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Acadiana Center for the Arts

EIN 51-0138288 · Lafayette, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOSTERING ART AND CULTURE IN ACADIANA - THE ACA PROVIDES EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES TO ALL AGES, GRANT FUNDS AND ASSISTANCE TO NONPROFITS, AND VISUAL ART EXHIBITS AND PERFORMANCES IN A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY.

Income
$5.4 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 39%
Employees
44

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

Fair: 64 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% 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 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Good: 81 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    34 of 34 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

    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

    0 of 10

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (5)
  1. $435,396 spent. VISUAL ART EXHIBITS AND PERFORMANCES- THE VISUAL ARTS PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED A ROBUST EXHIBITION SCHEDULE IN APPROXIMATELY 6,000 SQUARE FEET OF MUSEUM- QUALITY GALLERY SPACE. IN 2024-2025, ACA OPENED 18 EXHIBITIONS FEATURING 211 EXHIBITING ARTISTS AND WELCOMED 14,049 VISITORS, INCLUDING MEMBERS, STUDENTS, TOURISTS, AND PUBLIC PROGRAM ATTENDEES. EXHIBITIONS ADDRESSED REGIONAL HISTORY, ECOLOGY, AND PLACE, AND INCLUDED A LARGE THEMATIC EXHIBITION INVITING LOUISIANA ARTISTS TO INTERPRET "OUR POINT IN SPACE." ACROSS ALL GALLERIES, ACA PRESENTED A WIDE RANGE OF MEDIA AND PERSPECTIVES, FOSTERING DIALOGUE BETWEEN ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING ARTISTS AND BETWEEN TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY PRACTICES.
  2. $900,805 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH - ACA'S ARTS IN EDUCATION (AIE) PROGRAM IS A PRIMARY EXPRESSION OF THE TEACH PATHWAY WITHIN LET CULTURE LEAD AND REPRESENTS ONE OF THE LARGEST YOUTH-SERVING ARTS EFFORTS IN LOUISIANA. IN 2024-2025, AIE SERVED 41,650 STUDENTS AT 97 SCHOOLS, DELIVERED 8,950 CLASSROOM SESSIONS, PROVIDED 204 FIELD-TRIP PERFORMANCES AND ARTS-BASED STUDENT EXPERIENCES, EMPLOYED 80 TEACHING ARTISTS, AND OFFERED 131 EDUCATOR TRAININGS. APPROXIMATELY 9,000 STUDENTS RECEIVED WEEKLY ARTS-INTEGRATED CLASSES FOR 16 WEEKS THROUGH THE PACE (PRIMARY ACADEMIC CREATIVE EXPERIENCES) PROGRAM. THE YEAR ALSO MARKED A FULL DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP WITH VERMILION PARISH, DEEPER WORK IN LAFAYETTE PARISH THROUGH THE "EVERYBODY GROWS" PILOT AT THREE ACE SCHOOLS, AND NEW AGREEMENTS TO EXPAND AIE INTO EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL IN IBERIA AND ST. MARTIN PARISHES IN 2025-2026. VISIONARIES DONOR SUPPORT, ORGANIZED WITH THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF ACADIANA, CONTINUED TO PROVIDE CRITICAL MATCHING FUNDS TOWARD A LONG-TERM GOAL OF SERVING 203 SCHOOLS AND MORE THAN 80,000 STUDENTS BY 2030. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH - ACA'S ARTS IN EDUCATION (AIE) PROGRAM IS A PRIMARY EXPRESSION OF THE TEACH PATHWAY WITHIN LET CULTURE LEAD AND REPRESENTS ONE OF THE LARGEST YOUTH-SERVING ARTS EFFORTS IN LOUISIANA. IN 2024-2025, AIE SERVED 41,650 STUDENTS AT 97 SCHOOLS, DELIVERED 8,950 CLASSROOM SESSIONS, PROVIDED 204 FIELD-TRIP PERFORMANCES AND ARTS-BASED STUDENT EXPERIENCES, EMPLOYED 80 TEACHING ARTISTS, AND OFFERED 131 EDUCATOR TRAININGS. APPROXIMATELY 9,000 STUDENTS RECEIVED WEEKLY ARTS-INTEGRATED CLASSES FOR 16 WEEKS THROUGH THE PACE (PRIMARY ACADEMIC CREATIVE EXPERIENCES) PROGRAM. THE YEAR ALSO MARKED A FULL DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP WITH VERMILION PARISH, DEEPER WORK IN LAFAYETTE PARISH THROUGH THE "EVERYBODY GROWS" PILOT AT THREE ACE SCHOOLS, AND NEW AGREEMENTS TO EXPAND AIE INTO EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL IN IBERIA AND ST. MARTIN PARISHES IN 2025-2026. VISIONARIES DONOR SUPPORT, ORGANIZED WITH THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF ACADIANA, CONTINUED TO PROVIDE CRITICAL MATCHING FUNDS TOWARD A LONG-TERM GOAL OF SERVING 203 SCHOOLS AND MORE THAN 80,000 STUDENTS BY 2030.
