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Arts Center

EIN 51-0198497 · Carrboro, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ARTSCENTER EXISTS IN ORDER TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE ARTISTIC CREATIVITY AND TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-23.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 64%
Employees
79
Volunteers
57
Highest pay
$81,608, executive director

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

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 10% 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

    5 of 20

    It owes 64% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 61% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 31 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    0 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 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 (4)
  1. $905,328 spent. THE ARTSCENTER'S YOUTH PROGRAM IS PARAMOUNT TO THE MISSION SINCE NEARLY HALF OF THE ARTSCENTER'S PATRONS ARE UNDER AGE 18. FOR OVER FORTY YEARS, ARTSCAMP HAS OFFERED WEEK-LONG SUMMER CAMP SESSIONS FOR GRADES K-9, ALL TAUGHT BY LOCAL PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS. OVER THESE NINE SUMMER WEEKS, AREA YOUTH EXPLORE OVER 150 ARTS EDUCATION CLASSES. CAMPS FOCUS ON SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND DISCOVERING CREATIVE VOICES. IN SUMMER 2025, ARTSCAMP AWARDED 23 ONE-WEEK SCHOLARSHIPS AND SERVED 1,475 CHILDREN. SESSIONS INCLUDED AFRICAN DRUMMING FOR GRADES K-2, NARRATIVE ART FOR GRADES 3-5, AND CERAMICS FOR GRADES 6-9.YOUTH AFTERSCHOOL PROVIDES ARTS ENRICHMENT AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DURING CRITICAL AFTERSCHOOL HOURS FOR CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO YOUTH GRADES K-5. STUDENTS LEARN A VARIETY OF ARTISTIC STYLES, EXPLORE CULTURAL DIVERSITY, DELVE INTO SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, AND DEVELOP SOCIAL SKILLS BY WORKING IN PEER GROUPS. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN NEW ART CLASSES EACH MONTH EXPLORING TECHNIQUES SUCH AS MIXED MEDIA, PRINTING & DYING, AND ART LESSONS INSPIRED BY THE MASTERS. IN 2025, NINETY-SEVEN STUDENTS ATTENDED AFTERSCHOOL FOR EITHER A FULL FIVE-DAY WEEK OR A THREE-DAY WEEK. YOUTH AFTERSCHOOL OFFERED 7 FULL-TIME SCHOLARSHIPS THIS YEAR.
  2. $556,797 spent. ARTSCHOOL SERVES AS THE LARGEST RESOURCE IN ORANGE COUNTY FOR LEARNERS OF ALL AGES TO EXPLORE THEIR ARTISTIC CAPACITY AND CREATIVITY. SESSIONS ARE OFFERED QUARTERLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AT VARIOUS SKILL LEVELS IN AREAS SUCH AS PAINTING, DIGITAL ARTS, WRITING, CERAMICS, IMPROV, FIBER ARTS, DANCE, 3D PRINTING, LASER CUTTING, PHOTOGRAPHY AND MORE. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, LOCAL PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS ENCOURAGE EMERGING ARTISTS AND INCREASE COMMUNITY APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS. IN 2025, ARTSCHOOL OFFERED 341 CLASSES SERVING RESIDENTS OF THE GREATER TRIANGLE AREA INCLUDING DURHAM, HILLSBOROUGH, PITTSBORO, APEX, MEBANE, AND RALEIGH. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS LEARN NEW SKILLS WHILE ALSO DEVELOPING FULLER AND MORE EMPATHETIC PERSPECTIVES ON OTHER CULTURES AND VIEWPOINTS. THESE EXPERIENCES CREATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT IS HEALTHY, VIBRANT AND EQUITABLE.
  3. $281,012 spent. THE PERFORMANCES PROGRAM AIMS TO CREATE AN INSPIRING THEATER EXPERIENCE TO BOTH ARTISTS AND PATRONS. PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS ARE CURATED TO FOCUS ON LOCAL TALENT WHO BRING MUSIC, IMPROV, PUPPETRY, THEATER AND DANCE TO THE ARTSCENTER'S STAGE. 2025 WAS THE SECOND FULL YEAR FOR PERFORMANCES IN THE ARTSCENTER'S NEW HOME; THE NEW SPACE OFFERS FLEXIBLE SEATING AND UPDATED TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT. THE PERFORMANCE SPACE IS ALSO RENTED TO OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS DEPARTMENTS AT UNC-CH AND OTHER NONPROFIT PARTNERS. INDIVIDUALS MAY RENT THE SPACE FOR PRIVATE EVENTS SUCH AS PARTIES, WEDDINGS, AND END-OF-LIFE CELEBRATIONS.
  4. $310,090 spent. THE ARTSCENTER'S ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM PLACES LOCAL PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS IN ALL FIVE OF THE ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT'S TITLE ONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO ENRICH THE EXISTING CURRICULUM THROUGH ARTS EDUCATION, ENGAGEMENT AND JOY MAKING. AIR IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOLS, ORANGE COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND THE ARTSCENTER AND SERVES APPROXIMATELY 2,200 STUDENTS BY BRINGING 5-DAY ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCIES TO GRADES K-5. ADDITIONALLY, EACH SCHOOL ENJOYS TWO PROFESSIONAL THEATER PERFORMANCE SHOWS. THESE ARTS EXPERIENCES ARE OFFERED AT NO COST TO THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS OR FAMILIES.THE ARTSCENTER CONTAINS TWO ART GALLERIES THAT ARE OPEN FREE-OF-CHARGE TO THE PUBLIC AND HOST EXHIBITIONS THAT ROTATE EVERY SIX WEEKS. THE EXHIBITIONS ARE CURATED TO OFFER NEW PERSPECTIVES AND GLIMPSES INTO DIVERSE, CULTURAL EXPERIENCES IN VARIOUS MEDIA FROM LOCAL AND REGIONAL ARTISTS. DURING 2ND FRIDAY ARTWALKS, THE GALLERY BRINGS HUNDREDS OF VISITORS TO THE ARTSCENTER, WHERE THEY EXPERIENCE THE ART OF BOTH ESTABLISHED AND UP-AND-COMING ARTISTS. WHILE IN THE SPACE, VISITORS ALSO LEARN OF THE MANY OFFERINGS OF THE ARTSCENTER AND OFTEN HAVE THE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE AN ART MAKING OPPORTUNITY AND/OR A PERFORMANCE.

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

  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 December 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 November 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 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.