Starkville Area Arts Council Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 63 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO BUILD A STRONG, CREATIVE, CONNECTED COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ARTS.
- Income
- $87,980
- Spending
- $129,882
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- -14.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 49%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $38,333, 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
Weak: 20 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 48% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 46% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 63 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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $85,033 spent. ART EDUCATION & OUTREACH. THIS PROGRAM IS AN UMBRELLA FOR SEVERAL INITIATIVES, ALL RELATED TO ARTS AND ARTS EDUCATION OUTREACH. ART PARTNERS PROVIDES A TEACHING ARTIST TO 4 LOCATIONS IN THE STARKVILLE AREA TO PROVIDE EXTRACURRICULAR ART ENRICHMENT TO YOUTH AT NO COST TO THE SITE PARTNER OR ATTENDEES. ART IN THE PARK IS A ONE-DAY FREE, HANDS-ON ART "FESTIVAL" FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES, WHERE YOUTH ARE EXPOSED TO ALL ART DISCIPLINES AND GET TO TAKE HOME ANY PROJECTS THEY CREATE. SAAC ALSO PARTICIPATES IN 2 COMMUNITY EVENTS WITH FREE ART ACTIVITY BOOTHS AS A WAY TO SPARK CREATIVE INTEREST IN THE PUBLIC.ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ART. THIS PROGRAM IS AN UMBRELLA FOR SEVERAL INITIATIVES, ALL WHICH SUPPORT ART AS BUSINESS EFFORTS. ART IN PUBLIC PLACES IS A REDUCED-COMMISSION ART GALLERY EXPERIENCE HOSTED IN DOWNTOWN STARKVILLE AND FACILITATES THE SALE OF ART FOR ARTISTS IN MULTIPLE SHOWS EACH FISCAL YEAR. COTTON DISTRICT ARTS FESTIVAL. THIS EVENT IS PART FUNDRAISER, PART PROGRAM. THIS FESTIVAL IS ONE OF THE LARGEST ART FESTIVALS IN THE STATE, PROVIDING 4 STAGES OF MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR NO ADMISSION TO THE PUBLIC. THE FESTIVAL ALSO AWARDS NUMEROUS MONETARY PRIZES DIRECTLY TO ARTISTS FOR MERITORIOUS EFFORTS.GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED IN THE STARKVILLE AREA. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO TEENAGERS BASED ON MERIT AND NEED FOR SUMMER ARTS PROGRAMS. GRANTS ARE AWARDED TO TEACHERS, LOCAL COMMUNITY ART GROUPS, AND INDIVIDUALS FOR VARIOUS ART EDUCATION AND ART-RELATED PROJECTS, WHETHER GENERAL OR PROJECT GRANTS, HIRING OF MUSICIANS, CREATION OF PUBLIC ART, AND MORE.
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
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.
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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1997.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.