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Durham Arts Council Inc

EIN 56-0599829 · Durham, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DURHAM ARTS COUNCIL, INC. IS A CATALYST IN THE CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF DURHAM IT LEADS, INSPIRES, AND PROMOTES EXCELLENCE IN AND ACCESS TO THE CREATION, EXPERIENCE, AND ACTIVE SUPPORT OF THE ARTS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 45%
Employees
14
Volunteers
450
Highest pay
$134,445, 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: 43 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover -0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 71% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    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. SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT OF ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND ARTISTS DAC PROVIDES GRANTS & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS. IN FY24, DAC PROVIDED EXHIBITION, PERFORMANCE, TEACHING, TRAINING, GRANTS & ART EXHIBIT/SALES OPPORTUNITIES TO 898 INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS; DAC GRANTS SUPPORTED 94 ARTS ORGANIZATIONS & 54 INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS. 256 ARTS/CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS WERE SERVED ACROSS ALL DAC PROGRAMS. DAC PROVIDED SECTOR-WIDE ARTS ECONOMIC SUPPORT OF $1,002,172, INCLUDING $302,698 IN ARTS FACILITY GRANTS; $699,474 IN CASH GRANTS, OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, DAC HAS PROVIDED $4.6 MILLION IN CASH GRANTS TO ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, NEARLY $4 MILLION IN RENT-RELIEVING SPACE GRANS, AND INVESTED NEARLY $15 MILLION IN ARTS SECTOR JOBS.
  2. $901,356 spent. ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS DAC'S ARTS CENTER SCHOOL PROVIDED 758 CLASSES FOR 7,970 YOUTH & ADULTS IN VISUAL, PERFORMING & LITERARY ARTS & 10 WEEKS OF YOUTH ARTS CAMPS. THE DAC CREATIVE ARTS IN SCHOOLS PROGRAM (CAPS) PROVIDED 124 PROGRAMS TO APPROXIMATELY 23,000 STUDENTS AT 98 SITES IN DURHAM, ORANGE, GRANVILLE, CHATHAM AND PERSON COUNTIES. CAPS PROVIDES CURRICULUM-BASED ARTS RESIDENCIES, PERFORMANCES & WORKSHOPS TO STRENGTHEN ACADEMIC OUTCOMES.
  3. $772,384 spent. ARTS PROGRAM AND FACILITY SUPPORT SERVICES DAC MANAGES & PROGRAMS THE HISTORIC DAC BUILDING AS A PREMIER VENUE FOR ARTISTS, ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, & COMMUNITY GROUPS IN DOWNTOWN DURHAM. DAC PROGRAMS ITS GALLERIES, THEATRES, REHEARSAL SPACES, STUDIOS & CLASSROOMS FOR THE ARTS COMMUNITY & PUBLIC 7 DAYS A WEEK. DAC IS THE 4TH MOST VISITED FACILITY IN DOWNTOWN DURHAM AND HAS THE LARGEST ATTENDANCE AMONG COMPARABLE REGIONAL ARTS CENTERS. PRE-PANDEMIC FY2019, DAC BUILDING, AND EVENTS ATTRACTED ATTENDANCE OF 413,234; HOSTED 5,028 EVENTS & PROGRAMS & MANAGED 26,127 HOURS OF FACILITY USE. POST PANDEMIC, IN FY25, ATTENDANCE REBOUNDED TO 413,691 WITH 5,161 EVENTS AND PROGRAMS AND 25,680 HOURS OF MANAGED FACILITY USE.

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 November 1957.

    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.