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United Arts of Central Florida Inc

EIN 59-1166446 · Orlando, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF UNITED ARTS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA IS TO INSPIRE AND ENRICH COMMUNITIES BY STRENGTHENING ARTS, SCIENCE, HISTORY, AND CULTURE THROUGH STRATEGIC COLLABORATIONS AND INVESTMENTS.

Income
$18.8 million
Spending
$18.0 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
36
Volunteers
107
Highest pay
$241,430, president & ceo

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: 57 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 83% 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 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    43 of 43 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 (4)
  1. $10.5 million spent. FUNDRAISING: UNITED ARTS RAISED OVER $18.8 MILLION IN FY25 THROUGH PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS $10.9 MILLION, GOVERNMENT SUPPORT $4.3 MILLION, AND EARNED INCOME $3.3 MILLION. A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THIS FUNDING WAS GENERATED THROUGH THE COLLABORATIVE CAMPAIGN FOR THE ARTS, THE LARGEST REGIONAL FUNDRAISING EFFORT SUPPORTING ARTS AND CULTURE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. PARTICIPATING IN ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS WORK TOGETHER TO RAISE UNRESTRICTED OPERATING SUPPORT, AND DONORS MAY DESIGNATE GIFTS TO ANY PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATION OR WRITE IN ANOTHER QUALIFYING NONPROFIT. DESIGNATED CAMPAIGN GIFTS MADE BETWEEN DECEMBER 1ST THROUGH APRIL 30TH ARE MATCHED BY UNITED ARTS UP TO 15%. IN FY25, THE CAMPAIGN EXCEEDED ITS GOAL, RAISING NEARLY $9.0 MILLION AND SECURING A $500,000 CHALLENGE GRANT FROM ORANGE COUNTY FOR THE FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR. THESE FUNDS STRENGTHENED THE OPERATING CAPACITY OF ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE REGION.
  2. $5.0 million spent. INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY: UNITED ARTS INVESTS IN THE REGIONAL ARTS, SCIENCE, AND HISTORY SECTOR THROUGH GRANTMAKING, COLLABORATIVE FUNDRAISING, UNITED ARTS ADVANCES ITS VISION THAT ALL PEOPLE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA HAVE ACCESS TO ARTS, SCIENCE, AND HISTORY BY INVESTING DIRECTLY IN THE REGION THROUGH GRANTMAKING, COLLABORATIVE FUNDRAISING, MARKETING SUPPORT, AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT, AND CONTRACT SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES. IN FY25, UNITED ARTS INVESTED NEARLY $5 MILLION INTO THE ARTS AND CULTURAL COMMUNITY, INCLUDING ALMOST $3 MILLION AWARDED THROUGH MULTIPLE GRANT PROGRAMS. OPERATING SUPPORT GRANTS PROVIDED $2,350,000 TO 50 ORGANIZATIONS OFFERING FULL SEASONS OF PROGRAMMING. PROJECT GRANTS, AWARDING UP TO $5,000 EACH, SUPPORTED EXHIBITIONS, FAIRS, FESTIVALS, PERFORMANCES, AND OTHER ARTS, SCIENCE, OR HISTORY ACTIVITIES THAT ENHANCE CULTURAL PARTICIPATION AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT; IN FY25, $100,000 WAS AWARDED TO 21 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. VENUE SUBSIDY GRANTS, FUNDED BY ORANGE COUNTY, SUPPORTED MORE THAN $500,000 IN PERFORMANCE VENUE RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR 19 ORGANIZATIONS. EMERGING ORGANIZATIONS GRANTS PROVIDED $100,000 TO 12 DEVELOPING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR OPERATIONAL CAPACITY. ADDITIONAL INITIATIVES, INCLUDING CREATIVE PLACEMAKING PROJECTS DELIVERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF ORLANDO AND THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT BOARD, AND CULTURAL TOURISM EFFORTS SUPPORTED BY VISIT ORLANDO, EXPANDED PUBLIC ACCESS TO CULTURAL EXPERIENCES AND PROMOTED THE REGION'S ARTS OFFERINGS TO BOTH RESIDENTS AND VISITORS. THESE PROGRAMS COLLECTIVELY STRENGTHEN ORGANIZATIONAL STABILITY, SUPPORT ARTISTIC PROGRAMMING, AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE CULTURAL VITALITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA.
  3. $810,238 spent. UNITED ARTS OPERATES PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE ARTS AND CULTURE, EXPAND AUDIENCE ACCESS, AND PROVIDE EARNED INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR REGIONAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS. ARTISTRY MAGAZINE, A PUBLICATION SERVING AS A DONOR PREMIUM, REACHES APPROXIMATELY 15,000 READERS PER ISSUE THROUGH 155 DISTRIBUTION PARTNERS AND DIGITAL CHANNELS. THE MAGAZINE IS PRINTED 5 TIMES A YEAR. THE ONLINE ARTS & CULTURE CALENDAR PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE LISTING OF ARTS, SCIENCE, AND HISTORY EVENTS ACROSS A SEVEN-COUNTY AREA. THE UNITED ARTS CARD, A DONOR PREMIUM FOR CONTRIBUTIONS OF $100 OR MORE, OFFERS ADMISSION AND CLASS DISCOUNTS AT MORE THAN 20+ PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS, WITH MORE THAN 2,000 CARDS DISTRIBUTED ANNUALLY. UNITED ARTS ALSO ADMINISTERS GRANTS FOR OTHER AGENCIES, MANAGING NEARLY $5 MILLION IN CULTURAL TOURISM GRANTS FOR ORANGE COUNTY ARTS & CULTURAL AFFAIRS IN FY25. ADDITIONAL CAPACITY-BUILDING PROGRAMS PROVIDE TRAINING AND WORKSHOPS ADDRESSING OPERATIONAL, FINANCIAL, AND GOVERNANCE NEEDS WITHIN THE ARTS AND CULTURAL SECTOR.
  4. $757,236 spent. ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMMING: UNITED ARTS DELIVERS CURRICULUM-BASED K12 ARTS EDUCATION SERVICES THROUGH CONTRACTS WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS, PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, AND TEACHING ARTISTS. THESE PROGRAMS INTRODUCE STUDENTS TO MUSIC, THEATER, DANCE, FILM, AND MUSEUM EXPERIENCES RELATED TO ART, HISTORY, AND SCIENCE. THE ORGANIZATION'S LARGEST EDUCATION CONTRACT IS WITH ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PROVIDING $596,322 IN CURRICULUM-ALIGNED ARTS PROGRAMMING FOR GRADES K12, SERVING 76,845 STUDENTS IN FY25 (42% OF WHICH ATTEND TITLE I SCHOOLS). ADDITIONAL SPONSORED FUNDING OF $55,000 EXPANDED ARTS EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR 6,973 STUDENTS IN LAKE, OSCEOLA, AND SEMINOLE COUNTIES (58% OF WHICH ATTENDED TITLE I SCHOOLS). IN TOTAL, 50 SCHOOLS, 29 OF WHICH WERE TITLE I SCHOOLS, PARTICIPATED IN ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMMING. THESE EXPERIENCES CONTRIBUTE TO STUDENT LEARNING, ENGAGEMENT, AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS BY EXPANDING ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY ARTS EDUCATION THROUGHOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN ARTS EDUCATION DEMONSTRATE IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HIGHER LEVELS OF ENGAGEMENT IN THE LEARNING PROCESS, AND STRONGER CRITICAL-THINKING SKILLS. ARTS INVOLVEMENT IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, HIGHER GRADUATION RATES, AND FEWER BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.

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 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 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 September 1967.

    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.