Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Near & Arnolds School of Performing Arts & Cultural Education

EIN 68-0379044 · Ukiah, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SPACE'S MISSION IS TO EMPOWER OUR YOUTH TO DISCOVER AND TRUST IN THEIR INNATE ABILITY TO BE CREATIVE, RESPONSIBLE, AND COMPASSIONATE INDIVIDUALS THROUGH EFFECTIVE TRAINING IN DANCE, THEATER, MUSIC, AND CULTURAL EDUCATION. THE SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS AND CULURAL EDUCATION (AKA SPACE) PROVIDES CLASSES IN DANCE, ACTING, MUSICAL THEATRE, AND ART IN A CULTURALLY DIVERSE CONTEXT.

Income
$790,220
Spending
$865,758
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 56%
Employees
46
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$120,924, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 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

    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 December 31, 2024, 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)
  1. $468,569 spent. PG - UKIAH PROGRAM: THESE ARE THE ONGOING SESSIONS (FALL, WINTER, SPRING, AND SUMMER) THAT OFFER APPROXIMATELY 50 CLASSES IN DANCE, DRAMA, AND MUSICAL THEATRE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
  2. $110,796 spent. PERFORMING ARTS PRODUCTIONS: THIS INCLUDES A VARIETY OF PERFORMING ARTS INCLUDING THE PERFORMING ARTS SUMMER CAMP FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO STUDY ART, SINGING, DANCE, DRAMA, AND ALL ASPECTS OF THE THEATRE. AT THE END OF THE PERIOD THE STUDENTS PRESENT A PLAY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 November 1996.

    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.