Professional Artistic Research Projects
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
PAR-Projects' mission is to empower diverse communities of people who believe in the arts. As educators, we provide classes and workshops related to creative career paths. As working artists, we enjoy hosting thought-provoking exhibitions and collaborations with regional artists focused on making creatively compelling statements.
- Income
- $265,853
- Spending
- $276,796
- Spent on programs
- 98%
- Reserves
- -57.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 86%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 24
- Highest pay
- $42,000, 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: 43 out of 100. Higher than 12% 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
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 30% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1598% 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
Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 8 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
0 of 7Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (4)
- $157,857 spent. Arts and Exhibition Facilities: We create space for artists to collaborate and engage with community, while expanding their social and professional networks. This is accomplished via the creation of pop-up (temporary) galleries and the ongoing renovation & expansion of our creative campus, locate in Northside, Cincinnati. Within these spaces we exhibit artwork & creative statements, oftentimes absorbing the cost of travel, shipping, and installation to alleviate burdens often faced by mid-career artists.
- $42,292 spent. Collaborations & Community Engagement Programming: We create opportunities for collaborative projects to help support fellow nonprofits, working artists, and partnering businesses looking to give back to the community. These often present themselves as fine art exhibitions, pop-up (temporary) experiences, art markets, and shared experiences & festivals.
- $48,323 spent. Visiting Artist and Education Program: We create educational opportunities that benefit our communities, as well as artists of the region. As we are still adjusting from the COVID 19 lockdown, our primary expenses of this program were related to planning and equipment purchases, as we look to begin our full relaunch during the 2025/2026 school year.
- $23,171 spent. As part of our service and support of working artists, we serve as the fiscal agent for like-minded organizations who provide direct services that benefit the community at large. This helps us strengthen our support for community education, outreach, and workforce development.
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 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 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 October 2015.
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.
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.