Union Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE UNION PROJECT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES AND SPACE TO CONNECT, CREATE, AND CELEBRATE COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $667,150
- Spending
- $847,609
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 52%
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 16
- Highest pay
- $93,276, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 27% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 36% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 (4)
- $73,774 spent. CERAMICS STUDIOUP'S CERAMICS STUDIO AIMS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO LEARN TO MAKE CERAMICS. THE STUDIO OFFERS A VARIETY OF ENTRY POINTS TO GROW ARTISTIC SKILLS THROUGH YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMMING INCLUDING STUDIO MEMBERSHIP FOR EMERGING AND PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AND OPEN STUDIOS (DROP-IN TIME WITH LIGHT INSTRUCTION PROVIDED FOR ALL SKILLS LEVELS). UP RUNS TWO STUDIOS (A MAIN STUDIO AND A THROWING LAB) AS WELL AS A STATE-OF-THE-ART OUTDOOR KILN SHELTER. THE FACILITY INCLUDES SEVEN KILNS (A GAS REDUCTION KILN, A SODA KILN, A RAKU KILN, AND FOUR ELECTRIC KILNS), 20 CERAMIC WHEELS, A CLAY AND GLAZE MIXING FACILITY AND A VARIETY OF STUDIO EQUIPMENT. UP OFFERS SERVICES TO STUDIO MEMBERS WHO SEEK TO MAKE ART THEIR CAREER INCLUDING CERAMIC BUSINESSES, DESIGNERS, SCULPTORS, AND/OR TEACHING ARTISTS. ARTIST SERVICES INCLUDE STUDIO ACCESS AND STORAGE SPACE, TRAINING ON HOW TO MIX GLAZES AND FIRE KILNS, EXHIBITION AND SALES OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS TRAINING AND PAID OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHING. UP STAFF WORK WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL MEMBER TO SET ARTISTIC GOALS AND A PLAN OF ACTION TO REACH THOSE GOALS. UP ALSO SUPPORTS AND HOSTS VISITING ARTISTS WHO HAVE AN ESTABLISHED PRACTICE AND A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF HIGH-QUALITY ARTWORK, TO MAKE NEW WORK AND SHARE TECHNIQUES WITH OUR STUDIO MEMBERS AND CERAMICS COMMUNITY AT LARGE.ADDITIONALLY, UP HOSTS A COLLABORATIVE STUDIO FOR ARTISTS OF COLOR, WHICH OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER IN A SAFE SPACE, WITH SLIDING SCALE STUDIO MEMBERSHIP FEES AND EVENT ENTRY FEES TO ENSURE THOSE WHO COME FROM LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS CAN PARTICIPATE.
- $181,251 spent. SPACE RENTAL PROGRAMMINGUP'S SPACE RENTAL PROGRAM OFFERS USE OF SPACE TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE, ACCESSIBLE, AND JUST COMMUNITY. USING AN AFFORDABLE PRICING STRATEGY AND MARKETING SUPPORT (VIA WEBSITE, MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTERS, AND QUARTERLY POSTCARDS/FLIERS), UP INCUBATES AND SUPPORTS NEW IDEAS, ENTREPRENEURS, SMALL BUSINESSES, NON-PROFITS, AND COMMUNITY CLASSES SO THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN LEARN NEW SKILLS, INTERACT WITH DIVERSE RESIDENTS, BUILD SOCIAL CAPITAL, AND BECOME MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT. RENTALS ARE AVAILABLE HOURLY OR VIA ANNUAL LEASE. HOURLY SPACE RENTAL INCLUDES USE OF THE GREAT HALL AND KITCHEN WHICH CAN HOST ALL MANNER OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC EVENTS - FROM PERFORMANCES TO COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO WEDDINGS. ANNUAL RENTAL OFFERS AFFORDABLE OFFICES AND STUDIO SPACE TO FLEDGLING NON-PROFITS, START-UPS, SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND ARTISTS, ALL OF WHOM OPERATE IN A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT.
- $333,439 spent. ARTS EDUCATIONTHROUGH ITS ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS, UP OFFERS CLASSES (BETWEEN 4-10 WEEKS FOR BEGINNER TO ADVANCED); WORKSHOPS (THEMED, FUN AND FAMILY FRIENDLY WAYS TO CREATE SOMETHING TOGETHER); AND CUSTOM PROGRAMS FOR PRE-K THRU GRADE 12 STUDENTS, AS WELL AS UNIQUE TEAM BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES BOTH ON AND OFF-SITE. UP ALSO OFFERS A WHEEL MOBILE (CLAY STUDIO ON WHEELS) THAT INCLUDES ITS OWN MOBILE THROWING WHEEL AND RAKU KILN AND ALL THE TOOLS AND SUPPLIES REQUIRED TO MAKE CERAMICS OFF-SITE. UP'S MORE THAN 70 ANNUAL PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED FOR ALL AGES BOTH ON SITE AND OFF, AND BRING BOTH PRE-PACKAGED AND CUSTOM PROGRAMMING TO CLASSROOMS, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, SUMMER CAMPS, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.
- $22,705 spent. UP'S CERAMICS IN COMMUNITY PROGRAMS INCLUDE PROGRAMS THAT FOSTER APPRECIATION FOR THE CERAMIC ARTS, AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE AND/OR PURCHASE A VARIETY OF HAND-MADE CERAMICS TO SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS. UNION PROJECT'S ANNUAL MOTHER OF ALL POTTERY SALES (MOAPS - UP'S SIGNATURE EVENT) IS THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND IN SOUTHWESTERN PA. MOAPS PROVIDES COMMUNITY MEMBERS OPPORTUNITIES TO INTERACT WITH DOZENS OF DIVERSE CERAMIC ARTISTS FROM ACROSS THE REGION VIA CONVERSATION, PURCHASE OF THEIR WORK, LIVE DEMONSTRATIONS, AND HANDS ON ACTIVITIES. ADDITIONALLY, EVENTS LIKE UP'S ANNUAL DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY AND GLAZE FOR GOOD, BRING ARTISTS AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOGETHER TO MAKE COMMUNITY ART AND LEARN FROM CREATIVES MAKING SOCIALLY DRIVEN ARTWORK TO BROADEN VIEWS AND CREATE DIALOGUE ABOUT AND/OR SUPPORT SOCIAL ISSUES. IN THIS WAY WE STRIVE TO CREATE GREATER CONNECTIONS AND EMPATHY BETWEEN PEOPLE IN ORDER TO SHIFT SOCIAL PATTERNS FOR A MORE CARING, EQUITABLE, AND JUST REGION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 October 13, 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 August 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 2002.
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 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.