Armed Services Arts Partnership
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP) is a nonprofit with a mission to build creative communities where veterans and their families thrive through the arts.
- Income
- $2.1 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 4.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 85%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $146,346, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 47% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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, 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 (1)
- $1.3 million spent. ASAP programs include:(1) Classes: We offer seven-week, deep-dive classes in stand-up comedy, storytelling, improv, creative writing, theater acting, and visual arts. These classes provide participants an outlet for creative expression, skill-development, and camaraderie in a supportive environment. With two instructors and 12 veterans typically in each class, participants receive direct, personal attention and establish meaningful relationships with their peers. Classes culminate with graduation shows, which offer veterans a platform to share their talents with a public audience.(2) Workshops: We host introductory workshops ranging from three hours to two days across a broad variety of artistic disciplines taught by our corps of veteran instructors, local arts organizations, and members of our Artist Council. The frequency and diversity of these workshops provide veterans with accessible and continuous opportunities to grow, create, and connect with fellow veterans. (3) Performances: We collaborate with local partners to host community performances almost every week that offer veterans the opportunity to tell their stories and showcase their talents with supportive audiences. The consistency and intimacy of these performances build our performers' confidence while bridging the military-civilian divide with our audience. (4) Partnerships: Continuity of artistic engagement with our participants is critical for sustained outcomes around well-being. Therefore, we weave our offerings into the tapestry of local arts ecosystems by delivering the majority of our programs in collaboration with our partners - and we encourage our alumni to participate in partners' programming. If participants cannot afford our partners' advanced offerings, they may apply for support through our Scholarship Fund. This ensures any veteran who wants to grow through the arts can do so with ASAP.(5) Leadership Development Program: Graduates of ASAP classes who demonstrate commitment and express interest in mentoring or teaching future ASAP participants have the opportunity to enroll in our Leadership Development Program, which equips veterans to serve as an Alumni Mentor to a future class cohort or ultimately become a paid instructor for programs. In addition to providing alumni an opportunity to grow as leaders and serve fellow veterans, this provides ASAP a sustainable funnel of instructors who understand our culture and mission. (6) Teaching Artist Training: Arts organizations face significant barriers to supporting veterans and ASAP equips them to do so. Challenges for arts organizations include accessing the veteran population, offering trauma-aware programming, and demonstrating the impact of arts programs. We reduce these barriers and enhance capacity by offering an annual Teaching Artist Training (TAT) delivered by behavioral health specialists and ASAP staff. The training equips arts organizations and teaching artists with: (a) an understanding of military culture and how it manifests in the classroom, (b) the foundational elements of trauma awareness, and (c) grounding, mindfulness, and communication techniques to respond to crisis scenarios in the classroom. (7) Research, Monitoring & Evaluation: ASAP conducts research to monitor, evaluate, and improve our programming and to share best practices on community arts initiatives serving veterans. We publicly share the findings of our research so other organizations may learn from our best practices and better serve the military community.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.
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 September 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 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.