South Arts Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SOUTH ARTS STRENGTHENS THE SOUTH THROUGH ADVANCING EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS BY PRESENTING PROGRAMS AND CONNECTING WITH STATE ARTS AGENCIES IN THE REGION.
- Income
- $15.3 million
- Spending
- $16.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 4.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 65%
- Employees
- 30
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $305,675, 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
Fair: 59 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 67% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 84% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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.
Independent board
25 of 2530 of 30 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (15)
- $8.6 million spent. SOUTH ARTS, WITH SUPPORT FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, OFFERS GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES IN AN EFFORT TO STRENGTHEN PRESENTERSGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY, AND TO SUSTAIN AND EXPAND MARKETS FOR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND ARTISTS. THROUGH OUR REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT FUNDS, WE SUPPORT PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES AND PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS TO ENGAGE WITHIN COMMUNITIES. THIS PROGRAM CONTRIBUTES TO THE SUSTAINABILITY OF ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND SUPPORTS HIGH ARTISTIC QUALITY PROJECTS WITH STRONG EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH COMPONENTS FOR THE PARTICIPANTS ACROSS THE REGION. INCLUDED ARE TRAINING, EDUCATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, FILM SCREENINGS, TRADITIONAL ARTS, AND TOURING GRANTS TO PERFORMING AND LITERARY ARTS ORGANIZATIONS. THE PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES CROSS-SECTOR IMPACT GRANTS THAT AIM TO FACILITATE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE ARTS COMMUNITY AND OTHER SECTORS (NON-ARTS ORGANIZATIONS).
- $1.2 million spent. CULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY - WALLACE - Open to arts nonprofit organizations, fiscally sponsored groups, private entities, and state/federally recognized tribes, the Cultural Sustainability program offers general operating funds to organizations rooted in communities of color.
- $1.2 million spent. JAZZ ROAD IS AN ARTIST-CENTRIC TOURING AND RESIDENCY PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO ENSURE JAZZ IS PERFORMED AND PRESENTED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THE PROGRAM ENSURES PAID WORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR JAZZ ARTISTS, AS WELL AS BOLSTERS DEEPER ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN JAZZ MUSICIANS, PRESENTERS AND COMMUNITIES. U.S.-BASED JAZZ ARTISTS WHO DEFINE THEMSELVES AS EMERGING TO MORE ESTABLISHED ALONG A CAREER SPECTRUM ARE ELIGIBLE FOR GRANTS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THE PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO SUPPORT JAZZ ARTISTS FOR WHICH A GRANT WOULD OFFER NEW AND SIGNIFICANT CAREER IMPACT. JAZZ ROAD IS SUPPORTED BY THE DORIS DUKE FOUNDATION WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE MELLON FOUNDATION.
- $1.8 million spent. All other program activities.
- $651,914 spent. In These Mountains initiative preserves and perpetuates the traditional arts and culture of Central Appalachian counties of Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Through a series of strategic projects supporting practitioners, arts organizations, and communities, In These Mountains supports the longevity and intergenerational transfer of the cultural traditions that have grown in this unique region. As we learn and grow, we continue to refine how we support the Central Appalachian communities with impactful programming.
- $267,399 spent. ARIST READINESS, RELIEF, & RECOVERY - The Arts Readiness, Relief, and Recovery Grant provided financial support to artists in need affected by Hurricane Helene and/or Hurricane Milton and provide activities that help artists collectively prepare for or mitigate the impact of such disasters in the form of disaster preparedness education.
- $211,357 spent. SERVICE TO THE FIELD INCLUDES THE NATIONAL COALITION - SOUTH ARTS CO-CHAIRS THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR ARTS' PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND ADMINISTERED A GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS TO SUPPORT COALITION ACTIVITIES. THE COALITION IS A CROSS-DISCIPLINARY NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS AND USES A COMBINED STRATEGY OF RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATIONAL EMPOWERMENT AND ADVOCACY TO STRENGTHEN DISASTER READINESS AND RESILIENCE WITHIN THE ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR.
