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Arts Connection

EIN 46-3088038 · San Bernardino, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceWeak15 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$855,999
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
10.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
31
Highest pay
$111,823, 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 15 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 (1)
  1. $680,946 spent. THE CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL AWARDED ARTS CONNECTION, THE DESIGNATED STATE LOCAL PARTNER ARTS AGENCY FOR SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY TO FOSTER CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE LOCAL LEVEL THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE AND ARTS CONNECTION. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, COUNTY-DESIGNATED LOCAL ARTS AGENCIES RECEIVE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL. THIS GRANT WILL SUPPORT OUR ONGOING EFFORTS IN ADVOCACY, ARTS NONPROFITS CAPACITY BUILDING THROUGH OUR FISCAL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM AND PROGRAM SERVICES FOR THR ARTS AND CULTURAL COMMUNITY IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY. AS A LOCAL ARTS AGENCY, WE ADVOCATE AND PROVIDE RESOURCES, SKILL-SHARING, AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ACROSS CITY AND COUNTY POLICIES, FUNDING, AND PROGRAMMING.ADDITIONALLY, THE CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL CHOSE ALEJANDRO FOR THE CREATIVE ECONOMY WORK PLAN, AS THEY DEVELOPED THE FIRST STATE WIDE CREATIVE ECONOMY STRATEGIC PLANS.ARTS CONNECTION ALSO RECEIVED $ 5,000 IN POETRY OUT LOUD FUNDING TO FURTHER PROMOTE ARTS AND LITERARY ENGAGEMENT.THE INLAND EMPIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, SERVING AS A FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE JUST SAN BERNARDINO COLLABORATIVE PROJECT FUNDED BY THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION, AWARDED ARTS CONNECTION TWO AMOUNTS: $188,000 AND $110,00. THIS FUNDING SUPPORTS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PEOPLE'S PLAN FOR ECONOMIC INCLUSION, WHICH FOCUSES ON CREATING JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT TO FOSTER EQUITABLE EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT PATHWAYS IN SAN BERNARDINO. ARTS CONNECTION IS LEADING EFFORTS TO SHOWCASE HOW THE ARTS IS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER AND ENHANCING THE PROFESSIONAL PATHWAYS FROM CRADLE TO CAREER FOR THE ARTS, MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT SECTORS. ARTS CONNECTION ALSO HELPED PLACE 5 CREATIVE SECTOR INTERNS ACROSS 4 DIFFERENT PLACEMENT SITES AS PART OF THAT WORK. IN THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO, ARTS CONNECTION LED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOLE ALLEY REDEVELOPMENT AND COMMISSIONED 2 LARGE SCALE MURALS DONE BY 6 LOCAL ARTISTS. ALSO IN SAN BERNARDINO, ARTS CONNECTION PARTNERED WITH INSTITUTE FOR THE FUTURE ON CALIFORNIA'S 5TH CLIMATE ASSESSMENT AS THE REGIONAL PARTNER. IN ADDITION, US BANK SUPPORTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARTIST MICROGRANT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES TO SUPPORT THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILL SETS FOR ARTISTS BY AWARDING ARTS CONNECTION A $20,000 GRANT. ARTS CONNECTION ALSO LED THE ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS AND RESEARCH FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DOWNTOWN CULTURAL DISTRICT IN SAN BERNARDINO.

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 April 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.