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Arts Council of the Valley

EIN 54-2025348 · Harrisonburg, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ARTS COUNCILE OF THE VALLEY CHAMPIONS DIVERSE ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AND PROMOTES THE ARTS AS FUNDAMENTAL TO A VIBRANT COMMUNITY. ARTS COUNCIL OF THE VALLEY PROVIDES MEMORABLE ARTS EXPERIENCES FOR INDIVIDUALS IN THE CITY OF HARRISONBURG AND ROCKINGHAM COUNTY THROUGH OUR VISUAL, LITERARY, AND PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND GRANTS.

Income
$655,046
Spending
$714,435
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 44%
Employees
19
Volunteers
264
Highest pay
$64,872, executive di

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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    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. $516,997 spent. COURT SQUARE THEATER IS A UNIQUE, ONE-OF-A-KIND, SINGLE-SCREEN THEATER LOCATED IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN HARRSIONBURG. ONCE THE SITE OF THE OLD ROCKINGHAM MOTOR CORPORATION, THE ARCHITECTS OF THE THEATER KEPT AND REPURPOSED MANY INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR BUILDING DETAILS GIVING COURT SQUARE THEATER DISTINCT CHARM AND HISTORIC AMBIANCE. THE ARTS COUNCIL OF THE VALLEY OFFERS DOCUMENTARY, INDEPENDENT AND FOREIGN FILMS, AS WELL AS RECOGNIZABLE CULT-CLASSICS FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES. COURT SQUARE THEATER FEATURES PLAYS FROM LOCAL COMMUNITY THEATER GROUPS, FILM SERIES, DANCE PERFORMANCE, COMEDY TROUPES, LECTURES AND SYMPOSIA, AND MUSIC EVENTS, WHICH BRINGS AN ELECTRIC MIX OF FLAVOR TO OUR COMMUNITY. IN THE PAST OUR ORGANIZATION HAS COLLABORATED WITH THE GO LOCAL FILM SERIES, THE VALLEY PLAYHOUSE, BENEFIT CONCERTS FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AND THE COLLINS CENTER, LOCAL ROTARY GROUP PROGRAMMING, THE LATINO FILM FESTIVAL, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE COURT SQUARE THEATER IS A UNIQUE, ONE-OF-A-KIND, SINGLE-SCREEN THEATER LOCATED IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN HARRSIONBURG. ONCE THE SITE OF THE OLD ROCKINGHAM MOTOR CORPORATION, THE ARCHITECTS OF THE THEATER KEPT AND REPURPOSED MANY INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR BUILDING DETAILS GIVING COURT SQUARE THEATER DISTINCT CHARM AND HISTORIC AMBIANCE. THE ARTS COUNCIL OF THE VALLEY OFFERS DOCUMENTARY, INDEPENDENT AND FOREIGN FILMS, AS WELL AS RECOGNIZABLE CULT-CLASSICS FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES. COURT SQUARE THEATER FEATURES PLAYS FROM LOCAL COMMUNITY THEATER GROUPS, FILM SERIES, DANCE PERFORMANCE, COMEDY TROUPES, LECTURES AND SYMPOSIA, AND MUSIC EVENTS, WHICH BRINGS AN ELECTRIC MIX OF FLAVOR TO OUR COMMUNITY. IN THE PAST OUR ORGANIZATION HAS COLLABORATED WITH THE GO LOCAL FILM SERIES, THE VALLEY PLAYHOUSE, BENEFIT CONCERTS FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AND THE COLLINS CENTER, LOCAL ROTARY GROUP PROGRAMMING, THE LATINO FILM FESTIVAL, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE
  2. $24,703 spent. GALLERY EXHIBITIONS & FIRST FRIDAYS: FIRST FRIDAYS IS A MONTHLY EVENT WHICH RUNS ANNUALLY AND IS LED BY THE ARTS COUNCIL OF THE VALLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MORE THAN 30 DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES AND COUNTLESS REGIONAL CREATORS IN THE VISUAL, PERFORMING, AND LITERARY ARTS. SINCE 2009, THE DARRIN-MCHONE ART GALLERY, THE ARTS COUNCIL'S VISUAL ARTS SPACE, HAS PRESENTED OVER 64 MONTH-LONG ART EXHIBITIONS BY SOME OF THE AREA'S LEADING ARTISTS. OUR EXHIBITION OPENINGS TAKE PLACE ON THE FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH.
  3. $20,713 spent. ADVANCING THE ARTS GRANTS: ACV PROVIDES MONETARY AWARDS AND FACILITY VENUE GRANTS FOR ARTISTS, TEACHERS, AND STUDENTS THROUGH OUR ADVANCING THE ARTS GRANTING INITIATIVE. THE ARTS COUNCIL SOLICITS PROPOSALS FROM LOCAL ARTICST, AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES. THIS INITIATIVE AFFORDS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY SO CREATIVE INDIVIDUALS CAN SEE THEIR PROJECTS COME TO FRUITION. ACV ORGANIZES A PANEL OF ART PROFESSIONALS WHO REVIEW GRANT PROPSALS AND MAKE SELECTIONS. THIS OPPORTUNITY IS AFFORDED TO INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGE LEVELS AND DEMOGRAPHICS. PAST RECIPIENTS INCLUDE, STONE SPRING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL; WANCHI HUANG, PROFESSOR OF VIOLIN AT JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY; SOUTH RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL; SHENANDOAH WRITERS ASSOCIATION WRITE-BRAINED PROGRAM; AND THE SUPER G8 FILM FESTIVAL. ADVANCING THE ARTS GRANTS: ACV PROVIDES MONETARY AWARDS AND FACILITY VENUE GRANTS FOR ARTISTS, TEACHERS, AND STUDENTS THROUGH OUR ADVANCING THE ARTS GRANTING INITIATIVE. THE ARTS COUNCIL SOLICITS PROPOSALS FROM LOCAL ARTICST, AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES. THIS INITIATIVE AFFORDS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY SO CREATIVE INDIVIDUALS CAN SEE THEIR PROJECTS COME TO FRUITION. ACV ORGANIZES A PANEL OF ART PROFESSIONALS WHO REVIEW GRANT PROPSALS AND MAKE SELECTIONS. THIS OPPORTUNITY IS AFFORDED TO INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGE LEVELS AND DEMOGRAPHICS. PAST RECIPIENTS INCLUDE, STONE SPRING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL; WANCHI HUANG, PROFESSOR OF VIOLIN AT JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY; SOUTH RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL; SHENANDOAH WRITERS ASSOCIATION WRITE-BRAINED PROGRAM; AND THE SUPER G8 FILM FESTIVAL.

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 October 2001.

    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.

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