  3. $302,735 spent. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING ACADIANA'S CREATIVE ECOSYSTEM AND SUPPORTING ARTISTS, CULTURE-BEARERS, AND COMMUNITIES. IN 2024-2025, ACA DELIVERED 34 PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS (WORKSHOPS, ARTIST ROUNDUPS, ARTIST TALKS, STATE OF THE ARTS, AND INFORMATION SESSIONS) WITH 917 TOTAL ATTENDEES AND ENGAGED 1,397 ARTISTS AND CREATIVES, INCLUDING PARTICIPANTS IN GRANT PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC ART PROJECTS. ACA HOSTED 11 PAID WORKSHOPS AND ROUNDTABLES WITH 141 ATTENDEES AND DISTRIBUTED 222,966 IN GRANTS AND STIPENDS TO 60 AWARDEES THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS ARTSPARK, ARTS GRANTS FOR TEACHERS, LOUISIANA PROJECT GRANT, LAFAYETTE ARTS AND CULTURE GRANT, THE COURTNEY GRANGER MEMORIAL AWARD, AND THE JEAN BREAUX AWARD. PARTICIPANTS REPORTED THAT THE COMBINATION OF FUNDING, WORKSHOPS, AND MENTORING MADE OPPORTUNITIES MORE ACCESSIBLE AND COLLABORATIVE. ACA ALSO DEEPENED PARTNERSHIPS WITH LFT FIBER, THE LAFAYETTE PUBLIC ART NETWORK, AND REGIONAL PUBLIC AGENCIES TO ALIGN CULTURAL PROGRAMMING WITH BROADER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GOALS. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING ACADIANA'S CREATIVE ECOSYSTEM AND SUPPORTING ARTISTS, CULTURE-BEARERS, AND COMMUNITIES. IN 2024-2025, ACA DELIVERED 34 PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS (WORKSHOPS, ARTIST ROUNDUPS, ARTIST TALKS, STATE OF THE ARTS, AND INFORMATION SESSIONS) WITH 917 TOTAL ATTENDEES AND ENGAGED 1,397 ARTISTS AND CREATIVES, INCLUDING PARTICIPANTS IN GRANT PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC ART PROJECTS. ACA HOSTED 11 PAID WORKSHOPS AND ROUNDTABLES WITH 141 ATTENDEES AND DISTRIBUTED 222,966 IN GRANTS AND STIPENDS TO 60 AWARDEES THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS ARTSPARK, ARTS GRANTS FOR TEACHERS, LOUISIANA PROJECT GRANT, LAFAYETTE ARTS AND CULTURE GRANT, THE COURTNEY GRANGER MEMORIAL AWARD, AND THE JEAN BREAUX AWARD. PARTICIPANTS REPORTED THAT THE COMBINATION OF FUNDING, WORKSHOPS, AND MENTORING MADE OPPORTUNITIES MORE ACCESSIBLE AND COLLABORATIVE. ACA ALSO DEEPENED PARTNERSHIPS WITH LFT FIBER, THE LAFAYETTE PUBLIC ART NETWORK, AND REGIONAL PUBLIC AGENCIES TO ALIGN CULTURAL PROGRAMMING WITH BROADER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
  4. $617,293 spent. OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS - THE LOUISIANA MUSIC MUSEUM ADVANCED AS A FLAGSHIP PROJECT WITHIN ACAS BUILD PATHWAY, HOSTING 104 PLANNING MEETINGS AND ENGAGING 565 STAKEHOLDERS, WHILE SECURING 3.5 MILLION TOWARD ITS CAPITAL GOAL TO CREATE A MUSEUM-QUALITY FACILITY IN DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE. THE LOUISIANA SCORING INITIATIVE COMPLETED ITS FIRST FULL YEAR, SERVING NINE CLIENTS, EMPLOYING 128 MUSICIANS, AND PRODUCING ORCHESTRAL AND MEDIA SCORES, STRENGTHENING LOUISIANAS MUSIC WORKFORCE. ACA AMPLIFIED ITS REACH THROUGH MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT, GROWING ITS EMAIL LIST TO 11,663, SOCIAL MEDIA AUDIENCE TO NEARLY 34,000, AND RAISING 1.1 MILLION IN ANNUAL FUNDS, WITH LET CULTURE LEAD COMMITMENTS REACHING 5.84 MILLION. MEMBERSHIP INCREASED BY 16% TO 692, AND OPERATIONS HOSTED 60 RENTALS WHILE COMPLETING A 600,000 ROOF REPLACEMENT, ENSURING THE FACILITY REMAINS A DURABLE CULTURAL ANCHOR.
  5. OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS - THE LOUISIANA MUSIC MUSEUM ADVANCED AS A FLAGSHIP PROJECT WITHIN ACAS BUILD PATHWAY, HOSTING 104 PLANNING MEETINGS AND ENGAGING 565 STAKEHOLDERS, WHILE SECURING 3.5 MILLION TOWARD ITS CAPITAL GOAL TO CREATE A MUSEUM-QUALITY FACILITY IN DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE. THE LOUISIANA SCORING INITIATIVE COMPLETED ITS FIRST FULL YEAR, SERVING NINE CLIENTS, EMPLOYING 128 MUSICIANS, AND PRODUCING ORCHESTRAL AND MEDIA SCORES, STRENGTHENING LOUISIANAS MUSIC WORKFORCE. ACA AMPLIFIED ITS REACH THROUGH MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT, GROWING ITS EMAIL LIST TO 11,663, SOCIAL MEDIA AUDIENCE TO NEARLY 34,000, AND RAISING 1.1 MILLION IN ANNUAL FUNDS, WITH LET CULTURE LEAD COMMITMENTS REACHING 5.84 MILLION. MEMBERSHIP INCREASED BY 16% TO 692, AND OPERATIONS HOSTED 60 RENTALS WHILE COMPLETING A 600,000 ROOF REPLACEMENT, ENSURING THE FACILITY REMAINS A DURABLE CULTURAL ANCHOR.

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 June 1975.

    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.