THE ELEVENTH YEAR SERVING YOUTH IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. AHHAH PROVIDED MINDFULNESS, EXPRESSIVE ARTS AND COOKING PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AT CHESTER COUNTY YOUTH CENTER, CONCERN 4 KIDS AND DAIKON EVENING REPORT CENTER. JUSTICE RESTORED 3.0 JULY 2023, JUSTICE RESTORED 3.0 WAS PUBLISHED WHICH IS A COLLECTION OF WRITINGS FROM INCARCERATED YOUTH AT THE CHESTER COUNTY YOUTH CENTER AND DRAWINGS FROM STUDENTS IN THE CHESTER COUNTY FUTURES AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN KENNETT, COATESVILLE, PHOENIXVILLE, AND OXFORD HIGH SCHOOLS. IN 2024 THE JUSTICE 3.0 TRAVELING ARTS EXHIBIT WAS ON DISPLAY THROUGHOUT CHESTER COUNTY. THE EXHIBIT HAS BEEN DISPLAYED AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES, CHURCHES, YMCA'S AND WAS ON DISPLAY AT AHHAH'S 2ND ANNUAL RESTORATIVE JUSTICE OPEN HOUSE AT UPTOWN KNAUER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. THE WRITING AND ART FROM JUSTICE RESTORED 3.0 GENERATES DIALOGUE IN THE COMMUNITY AROUND MASS INCARCERATION OF CHILDREN IN THE U.S. AND A MEANS TO ADVOCATE FOR POLICY CHANGE TO END THE CRADLE TO PRISON PIPELINE OF CHILDREN IN POVERTY AND OF COLOR. RESTORATIVE FILMMAKING PROGRAM AHHAH'S FILMMAKING PROGRAM IS ONE OF AHHAH'S SIGNATURE INIT
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 November 2016.
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.
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