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Robert W Woodruff Arts Center Inc

EIN 58-0633971 · Atlanta, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WOODRUFF ARTS CENTER'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE, CREATE, SUPPORT, AND CELEBRATE RENOWNED ARTS AND EDUCATION FOR DIVERSE AUDIENCES THROUGH A UNIQUE MODEL OF PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS, AND IN AN INSTITUTIONALLY SUSTAINABLE MANNER.

Income
$135.1 million
Spending
$121.2 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
-0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
1,581
Volunteers
1,020
Highest pay
$830,208, high museum director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    128 of 129 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 May 31, 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. $43.9 million spent. ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: THE ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA UNITES, EDUCATES, AND ENRICHES OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ENGAGING AND TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF ORCHESTRAL MUSIC EXPERIENCES. MORE THAN 150 CONCERTS ARE PERFORMED EACH YEAR INCLUDING THE DELTA CLASSICAL SERIES, MOVIES IN CONCERT, FAMILY CONCERT SERIES, ATLANTA SYMPHONY HALL LIVE AND THE COCA-COLA HOLIDAY SERIES, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION CONCERTS. WITH EXCELLENT LIVE PERFORMANCES, IMPRESSIVE GUEST ARTISTS, A RENOWNED CHORUS, AND ENGAGING EDUCATION INITIATIVES, THE GRAMMY AWARD WINNING ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONTINUES TO BE A LEADER IN ITS INDUSTRY.
  2. $27.0 million spent. HIGH MUSEUM OF ART: Located in the heart of Atlanta, the High Museum of Art connects with audiences from across the Southeast and around the world through its distinguished collection, dynamic schedule of special exhibitions and engaging community-focused programs. Housed within facilities designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects Richard Meier and Renzo Piano, the High features a collection of more than 20,000 works of art, including an extensive anthology of 19th- and 20th-century American fine and decorative arts; major holdings of photography and folk and self-taught work, especially that of artists from the American South; burgeoning collections of modern and contemporary art, including paintings, sculpture, new media and design; a growing collection of African art, with work dating from prehistory through the present; and significant holdings of European paintings and works on paper. The High is dedicated to reflecting the diversity of its communities and offering a variety of exhibitions and educational programs that engage visitors with the world of art, the lives of artists and the creative process.
  3. $18.7 million spent. ALLIANCE THEATRE: THE ALLIANCE THEATRE IS THE LEADING PRODUCING THEATRE IN THE SOUTHEAST, CREATING THE POWERFUL EXPERIENCE OF SHARED THEATRE FOR DIVERSE PEOPLE. WITH A COMMITMENT TO LEAD THE NATIONAL FIELD BY DEEPLY ENGAGING WITH ITS LOCAL COMMUNITY, MODELING RADICAL INCLUSION AND CATALYTIC EXPERIENCES ON OUR STAGES, IN OUR CLASSROOMS, AND THROUGHOUT ATLANTA, THE ALLIANCE THEATRE HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1968. THE ALLIANCE THEATRE RECEIVED THE REGIONAL THEATRE TONY AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE IN PROGRAMMING EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AS THE LEADING PRODUCING THEATER IN THE SOUTHEAST, THE ALLIANCE THEATRE REACHES MORE THAN 165,000 PATRONS ANNUALLY WHILE DELIVERING POWERFUL PROGRAMMING THAT CHALLENGES ADULT AND YOUTH AUDIENCES TO THINK CRITICALLY AND CARE DEEPLY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 May 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 July 1926.

    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.

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.