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Central Jersey Arts Council

EIN 47-1473220 · Carteret, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE ARTS, CULTURAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS.

Income
$407,065
Spending
$273,908
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
15 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 61%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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.

  • 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 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)
  1. $112,795 spent. YEAR ROUND ART WORKSHOPS: OUR YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM OF FREE ART WORKSHOPS INVITES THE PUBLIC TO EXPLORE THEIR CREATIVITY THROUGH A DIVERSE RANGE OF HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES. WHETHER YOU'RE INTERESTED IN PAINTING, SCULPTURE, PHOTOGRAPHY, OR MIXED MEDIA, OUR WORKSHOPS OFFER SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. EACH SESSION IS DESIGNED AROUND UNIQUE THEMES AND PROJECTS, ENSURING THAT PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES AND SKILL LEVELS CAN FIND INSPIRATION AND ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. WE ARE ALSO PROUD TO OFFER SENSORY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES, PROVIDING AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SENSORY SENSITIVITIES TO ENJOY ART-MAKING IN A COMFORTABLE SETTING.
  2. $69,480 spent. SUMMER ART IN THE PARK: OUR SUMMER ART IN THE PARK PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED TO BRING CREATIVITY TO THE COMMUNITY EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK. NOW RUNNING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, THIS PROGRAM OFFERS ARTISTS OF ALL AGES THE CHANCE TO ENGAGE IN OUTDOOR ART-MAKING IN A VARIETY OF BEAUTIFUL PARK SETTINGS. EACH DAY, THE PROGRAM ROTATES THROUGH DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ACROSS TOWN, ENSURING THAT EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE, NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE. WHETHER YOU'RE A SEASONED ARTIST OR JUST LOOKING TO EXPLORE YOUR CREATIVE SIDE, ART IN THE PARK PROVIDES A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT TO CREATE, LEARN, AND CONNECT WITH FELLOW ART ENTHUSIASTS IN THE HEART OF NATURE.
  3. $21,866 spent. SEASONAL ANIMATION CAMP WORKSHOP: OUR SEASONAL ANIMATION CAMP WORKSHOP IS A DYNAMIC AND ENGAGING EXPERIENCE TAILORED FOR KIDS AGES 7 THROUGH 14. OVER THE COURSE OF THE WORKSHOP, YOUNG ANIMATORS ARE INTRODUCED TO THE FUNDAMENTALS OF ANIMATION USING SPECIALIZED SOFTWARE ON IPADS, ALLOWING THEM TO BRING THEIR CREATIVE IDEAS TO LIFE. GUIDED BY EXPERIENCED INSTRUCTORS, PARTICIPANTS LEARN THE STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS OF CREATING ANIMATIONS, FROM STORYBOARDING TO FINAL PRODUCTION. THE WORKSHOP CULMINATES IN AN EXCITING SHOWCASE ON THE FINAL DAY, WHERE KIDS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THEIR ORIGINAL ANIMATIONS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS, CELEBRATING THEIR NEWFOUND SKILLS AND ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENTS. THIS CAMP IS A PERFECT BLEND OF TECHNOLOGY, CREATIVITY, AND FUN, DESIGNED TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ANIMATORS.
  4. $25,414 spent. OUR ANNUAL COMIC EXHIBIT, A MUCH-ANTICIPATED EVENT CELEBRATING THE VIBRANT WORLD OF COMICS AND POP CULTURE, HAS NOW EXPANDED BY TWO ADDITIONAL MONTHS DUE TO ITS OVERWHELMING POPULARITY. THIS EXTENDED EXHIBIT OFFERS AN EVEN GREATER OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THE CREATIVE WORKS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL ARTISTS WHO SPECIALIZE IN ALL THINGS COMIC-RELATED, FROM GRAPHIC NOVELS AND CHARACTER DESIGNS TO POP CULTURE-INSPIRED ART. ATTENDEES CAN IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN A DIVERSE ARRAY OF ARTWORK, MEET THE CREATORS, AND EXPERIENCE THE DYNAMIC ENERGY OF THE COMIC COMMUNITY. AS PART OF THE EXHIBIT, WE ARE THRILLED TO OFFER ARTIST PRIZES AND AWARDS, INCLUDING COVETED TICKETS TO NEW YORK COMIC CON, MAKING THIS EVENT NOT ONLY A SHOWCASE BUT ALSO A CELEBRATION OF ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE IN THE COMIC ARTS.

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 November 6, 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 September 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 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.