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Arts for Learning Maryland Inc

EIN 52-0698849 · Baltimore, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES AND EDUCATION OF OUR YOUTH THROUGH THE ARTS BY CONNECTING EDUCATORS, PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS, AND COMMUNITIES. THIS MISSION IS ACHIEVED BY PROVIDING ASSEMBLIES, WORKSHOPS, RESIDENCIES, PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATORS AND ARTISTS THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS AND ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ANY ORGANIZATION OR SCHOOL REGARDLESS OF THEIR RESOURCES. ARTS FOR LEARNING CONDUCTS RESEARCH TO DEMONSTRATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ITS ARTS INTEGRATION MODEL ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. ARTS FOR LEARNING RECEIVED A 4 YEAR RESEARCH GRANT FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (EDUCATION INNOVATION RESEARCH) WHICH, WHEN COMPLETED, WILL BE THE LARGEST DATA COLLECTION OF AN ARTS INTEGRATION MODEL IN THE COUNTRY. A4L AIMS TO USE THIS RESEARCH, AS WELL AS ITS PAST RESEARCH, TO INFLUENCE TEACHING AND LEARNING AT A STATE LEVEL.

Income
$16.6 million
Spending
$15.8 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 72%
Employees
680
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$228,643, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 August 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. $10.0 million spent. ASALA IS OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE PROGRAM PAIRS A CLASSROOM TEACHER AND A PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTIST TO DELIVER ARTS-INTEGRATED MATH AND LITERACY LESSONS TO ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. PARTICIPATING STUDENTS RECEIVE THREE HOURS OF EXTENDED ACADEMIC LEARNING AND ENRICHMENT PER DAY, FOUR DAYS A WEEK. STUDENTS ARE INTRODUCED TO A WIDE VARIETY OF ART FORMS, FROM ILLUSTRATION AND SPOKEN WORD TO PERCUSSION, DRAMA, AND DANCE, AND HAVE A CHANCE TO WORK ALONGSIDE STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE CITY AND LEARN FROM PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS. DURING THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2025, ARTS FOR LEARNING SERVED 610 STUDENTS WITH 88,569 STUDENT LEARNING HOURS.
  2. $2.0 million spent. SALA IS AN AWARD WINNING SUMMER PROGRAM, OPERATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BALTIMORE CITY SCHOOLS. THIS FIVE-WEEK, FULL-DAY SUMMER PROGRAM CURBS SUMMER LEARNING LOSS IN LITERACY AND MATH BY PROVIDING ARTS-INTEGRATED INSTRUCTION. THE POWER OF SALA LIES IN THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN TEACHING ARTISTS AND EDUCATORS WHO CO-TEACH CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM, PREK THROUGH SIXTH GRADE. IN ADDITION TO ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, STUDENTS HAVE ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ARTS, ATHLETICS, ROBOTICS, AND FIELD TRIPS. STUDENTS DEVELOP SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY, EXPAND THEIR CREATIVE PROCESS, AND EXPLORE ARTS EXPERIENCES THAT SUPPORT THEIR GROWTH. DURING THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2025, ARTS FOR LEARNING SERVED 1,980 STUDENTS THROUGH SALA.
  3. $1.5 million spent. AS THE MARYLAND AFFILIATE OF WOLF TRAP INSTITUTE FOR EARLY LEARNING, THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS RESIDENCY PROGRAMS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS (FROM BIRTH THROUGH KINDERGARTEN). ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION ALSO OFFERS DIVERSE EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOPS, TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND ASSEMBLIES. THESE WORKSHOPS ARE LED BY WOLF TRAP MASTER TEACHING ARTISTS AND OUR DIRECTOR OF EARLY CHILDHOOD. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS PARTICIPATING CHILD CARE PROVIDERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN THE MSDE CORE OF KNOWLEDGE HOURS REQUIRED TO RETAIN THEIR LICENSES, WHICH ALLOWS THE ORGANIZATION TO RECRUIT AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH MANY NEW CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.DURING THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2025, ARTS FOR LEARNING REACHED 13,627 EARLY LEARNERS THROUGH OUR PROGRAMMING.
  4. $1.3 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION DRIVES STUDENT SUCCESS AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION ACROSS MARYLAND THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE SUITE OF ARTS-INTEGRATED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THIS INCLUDES LIVE ASSEMBLIES THAT EXPOSE AUDIENCES OF UP TO 250 STUDENTS AT A TIME TO DIVERSE CULTURES, CORE CURRICULA, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS; CLASSROOM RESIDENCIES (SERVING YOUTH FROM BIRTH THROUGH GRADE 12) WHERE PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS COLLABORATE WITH EDUCATORS TO DELIVER DEEP-DIVE FINE ARTS AND ARTS-INTEGRATED LESSONS; AND HANDS-ON FAMILY ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOPS THAT BLEND ARTS WITH LITERACY, STEM, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING. TO EXPAND STATEWIDE ACCESS, THE ORGANIZATION HOSTS LIVE-STREAMED VIRTUAL CULTURAL FESTIVALS FOR SCHOOLS, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY DELIVERING ROBUST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMSRANGING FROM LOCALIZED WORKSHOPS TO INTENSIVE, YEARLONG FELLOWSHIPS FOR SCHOOL LEADERSTHAT EMPOWER ADULTS TO USE THE ARTS AS A POWERFUL VEHICLE FOR INSPIRATION, EQUITY, AND JOY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 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 August 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 1959.

    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.