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EIN 47-3537151 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak42 out of 100GovernanceFair53 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • 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

TO ADVOCATE EDUCATION AND PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE BY HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE ARTS TO FOSTER COMMUNITY CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
-0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 100%
Employees
7
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$167,681, executive di

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: 42 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 143% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% 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: 53 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports 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 (2)
  1. $1.9 million spent. TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION, CIVIC ARTS PROVIDES SERVICES IN PROFESSIONAL POLICY, EVALUATION, AND ENGAGEMENT BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF OUR OWN COMMUNITY. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: WE WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP EQUITABLE EVALUATION PLANS AND ARTS-BASED PROJECT STRATEGIES. WE WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS TO FIRST IDENTIFY WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE GROUND, AND THEN IDENTIFY KEY TOOLS THAT CAN HELP TO MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD WITH ITS OWN VOICE. AT THEIR CORE, OUR APPROACHES ENSURE THAT ALL PROJECTS ARE RUN WITH, BY, AND FOR THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. FIELD BUILDING: WE HELP ADVANCE ARTS-BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE COLLABORATIVE CREATION OF ACTION PLANS AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THAT FIND GROUNDED WAYS IN WHICH THE ARTS CAN TAKE A LARGER ROLE IN MEETING ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS. POLICY SOLUTIONS: WE CRAFT LOCALLY TAILORED PLANS THAT COMBINE QUANTITATIVE DATA WITH ROBUST COMMUNITY DIALOGUES IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY STRATEGIC INSIGHTS FOR HOW THE ARTS AND CULTURE CAN FURTHER URBAN AND ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS. ENGAGEMENT PLANNING: WE MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE BY ENSURING THAT THE ARTS HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE IN CREATING ROBUST CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESSES THAT ARE GROUNDED WITHIN LARGER COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS. TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION, CIVIC ARTS PROVIDES SERVICES IN PROFESSIONAL POLICY, EVALUATION, AND ENGAGEMENT BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF OUR OWN COMMUNITY. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: WE WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP EQUITABLE EVALUATION PLANS AND ARTS-BASED PROJECT STRATEGIES. WE WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS TO FIRST IDENTIFY WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE GROUND, AND THEN IDENTIFY KEY TOOLS THAT CAN HELP TO MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD WITH ITS OWN VOICE. AT THEIR CORE, OUR APPROACHES ENSURE THAT ALL PROJECTS ARE RUN WITH, BY, AND FOR THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. FIELD BUILDING: WE HELP ADVANCE ARTS-BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE COLLABORATIVE CREATION OF ACTION PLANS AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THAT FIND GROUNDED WAYS IN WHICH THE ARTS CAN TAKE A LARGER ROLE IN MEETING ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS. POLICY SOLUTIONS: WE CRAFT LOCALLY TAILORED PLANS THAT COMBINE QUANTITATIVE DATA WITH ROBUST COMMUNITY DIALOGUES IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY STRATEGIC INSIGHTS FOR HOW THE ARTS AND CULTURE CAN FURTHER URBAN AND ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS. ENGAGEMENT PLANNING: WE MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE BY ENSURING THAT THE ARTS HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE IN CREATING ROBUST CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESSES THAT ARE GROUNDED WITHIN LARGER COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS.
  2. $15,449 spent. LOCAL INITIATIVES WE BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE GREATEST WAYS WE CAN SUPPORT ARTS AND CULTURE'S GROWING ROLE WITHIN CIVIC AND COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS IS TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND GET TO WORK. HERE IN AUSTIN, TX WE PROUDLY LEAD THE ARTS IN SACRED PLACES PROGRAM, AND SERVE ALONGSIDE OUR MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THE RUNDBERG R.E.A.D. ALLIANCE.

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 September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on September 15, 2020 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on September 15, 2020.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2021.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.