- $118,818 spent. SOUTHERN CIRCUIT TOUR OF INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS PROVIDES COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE SOUTH WITH A TOUR OF HIGHLY TALENTED INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS. PARTNER COMMUNITIES PRESENTED FILM SCREENINGS AND ENGAGED FILMMAKERS IN POST-SCREENING AND CLASSROOM DISCUSSIONS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES. SOUTHERN CIRCUIT IS THE NATION'S FIRST REGIONAL TOUR OF INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS, PROVIDING COMMUNITIES WITH AN INTERACTIVE WAY OF EXPERIENCING INDEPENDENT FILM. INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN SOUTHERN CIRCUIT SCREENINGS INCLUDING FILMMAKERS AND AUDIENCES IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH ARTS' NINE-STATE REGION.
- $29,686 spent. WALKING TOGETHER - Walking Together: Investing in Folklife in Communities of Color supports folklife and traditional arts rooted in communities of color by investing in artists/practitioners and the community organizations that care for them. It is a national funding program managed by the six U.S. regional arts organizations (RAOs).This pilot program awards significant nonmatching grants to traditional artists, practitioners, nonprofits, local and Tribal governments, and community organizations and knowledge keepers that demonstrate a deep commitment to sustaining folklife rooted in communities of color.
- (Expenses $ 1,824,107 including grants of $ 806,309)(Revenue $ 44,302) All other program activities.
- (Expenses $ 651,914 including grants of $ 423,748) In These Mountains initiative preserves and perpetuates the traditional arts and culture of Central Appalachian counties of Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Through a series of strategic projects supporting practitioners, arts organizations, and communities, In These Mountains supports the longevity and intergenerational transfer of the cultural traditions that have grown in this unique region. As we learn and grow, we continue to refine how we support the Central Appalachian communities with impactful programming.
- (Expenses $ 267,399 including grants of $ 267,399) ARIST READINESS, RELIEF, & RECOVERY - The Arts Readiness, Relief, and Recovery Grant provided financial support to artists in need affected by Hurricane Helene and/or Hurricane Milton and provide activities that help artists collectively prepare for or mitigate the impact of such disasters in the form of disaster preparedness education.
- (Expenses $ 211,357 including grants of $) SERVICE TO THE FIELD INCLUDES THE NATIONAL COALITION - SOUTH ARTS CO-CHAIRS THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR ARTS' PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND ADMINISTERED A GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS TO SUPPORT COALITION ACTIVITIES. THE COALITION IS A CROSS-DISCIPLINARY NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS AND USES A COMBINED STRATEGY OF RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATIONAL EMPOWERMENT AND ADVOCACY TO STRENGTHEN DISASTER READINESS AND RESILIENCE WITHIN THE ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR.
- (Expenses $ 118,818 including grants of $) SOUTHERN CIRCUIT TOUR OF INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS PROVIDES COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE SOUTH WITH A TOUR OF HIGHLY TALENTED INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS. PARTNER COMMUNITIES PRESENTED FILM SCREENINGS AND ENGAGED FILMMAKERS IN POST-SCREENING AND CLASSROOM DISCUSSIONS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES. SOUTHERN CIRCUIT IS THE NATION'S FIRST REGIONAL TOUR OF INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS, PROVIDING COMMUNITIES WITH AN INTERACTIVE WAY OF EXPERIENCING INDEPENDENT FILM. INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN SOUTHERN CIRCUIT SCREENINGS INCLUDING FILMMAKERS AND AUDIENCES IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH ARTS' NINE-STATE REGION.
- (Expenses $ 29,686 including grants of $ 24,600) WALKING TOGETHER - Walking Together: Investing in Folklife in Communities of Color supports folklife and traditional arts rooted in communities of color by investing in artists/practitioners and the community organizations that care for them. It is a national funding program managed by the six U.S. regional arts organizations (RAOs).This pilot program awards significant nonmatching grants to traditional artists, practitioners, nonprofits, local and Tribal governments, and community organizations and knowledge keepers that demonstrate a deep commitment to sustaining folklife rooted in communities of color.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1976.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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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