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Arkansas Venture Center

EIN 46-4108871 · Little Rock, AR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceWeak40 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 24% of its spending went to programs.

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

What it says it does

THE VENTURE CENTER HELPS STARTUPS OBTAIN CUSTOMER VALIDATION & REACH VIABILITY THROUGH SYSTEMATIC PROGRAMMING, PREMIUM MENTORSHIP THAT LEVERAGES BEST PRACTICES IN LEAN METHODOLOGY & STRATEGIC ACCELERATION WITH AN EYE ON REACHING SCALE AND CREATING MEASURABLE ECONOMIC IMPACT.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
24%
Reserves
29 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 75%
Employees
12
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$233,020, executive director

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 29.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% 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 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    24% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 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

    5 of 5

    Keeps 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 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. $300,270 spent. THE VENTURE CENTER PROGRAMMED AND LAUNCHED THREE ACCELERATORS DURING THE YEAR. THE ARKANSAS BANKING SOLUTIONS ACCELERATOR/ABSA IS A CONTINUATION OF THE SUCCESSFUL FINTECH PROGRAM MATCHING FINTECH START-UPS WITH BANKS. THE VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS ACCELERATOR/VOSB, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ARKANSAS SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, IS THE SECOND COHORT OF A TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM HELPING VETERANS SUCCESSFULLY GROW THEIR EXISTING SMALL BUSINESSES. THE ARKANSAS LITHIUM TECHNOLOGY ACCELERATOR/ALTA, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MAJOR ENERGY PRODUCERS, IS A NEW PROGRAM BRINGING LEADING LITHIUM ION BATTERY SUPPLY CHAIN TECHNOLOGY START-UP COMPANIES TO ARKANSAS, TO HELP BUILD A NEW LITHIUM ECONOMY IN SUPPORT OF THE NASCENT LITHIUM MINING AND REFINING INDUSTRY IN SOUTH ARKANSAS.
  2. $15,998 spent. THE VENTURE CENTER HELPED PROGRAM AND LAUNCH THE FIRST ARKANSAS LITHIUM INNOVATION SUMMIT, LED BY ARKANSAS COMMERCE SECRETARY HUGH MCDONALD, WITH THE GOAL OF EDUCATING THE LITHIUM/ENERGY INDUSTRY AND OTHER KEY NATIONAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT, ACADEMIC AND BUSINESS LEADERS ABOUT THE ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF THE STATE'S LITHIUM RESERVES IN THE SMACKOVER FORMATION.
  3. THE VENTURE CENTER'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE CREATION OF MULTIPLE NEW COMPANIES, THE GROWTH OF EXISTING SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE RENEWED INNOVATION OF LARGE CORPORATIONS IN THE STATE. THE VENTURE CENTER IS ALSO FOSTERING AND GROWING A COMMUNITY OF MEMBERS, MENTORS AND PARTNERS THROUGH CURATED PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS RANGING FROM LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS TO SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING EVENTS.

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 May 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.