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Side X Side Inc

EIN 47-2078278 · Portland, ME

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IGNITE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE ARTS INTEGRATION, BRINGING CRITICAL THINKING, CREATIVITY, AND INNOVATION INTO THE CLASSROOM THROUGH ARTS-BASED PROGRAMS.

Income
$511,220
Spending
$479,692
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
5
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$108,314, executive director

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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $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

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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 (4)
  1. $243,830 spent. DURING THE 2024-25 FISCAL YEAR, SIDE X SIDE PROVIDED ARTS INTEGRATION EXPERIENCES TO OVER 1,000 PRE-K-8TH GRADE STUDENTS, AND 298 EDUCATORS IN 10 SCHOOLS ACROSS TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
  2. $42,296 spent. PROJECT MAINE, A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES WITH INTERACTIVE WEBINARS AND IN PERSON VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS WORKSHOPS AROUND THE STATE. A PROJECT MANUAL FOR PARTICIPANTS AND DOCUMENTATION OF THE ARTS INTEGRATED PROGRAMMING WAS GENERATED DURING THIS YEAR. THIS WORK WAS FUNDED BY A CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTED SPENDING GRANT THROUGH THE OFFICE OF SENATOR ANGUS KING AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. WE COMPLETED OUR PROJECT MAINE WORK IN THE EARLY PART OF FY2025.
  3. $23,447 spent. MAINE CREATES, IS A STATEWIDE INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO TRAIN TEACHING ARTISTS, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, AND ENHANCE THE WELL-BEING OF MAINE PEOPLE THROUGHT THE POWER OF THE ARTS. DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MAINE ARTS COMMISSION, THE PROGRAM INVESTS IN LOCAL CREATIVITY BY UNCOVERING HIDDEN ASSETS WITHIN EACH COMMUNITY.
  4. $11,513 spent. WE STARTED OFFERING COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAMMING INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING:AFTER-SCHOOL ART CLASSES,OAK STREET STUDIOS PROVIDES ART CLASSES FOR KIDS AGES 6 AND UP AT OUR STUDIO. CLASSES MEET ONCE A WEEK FOR THREE TRIMESTERS. OUR PROJECTS ARE BASED IN ART HISTORY AND CHILDREN'S LITERATURE. WE USE FINE ARTS MATERIALS AND STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN AN ART SHOW AT THE END OF EACH CLASS TRIMESTER.SUMMER ART CAMPS,ALL SUMMER CAMPS ARE ONE WEEK LONG, WITH AGES 6-12 YEAR OLDS. EACH CAMP HAS UP TO 12 CAMPERS WITH AN INSTRUCTOR AND AN ASSISTANT. CAMPS FEATURE ART MAKING OPPORTUNITIES IN A VARIETY OF MEDIUMS: PAINTING, DRAWING, MIXED MEDIA, SCULPTURE, SEWING, COLLAGE, ETC. AS WELL AS FIELD TRIPS AND PLAYGROUND OUTINGS. STUDENTS LEARN FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS AND DEVELOP THEIR OWN ARTISTIC STYLE WHILE CREATING BEAUTIFUL ART. VACATION WEEK ART CAMPS,WE OFFER ART CAMPS DURING THE PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS FEBRUARY AND APRIL VACATION WEEKS. THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, STUDENTS WORK WITH A VARIETY OF MATERIALS INCLUDING PAINT, FABRIC, RECYCLED OBJECTS, AND MIXED MEDIA, ALL WHILE DEVELOPING THEIR OWN UNIQUE ARTISTIC VOICE. AT THE END OF THE WEEK, EACH STUDENT WILL LEAVE WITH A COLLECTION OF THEIR OWN CREATIONS, NEW SKILLS, AND A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR THE POWER OF ART.

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 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 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 March 2016.

    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.