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Delaware College of Art and Design

EIN 52-2027415 · Wilmington, DE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak21 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PRIOR TO ITS CLOSURE DCAD PROVIDED STUDENTS WITH THOROUGH PREPARATION IN ART AND DESIGN THROUGH ITS PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS. THE COLLEGE ALSO SERVEED WILMINGTON'S EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL LIFE THROUGH ITS CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ACTIVITIES.

Income
$107,952
Spending
$620,680
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 61%
Employees
53
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$173,836, president

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: 21 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 100% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 475% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 98% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $436,000 spent. DURING APRIL 2024, DCAD'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS VOTED TO PERMANENTLY CLOSE THE SCHOOL AT THE END OF THE 2024 SPRING SEMESTER. PRIOR TO ITS CLOSURE DCAD OFFERED ASSOCIATE DEGREES IN ANIMATION, FINE ART, GAME ART, GRAPHIC DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION, AND PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO, ALONG WITH PROGRAMS IN CONTINUING EDUCATION.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1997.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Otis College of Art and Design (Los Angeles, CA), EIN 13-2981115. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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.