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Chicago Artists Coalition

EIN 51-0136854 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceFair52 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 42% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

CAC's programs reflect our commitment to empowering local artists through professional career training, exhibition and networking opportunities, and building a supportive patron base. Our philosophy is that by helping more artists sustain their practice here in Chicago, more will want to live and work here.

Income
$531,514
Spending
$400,137
Spent on programs
42%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
2
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$73,846, 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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 61% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    42% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

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

  • 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 (3)
  1. $167,192 spent. CAC'S EDUCATION STRATEGY IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE VITAL SKILL SETS AND RESOURCES THAT EMPOWER ARTISTS AND ARTS PROFESSIONALS TO NURTURE AND SUSTAIN DYNAMIC CREATIVE CAREERS. THE ORGANIZATION'S APPROACH TO EDUCATION BUILDING. BOLT OFFERS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR WORKING ARTISTS WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAM'S IS ROOTED IN TWO PRIMARY PROGRAMS: FIELD/WORK AND LAUNCH INVITATIONAL RESIDENCY. FIELD/WORK IS A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES PUBLIC PORGRAMS AND A SIX MONTH RESIDENCY, FEATURING WORKSHOPS AND PANEL CONVERSATIONS, INDIVIDULA CONSULTATIONS AND CAREER STAGES WITH THE EDUCATIONAL SKILLS AND COMMUNITY NEEDED FOR CREATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS. LAUNCH INVITATIONAL RESIDENCY IS A NOMINATION-BASED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ORGANIZED EVERY JUNE FOR ARTISTS EMERGING FROM CHICAGO AREA UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOLS. OFFERED TO A LIMITED NUMBER OF PROMISING STUDENTS IDENTIFIED BY FACULTY, THE FOUR-DAY-LONG EXPERIENCE CREATES A RIGOROUS ENVIRONMENT WITHIN WHICH ARTISTS LEARN CAREER-BUILDING SKILLS FROM BOTH PROFESSIONALS AND PEERS.
  2. CAC'S BOLT RESIDENCY IS A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE, JURIED, ONE-YEAR ARTIST STUDIO RESIDENCY PROGRAM. THE ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM OFFERS EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED ARTISTS A PLATFORM FOR THE INVESTIGATION, EXPERIMENTATION, AND DEVELOPMENT OF IDEAS REGARDING CONTEMPORARY ARTISTIC PRACTICE WHILE LIVING AND WORKING IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO. THE PROGRAM'S MISSION IS TO HELP ARTISTS ADVANCE THEIR CAREER IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS FOR EXPANSIVE THINKING AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH THEIR CO-RESIDENTS IN A GROUP SETTING, AS WELL AS WITH INFLUENTIAL ARTISTS, CURATORS, AND EDUCATORS THROUGH INDIVIDUAL STUDIO VISITS. BOLT RESIDENCY PROVIDES SIX (6) PROFESSIONAL OPEN-PLAN STUDIOS AND A 400-SQUARE-FOOT GALLERY SPACE FOR A SOLO EXHIBITION. THE PROGRAM IS NONRESIDENTIAL: NO ROOM/BOARD IS OFFERED.
  3. HATCH PROJECTS IS A YEARLONG, JURIED INCUBATOR FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS AND CURATORS THAT STRIVE TO SUPPORT AN ECOLOGY OF CURATORIALAND ARTISTIC PRACTICE. HATCH FOSTERS SHARED EXPERIMENTATION, EXCHANGE, AND CREATIVITY TO PRODUCE GROUND-BREAKING EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMS. ARTIST RESIDENTS ARE DIVIDED INTO GROUPS OF 4 TO WORK WITH ONE CURATORIAL RESIDENT. SELECTED ARTISTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN A DUO AND 4-PERSON EXHIBITION ORGANIZED BY THEIR CURATORIAL RESIDENT. EACH ARTIST RESIDENT RECEIVES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH DYNAMIC EXHIBITIONS, ONE-ON-ONE STUDIO VISITS, PUBLIC PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING TO DEVELOP A SUSTAINABLE CREATIVE PRACTICE. THROUGH THIS UNIQUE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, ARTIST RESIDENTS DEVELOP VALUABLE INSIGHT AND EXPERIENCE IN CONTEMPORARY EXHIBITION-MAKING.

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 October 13, 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 May 1976.

    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 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.