Sugar Hill Childrens Museum of Art and Storytelling
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $573,129
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- -9.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 69%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $289,078, 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
Weak: 15 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 368% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 178% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 30% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% 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
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 252 of 3 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (1)
- $1.2 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE OOFFERING A ROBUST PROGRAM OF ART EXHIBITIONS, STORYTELLING, ARTIST RESIDENCIES AND INTENSIVE HANDS-ON ART EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THE SUGAR HILL CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF ART & STORYTELLING PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN TO DISCOVER, ENGAGE WITH AND APPRECIATE IMPORTANT WORKS OF ART, AND STRENGTHEN THEIR COGNITIVE AND CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT. THE MUSEUM'S INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAMS TARGET THE DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN AGES 3-8 LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT OF SUGAR HILL, HOME OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE. MUSEUM VISITORS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE A WIDE RANGE OF ARTISTIC PROCESSES, TECHNIQUES AND MATERIALS THROUGH PROGRAMS INSPIRED BY THE WORLD-RENOWNED REGGIO EMILIA SCHOOL IN TUSCANY, ITALY. ROOTED IN COMMUNITY, SELF-GUIDED DISCOVERY AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION, THIS APPROACH TO ART EDUCATION NURTURES AND HONORS THE UNIQUE CONTRIBUTIONS OF CHILDREN AND IS FULLY ALIGNED WITH THE GOALS AND VALUES OF BOTH THE MUSEUM AND BROADWAY HOUSING COMMUNITIES.
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 May 2014.
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.