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Alliance of Artists Communities

EIN 58-2138525 · Providence, RI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BELIEVING THE CULTIVATION OF NEW ART AND IDEAS IS ESSENTIAL TO HUMAN PROGRESS, OUR MISSION IS TO ADVOCATE FOR AND SUPPORT ARTISTS' COMMUNITIES, IN ORDER TO ADVANCE THE ENDEAVORS OF ARTISTS.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
12
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$285,129, president &

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 78% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (5)
  1. $1.7 million spent. CONTRACTED AND CONSULTING SERVICES: ACA PARTNERSHIPS WITH GRANTMAKERS (INCLUDING PEW FELLOWSHIPS IN THE ARTS AND 3ARTS) PROVIDES RESIDENCIES AND FEES TO ARTISTS AND RESIDENCY HOSTS IN THE U.S., CANADA, AND EUROPE. ADDITIONALLY, WE CONSULT DIRECTLY WITH OUR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS WITH BUSINESS PLANNING AND ASSESSMENTS.
  2. $48,969 spent. EMERGING PROGRAM INSITUTE: ACA HAS HISTORICALLY HOSTED AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE TO ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE-SHARING AND EXCHANGE WITHIN THE ARTIST RESIDENCY FIELD. SINCE 2009, THIS CONFERENCE HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER ARTS LEADERS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS, FUNDERS, POLICYMAKERS, EDUCATORS AND CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO GATHER IN VARIOUS CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE HAS BEEN ON HOLD SINCE 2020. ACA CONTINUES TO BUILD ITS VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING TO MAKE SIMILAR OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
  3. $8,870 spent. EQUITABLE CAPACITY WORKSHOP: GROUNDED IN THE AAC'S FIVE PILLARS OF A HEALTHY RESIDENCY FRAMEWORK, THESE TRAININGS ENGAGED PROGRAMS ACROSS FIVE KEY AREAS OF ORGANIZATIONAL HEALTH: IDENTITY, PROGRAM DESIGN, STEWARDSHIP, FUND DEVELOPMENT, AND OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE. THIS INITIATIVE PROVIDED TACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR CONSISTENT PROGRAM EVALUATION, EQUITABLE JURY AND SELECTION MODELS, STAFFING PROTOCOLS AND OTHER KEY AREAS OF RESIDENCY OPERATIONS. ARTISTS' EXPERIENCE CONTINUED TO BE CENTERED AND ARTISTS SERVED AS LEAD PRESENTERS. WORKSHOPS, RUNNING IN TANDEM WITH CONTINUED META- NETWORK AND FIELD CONVERSATIONS, MODELED A CULTURE OF REFLECTION, TRANSPARENCY, AND CHANGE. COHORTS OF LEADERS CREATED WITHIN THESE SESSIONS BUOYED A CONSTELLATION OF SUPPORT AND EXCHANGE ACROSS THE FIELD.
  4. ACA IS AN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF ARTIST COMMUNITIES AND RESIDENCY PROGRAMS. ACA INCLUDES MORE THAN 400 MEMBERS A DIVERSE FIELD OF ARTIST COMMUNITIES, RESIDENCY PROGRAMS, INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS THAT SUPPORT LIVING ARTISTS IN THE CREATION OF NEW WORK IN MORE THAN 20 COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE AND IN ALL 50 U.S. STATES, WITH BUDGETS RANGING FROM 8,000 TO 4 MILLION. ACA MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO A RANGE OF SERVICES AND PROGRAMS INCLUDING KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND ADVOCACY.
  5. ACA IS AN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF ARTIST COMMUNITIES AND RESIDENCY PROGRAMS. ACA INCLUDES MORE THAN 400 MEMBERS A DIVERSE FIELD OF ARTIST COMMUNITIES, RESIDENCY PROGRAMS, INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS THAT SUPPORT LIVING ARTISTS IN THE CREATION OF NEW WORK IN MORE THAN 20 COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE AND IN ALL 50 U.S. STATES, WITH BUDGETS RANGING FROM 8,000 TO 4 MILLION. ACA MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO A RANGE OF SERVICES AND PROGRAMS INCLUDING KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND ADVOCACY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 February 1999.

    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.