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United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County Inc

EIN 56-0770175 · Raleigh, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE UNITED ARTS COUNCIL OF RALEIGH AND WAKE COUNTY, INC. BUILDS BETTER COMMUNITIES THROUGH SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY OF THE ARTS. THE ORGANIZATION STRIVES TO (1) CHAMPION ARTS EDUCATION; (2) SERVE A LARGER METROPOLITAN AREA WITH EMERGING POPULATION CENTERS IN WAKE COUNTY, NC; AND (3) BUILD CAPACITY FOR THE LOCAL ARTS COMMUNITY. SINCE 1990, IT HAS SERVED AS THE UMBRELLA FUNDRAISING ORGANIZATION FOR THE ARTS IN WAKE COUNTY. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION, THE ORGNIZATION RAISES MONEY FROM BUSINESSES, INDVIDUALS, FOUNDATIONS AND GOVERNMENT SOURCES. FUNDS ARE RE-DISTRIBUTED TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH GRANTS TO SCHOOLS, WAKE MUNICIPALITIES, ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS - ALL IN SUPPORT OF ARTS PROGRAMMING.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 61%
Employees
8
Volunteers
32
Highest pay
$121,916, 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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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

    18 of 18 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 (2)
  1. $852,424 spent. ARTS EDUCATION: THE COUNCIL'S ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM SUPPORTS PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS, RESIDENCIES, FIELD TRIPS, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS IN WAKE COUNTY K-12 SCHOOLS. FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, THE COUNCIL SUPPORTED MORE THAN 460 PROGRAMS BY PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS, 14 FIELD TRIPS, FIVE EIGHT-WEEK INTERNSHIPS, AND 18 HOURS OF ARTS INTEGRATION WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS ACROSS 155 SCHOOLS.
  2. $769,096 spent. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: THE COUNCIL'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SUPPORTS PERFORMANCES, EXHIBITIONS, FESTIVALS, AND ART CLASSES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN (OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL). FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, THE COUNCIL SUPPORTED 844 MUSIC, DANCE, AND THEATER PERFORMANCES, OUTDOOR FESTIVALS, AND ART EXHIBITIONS IN ADDITION TO 358 ART CLASSES/CAMPS FOR ADULTS AND 1,061 FOR CHILDREN (OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL).

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 May 1966.

    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.