Hillsborough Arts Council
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ADVOCATE FOR LOCAL ARTISTS AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAMMING IN HILLSBOROUGH, NC.
- Income
- $285,456
- Spending
- $282,564
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 2.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 38%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 5
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
Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
- $175,358 spent. HAC SERVED OVER 19,000 EVENT PARTICIPANTS THROUGH FREE COMMUNITY ARTS EVENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH, NC. EACH MONTH, HAC ORGANIZED LAST FRIDAYS & THE ART WALK, SHOWCASING ART MARKETS, GALLERY EXHIBITIONS, LIVE PERFORMANCES, AND SPECIAL HAPPENINGS IN DOWNTOWN AND WEST HILLSBOROUGH. IN DECEMBER, HAC HOSTED THE SOLSTICE LANTERN WALK & MARKET, FEATURING LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, AN ART MARKET, AND A LARGE COMMUNITY PROCESSION THROUGH RIVER PARK BY LANTERN LIGHT. EACH OF THESE EVENTS PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL ARTISTS TO EARN AN INCOME AND SUPPORTED THE LOCAL BUSINESS ECONOMY. HAC EVENTS ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE OF 60% OF PARTICIPANTS FROM OUTSIDE HILLSBOROUGH, DRIVING TOURISM DOWNTOWN.
- $44,216 spent. HAC BROUGHT BACK THE POPULAR HOUSE CONCERT SERIES THIS YEAR. THIS WAS A TICKETED EVENT HOSTED AT A LOCAL HISTORIC HOME IN DOWNTOWN HILLSBOROUGH. THE GOAL OF THE HOUSE CONCERTS IS TO PROVIDE A MUSICAL PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE IN AN INTIMATE ENVIRONMENT WHERE PATRONS CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MUSICIANS AND GAIN AN APPRECIATION FOR THEIR ARTISTRY. PATRONS ENJOYED REFRESHMENTS AND GETTING TO KNOW FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE HOUSE CONCERT ALSO PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE NEW PERFORMERS AND ADVOCATE FOR PAID ARTIST OPPORTUNITIES.
- $24,933 spent. HAC PROMOTED SEVERAL ARTS EDUCATION INITIATIVES THIS YEAR: -THE ARTCYCLE PROGRAM COLLECTED 1,800 DONATED ART SUPPLIES FOR LOCAL CLASSROOMS.-HAC HOSTED FREE ART MAKING WORKSHOPS, ARTIST DEMONSTRATIONS, AND CREATION STATION ART ACTIVITIES DURING LAST FRIDAYS & THE ART WALK.-OUR GIANT COMMUNITY LOOM INSTRUCTED ALL AGES ON THE ART OF WEAVING AND ALLOWED PARTICIPATION IN THE CREATION OF A COMMUNITY TAPESTRY.-HAC RELAUNCHED THE HILLSBOROUGH POET LAUREATE PROGRAM AND PROVIDED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ART OF POETRY THROUGH GUIDED ACTIVITIES AT EVENTS.
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 June 2000.
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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