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Students Motivated by the Arts

EIN 46-5074948 · Youngstown, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SMARTS COMMUNITY ART SCHOOL PROVIDES ACCESS AND EARLY TRAINING IN THE ARTS FOR OUR REGION'S K-12 YOUTH WITH A FOCUS ON UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. SMARTS ENGAGES PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS AND ARTISTS IN COOPERATIVE PROJECTS DESIGNED TO ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY, PROMOTE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, INSPIRE SELF-DISCOVERY, AND IMPACT CULTURAL AND ACADEMIC LITERACY THROUGH FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS.

Income
$867,482
Spending
$755,239
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
63
Volunteers
26
Highest pay
$109,441, president

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 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 (2)
  1. $291,063 spent. COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING - SMARTS PARTNERS WITH SCHOOLS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND YOUTH PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE REGION BOTH DURING AND AFTER SCHOOL BY PROVIDING THEM WITH ART CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES FOR THEIR STUDENTS. SMARTS "PLANTS" SMART COMMUNITY TEACHING ARTISTS TO WORK ALONE OR IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ARTS AND/OR CLASSROOM TEACHERS.
  2. $246,775 spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMMING - SMARTS PROVIDES CLASSES IN VISUAL ARTS, MUSIC, DANCE, THEATRE, AND CREATIVE WRITING FOR OUR REGION'S PRE K-12 YOUTH WITH A FOCUS ON UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. SMARTS IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC WITH CLASSES TAKING PLACE IN THE HISTORIC OHIO ONE BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN YOUNGSTOWN AFTER SCHOOL AND SATURDAYS. CLASSES ARE OFFERED IN THE FALL, SPRING AND SUMMER.

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 June 2015.

    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.