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Arts Memphis

EIN 62-0693547 · Memphis, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SUPPORTING THE ARTS TO STRENGTHEN THE MEMPHIS COMMUNITY.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
63.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
9
Volunteers
115
Highest pay
$164,814, 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: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 63.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 53% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 39 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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. $1.5 million spent. OPERATING SUPPORT GRANTS: ARTSMEMPHIS, THROUGH THIS CORNERSTONE GRANT PROGRAM, NURTURES SMALL, COMMUNITY-BASED ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND SUPPORTS LARGER ORGANIZATIONS THAT CREATE THE SEEDS FOR NEW INITIATIVES AND LEND STABILITY TO THE OVERALL ARTS LANDSCAPE. ARTSMEMPHIS SEEKS TO ENABLE ALL EFFECTIVE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO SUCCEED. WE RECOGNIZE THAT UNRESTRICTED OPERATING SUPPORT IS THE MOST VALUABLE FUNDING THAT AN ARTS ORGANIZATION CAN RECEIVE AND THE MOST DIFFICULT TYPE OF FUNDING TO RAISE.
  2. $88,675 spent. ARTSASSIST GRANTS: THESE ARE UNRESTRICTED GRANTS FOR ARTISTS, TO SUPPORT THE EXPANSION AND INNOVATION OF QUALITY ARTISTIC WORK. ARTSMEMPHIS RECOGNIZES THE RISK TAKING THAT IS NECESSARY TO ADVANCE AN ARTIST'S VISION, PRACTICE, AND ARTISTIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THE ARTSASSIST GRANT PROGRAM ENABLES ARTSMEMPHIS TO DEMONSTRATE THE VALUE OF ARTISTS' WORK TO OUR REGION BY SUPPORTING WORKING ARTISTS IN THEIR ARTISTIC PRACTICE. THIS PROGRAM CONTRIBUTES TO THE VITALITY OF OUR ARTISTIC COMMUNITY AND HELPS MEMPHIS ATTRACT AND RETAIN A VIBRANT CREATIVE CLASS. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE HONOR THE WORK OF SEASONED ARTISTS, ADVANCE THE WORK OF MID-CAREER ARTISTS, AND NURTURE THE WORK OF EMERGING ARTISTS.
  3. $475,046 spent. ENHANCEMENT GRANTS: THE PURPOSE OF THESE GRANTS, WHICH COME FROM A SPECIFIC FUND OF OUR ENDOWMENT, IS TO BUILD AN ORGANIZATION'S LONG-TERM CAPACITY, INCREASE LONG-TERM EARNED INCOME STREAMS, CATALYZE AND ASSIST AN ORGANIZATION IN GOING TO THE NEXT LEVEL, AND/OR FUND VENTURE CAPITAL/RISK-TAKING INITIATIVES WITH POTENTIAL FOR RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND BROAD COMMUNITY IMPACT.
  4. $82,349 spent. PROJECT GRANTS: THESE GRANTS ARE GIVEN TO GRANTEES FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS EXECUTED BY THE GRANTEES. THESE GRANTS INCLUDE:ARTSFIRST - (FUNDED BY FIRST HORIZON FOUNDATION AND ADMINISTERED BY ARTSMEMPHIS) - ARTSFIRST GRANTS ENRICH THE ARTS IN MEMPHIS. FUNDING IS DETERMINED BY A GRANT PANEL COMPOSED OF FIRST HORIZON FOUNDATION REPRESENTATIVES.ARTSZONE - (FUNDED BY AUTOZONE AND ADMINISTERED BY ARTSMEMPHIS) - ARTSZONE GRANTS ENRICH THE ARTS IN MEMPHIS. FUNDING IS DETERMINED BY A GRANT PANEL COMPOSED OF AUTOZONE REPRESENTATIVES.BELZ FAMILY FOUNDATION GRANTS - (FUNDED BY THE BELZ FOUNDATION)ARTS BUILD COMMUNITIES - (FUNDED BY TENNESSEE ARTS COMMISSION) - ABC GRANTS PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR PROJECTS THAT BROADEN ACCESS TO ARTS EXPERIENCES, ADDRESS COMMUNITY QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THROUGH THE ARTS, OR ENHANCE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF ASSET-BASED CULTURAL ENTERPRISES.FEDEX - (FUNDED BY FEDEX AND ADMINISTERED BY ARTSMEMPHIS) - FEDEX GRANTS ENRICH THE ARTS IN MEMPHIS. FUNDING IS DETERMINED BY A GRANT PANEL COMPOSED OF FEDEX REPRESENTATIVES.RECOVERY FUNDS - TO PROVIDE FUNDING AND PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FACILITATE RECOVERY FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 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 September 7, 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 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.