Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Art Sandy Springs Inc

EIN 61-1537728 · Atlanta, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ART SANDY SPRINGS (ARTSS) IS A 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION FOUND IN 2007 BY A GROUP OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS AND IS MANAGED BY A VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ARTSS ENRICHES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SANDY SPRINGS RESIDENTS AND VISITORS THROUGH THE ACQUISITION AND PLACEMENT OF PUBLIC ART IN THE CITY'S PARKS AND OPEN SPACES.

Income
$316,160
Spending
$309,354
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
0
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$24,013, treasurer

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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (5)
  1. $230,017 spent. THE ABERNATHY ARTS CENTER - FULTON COUNTY SOLD THE ABERNATHY ARTS CENTER TO THE CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS FOR A NOMINAL SUM IN EARLY 2022. THE CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS DECIDED TO RESURRECT ART INSTRUCTION, PRINCIPALLY PAINTING AND DRAWING, AT THE CENTER. ART INSTRUCTION RESUMED IN SEPTEMBER 2022 AND HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. THE ENTIRE PROGRAM WAS ASSMBLED AND MANAGED BY ART SANDY SPRINGS UNDER A CONTRACT TO MANAGE THIS MUNICIPAL FACILITY. IN THE YEAR ENDING ON 05/31/2025, JUST UNDER 1,100 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN ART CLASSES AND IN THE CHILDRENS SUMMER ART CAMP. THE CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS ACKNOWLEDGES SUCCESS AND JUST RENEWED THE CONTRACT FOR A THIRD (OUT OF FIVE) ONE-YEAR OPTIONAL RENEWAL PERIOD.
  2. $673 spent. THE ANNUAL ART SS WALK SCULPTURE COMPETITION IS GOVERNED BY A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS. EACH SPRING, ARTSS PUTS OUT A CALL FOR ENTRIES AND HOLDS AN OUTDOOR SCULPTURE COMPETITION. THIS YIELDS SOME 90 ENTRIES AND NINE FINALISTS ARE SELECTED EACH YEAR. THEIR WORKS ARE DISPLAYED AT CITY GREEN AT THE SANDY SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CENTER FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR. DURING THE MAY 2025 MEETING WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL WAS TO VOTE ON THE FINAL SELECTIONS, THE COUNCIL VOTED INSTEAD TO DEFER ANY SELECTIONS INDEFINITELY CITING AN OVERABUNDANCE OF SCULPTURES INCLUDING SOME WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN PLACED PERMANENTY ON MUNICIPAL PROPERTY. THIS INITIATIVE REMAINS IN ABAYENCE.
  3. $3,209 spent. THE VETERANS PARK SCULPTURE PROJECT WAS GOVERNED BY A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS FOR CONSULTING AND PROCUREMENT OF PUBLIC ART. THE CITY ENGAGED ARTSS IN THIS THREE-YEAR PROJECT OF A NATIONWIDE ARTIST SEARCH TO COMMISSION TWO SCULPTURES FOR THE NEW VETERANS PARK IN SANDY SPRINGS FOR A TOTAL FEE OF 15,000. ARTSS WORKED WITH CITY LEADERSHIP AND A COMMITTEE OF VETERAN RESIDENTS TO REVIEW A TOTAL OF 30 QUALIFIED ENTRANTS AND THEN SELECTED FOUR ARTIST FINALISTS WHO WERE EACH PAID STIPENDS TO CREATE DESIGN PRESENTATIONS. TWO ARTISTS WERE THEN CHOSEN TO CREATE ORIGINAL SCULPTURE WORKS AND ARTSS MANAGED THE CONTRACTS, FINAL DESIGN, FABRICATION AND INSTALLATIONS OF THE ARTWORK. THIS PROJECT WAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ON TIME AND THE SCULPTURES WERE DEDICATED IN A CEREMONY ON VETERANS DAY 2024.
  4. $92 spent. THESE EXPENSES INCLUDE CERTAIN ARTISTS' FEES, GALLERY AND EXHIBITION COSTS, INCLUDING INSURANCE AND ADMIINISTRATIVE COSTS DIRECTLY RELATED TO VARIOUS PROGRAM ACTIVITIES,
  5. THESE EXPENSES INCLUDE CERTAIN ARTISTS' FEES, GALLERY AND EXHIBITION COSTS, INCLUDING INSURANCE AND ADMIINISTRATIVE COSTS DIRECTLY RELATED TO VARIOUS PROGRAM ACTIVITIES,

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 November 2007.

    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.