Artz 4 Life Academy Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Academy offers positive life affirming services and opportunities to youth and adults of all ages. The mission of the Academy is to reinforce resilience to life challenges by enhancing education, promoting diversity, developing life skills through cultural and performing arts for youth, adults and families.
- Income
- $822,771
- Spending
- $704,132
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 71%
- Employees
- 19
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $66,352, executive director/ ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 81% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 6 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 September 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 (2)
- $177,804 spent. Performing Arts Programs: This includes all of our performing arts programs. Specifically, The Family Blessing and Dundu Dole. Artz 4 Life Academy, Inc. continues to exceed expectations and budget under the direction of Founder/Executive Director, Jai Hinson. In the current year, the organization rebranded the annual production of the Chocolate Nutcracker to The Nutcracker Twist to The Family Blessing and continued to receive the highest accolades for the production. The production reached approximately 6,000 Tampa Bay community families, based on weekend long sold-out performances. Artz 4 Life Academy continued to collaborate with Mahaffey Theater and the City of St. Petersburg to provide a state-of-the-art venue for the annual Production. Artz 4 Life Academy, Inc. established a semi-professional performing outlet for community youth that performs a variety of genres, such as West African Dance, Jazz, Ballet, Modern, and Caribbean. The youth use the semi-professional company as a foundation for future endeavors. Many of our students have been accepted for summer intensives with schools such as: Alvin Ailey, The Rock and Jacobs Pillow. Several have received performing art scholarships and prestigious awards. We have graduates attending on scholarship to Sante Fe College, University of Hartford, Gainesville, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania and Boston Conservatory and one former dancer graduated from Julliard and is currently a premier dancer with Alvin Ailey Dance Company and American Ballet Company. Six former members are now performing in Katunga, and Dance With The Music at Busch Gardens and one male is the performance dance captain. Three former Dundu Dole members have recently received invitations to Las Vegas from the "So You Think You Can Dance" Television show. Other former dancers recently were winners on the BET television show 106 & Park. In addition, the semi-professional program continued to expand the community outreach, expanding the outreach to two additional counties in the Tampa Bay area.
- $401,626 spent. Arts, Culture & Humanities Programs: The programs at the academy provide youth with opportunities to explore the arts and develop skills they can use to express themselves in all aspects of their live, now, and as they chart a course for their future. Studies have shown that art education, as an extension of the classroom and an academic resource, increases learning by enhancing math, reading and writing skills. Art education, expressed conceptually and practically in various forms and disciplines, stimulates intelligence in our youth during the school year, and throughout their summer hiatus. Youth who take part in our Programs achieve higher educational and personal aspirations through activities that reach beyond the classroom to identify and develop personal values and character-building assets, increasing their effectiveness, resiliency, and academic performance. The Academic and Cultural Enrichment after school Program, Explore the Arts summer camp, Angelina Ballerina, which was featured in conjunction with the University of South Florida and local news programs, and the Community Through Our Eyes, which helped community youth understand the legacy and history of the local community.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2001.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.