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Community School of the Arts

EIN 62-1500977 · Knoxville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 39% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE QUALITY INSTRUCTION IN THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS TO CHILDREN OF VARIED SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS IN KNOX COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING REGION.

Income
$265,611
Spending
$251,142
Spent on programs
39%
Reserves
7.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
11
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$83,651, executive director

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.8 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 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    39% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    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 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 (1)
  1. $98,348 spent. THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS ("THE SCHOOL") WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1991 AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE QUALITY INSTRUCTION IN THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS TO CHILDREN OF VARIED SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS IN KNOX COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING REGION, PARTICULARLY THOSE FROM UNDERSERVED INNER-CITY AND RURAL AREAS. THE SCHOOL OFFICIALLY OPENED ITS DOORS IN SEPTEMBER 1992, OFFERING BEGINNING PIANO LESSONS TWICE A WEEK TO A STUDENT BODY OF 22 YOUNGSTERS FROM EAST KNOXVILLE, ALL OF WHOM ATTENDED ON FULL FINANCIAL AID.AFTER ONLY TWO YEARS OF OPERATION, THE SCHOOL RECEIVED FULL ACCREDITATION AS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL GUILD OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS OF THE ARTS, MAKING IT ONE OF THREE SUCH ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE. THE SCHOOL WAS ALSO HONORED TO RECEIVE THE MAYOR'S ARTS AWARD IN THE CATEGORY OF EDUCATION AND SPECIAL PROJECTS IN 1995 AND 1997.THE SCHOOL OFFERS PRIVATE, ONE-ON-ONE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE DISCIPLINE OF PIANO, VIOLIN, BRASS INSTRUMENTS AND VOICE AS WELL AS GROUP CLASSES IN THE VISUAL ARTS, MODERN DANCE AND CHORAL PERFORMANCE IN AN AFTER- SCHOOL PROGRAM CONDUCTED BY PROFESSIONAL, PART-TIME FACULTY FIVE DAYS A WEEK (MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY). ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FOUR STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED DURING THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR; 100% OF THE STUDENTS ATTEND ON FULL SCHOLARSHIP.THE SCHOOL ALSO SERVES AN ADDITIONAL 60 CHILDREN PER WEEK THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, PROVIDING OFFSITE ART AND MUSIC THERAPY CLASSES TO STUDENTS AT GREEN MAGNET STEAM ACADEMY, THE CRUTCHER MEMORIAL YOUTH ENRICHMENT CENTER, AND THE KNOX COUNTY HOMELESS TUTORING PROJECT.IN ADDITION TO ITS REGULAR WEEKLY SCHEDULE OF CLASSES AND OFFSITE PROGRAMS, THE SCHOOL OFFERS SIDE-BY-SIDE AN ANNUAL APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM WHICH PAIRS SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS IN THE VISUAL ARTS PROGRAM WITH A PROFESSIONAL, WORKING ARTIST IN HIS OR HER STUDIO. ARTIST AND STUDENT WORK SIDE-BY-SIDE TO CREATE ORIGINAL PIECES OF ART, WHICH ARE DISPLAYED IN A FULL-SCALE EXHIBIT AT BENEFIT GALLERIES. PARTICIPATING ARTISTS INCLUDE RICHARD JOLLEY, TOMMIE RUSH, PETER ROSE, MARCIA GOLDENSTEIN, AND ANDREW SAFTEL.STUDENT TURNOVER AT THE SCHOOL IS MINIMAL: THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF ENROLLMENT FOR A STUDENT IS 7 YEARS; OVER ONE HUNDRED STUDENTS HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE PROGRAM AS SENIORS, ALL OF WHOM HAVE GONE ON TO HIGHER EDUCATION, SOME WITH SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE FROM THE SCHOOL.

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 August 1992.

    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.