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Sitar Arts Center

EIN 52-2113471 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak29 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
-12.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
125
Volunteers
136
Highest pay
$174,386, 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: 29 out of 100. Higher than 3% 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

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    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 (3)
  1. $1.3 million spent. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS, AGES 14-24, ENGAGE IN YEAR-ROUND ARTS-BASED LEADERSHIP AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING. SITAR OFFERS THREE TIERED PROGRAMS: SITAR EMERGING ARTS LEADERS INTERNSHIPS ARE PAID, PROJECT-BASED SUMMER INTERNSHIPS FOR YOUTH IN MURAL ARTS, ARTS EDUCATION, OR MUSICAL THEATER; BLOOMBERG ARTS INTERNSHIP OFFERS YEAR-ROUND PAID INTERNSHIPS AND COLLEGE PREP FOR RISING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS TO SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL POST-SECONDARY TRANSITIONS WHILE DEVELOPING THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE CREATIVE SECTOR AS A CAREER PATH; AND ARTS ADVANCE: CAREER STUDIOS ENGAGES OLDER YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD SKILLS FOR CAREERS IN THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES.
  2. $865,252 spent. ARTS AFTERSCHOOL: EVERY DAY AFTERSCHOOL, AND ON SATURDAYS, DC YOUTH CHOOSE FROM 40+ MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ARTS CLASSES AND PRIVATE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC LESSONS TO ENROLL IN EACH SEMESTER. THE PROGRAMS ENGAGE STUDENTS FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIGHSCHOOL IN VISUAL, PERFORMING, AND DIGITAL ARTS EDUCATION. THROUGH MULTIGENERATIONAL MUSIC, ART, MOVEMENT, AND THEATER CLASSES, OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS DEVELOP PRELITERACY SKILLS, BECOME MORE SOCIALLY AWARE AND CONFIDENT, AND BEGIN THEIR PATH TO LIFELONG AND SELF ADVOCATING LEARNING. ACROSS THE SEMESTER, SCHOOL-AGED STUDENTS DEVELOP ARTISTIC SKILLS AND 21ST CENTURY LEARNING AND WORK SKILLS, AND WORK TOWARDS AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP PROJECT OR PERFORMANCE. AT THE END OF EACH SEMESTER, STUDENTS SHARE THEIR COMPLETED WORKS WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE STUDENT SHOWCASE.PROGRAMS ARE ENRICHED BY RENOWNED ARTISTIC PARTNERS SUCH AS THE DC JAZZ FESTIVAL, LEVINE MUSIC, WASHINGTON BALLET, DC YOUTH ORCHESTRA AND MORE. WHEN STUDENTS REACH 7TH GRADE, THEY CAN ENROLL IN THE SITAR EMERGING ARTS LEADERS PROGRAM WHERE THEY BEGIN TO MASTER ARTISTIC SKILLS, AND BUILD MEANINGFUL SOCIAL CONNECTIONS THROUGH WORKSHOPS, MENTORSHIPS, FIELD TRIPS TO CULTURAL VENUES AND COLLEGES, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES.
  3. $832,395 spent. SUMMER AT SITAR: CAMP SITAR IS A SIX-WEEK, FULL DAY SUMMER PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ARTS LEARNING AND HELPS FILL GAPS IN DC'S CITY-WIDE NEED FOR SUMMER CARE FOR FAMILIES OVERCOMING FINANCIAL BARRIERS. THROUGH THE PROGRAM, ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH BUILD THEIR SCHEDULE AROUND THE ART FORMS THEY WANT TO EXPLORE INCLUDING STUDIO ARTS, ACTING, MUSIC, DANCE, DARKROOM PHOTOGRAPHY, AND DIGITAL ARTS. PERFORMING ARTS STUDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE IN SITAR'S ANNUAL SUMMER MUSICAL, A FULL-OUT BROADWAY STYLE PRODUCTION THAT REHEARSES EACH AFTERNOON OF CAMP AND CULMINATES IN A WEEK-END OF PERFORMANCES ON SITAR'S STAGE. THROUGH PROGRESSIVE CURRICULUM, SUMMER TEACHING ARTISTS FOCUS ON DEVELOPING STUDENTS' 21ST CENTURY LEARNING SKILLS. GOING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, FIELD TRIPS TO DC'S DIVERSE CULTURAL ASSETS INSPIRE LEARNING, PROJECT IDEAS, AND CREATIVITY.

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 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 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 September 1998.

    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.