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Kid Smart

EIN 72-1437355 · New Orleans, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

KID SMART'S MISSION IS TO ENGAGE CHILDREN AND EDUCATORS IN DYNAMIC, CREATIVE, AND RELEVANT LEARNING THROUGH THE ARTS. WE DO THIS THROUGH INTEGRATING THE ARTS INTO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MAKING THEM MORE JOYFUL AND EFFECTIVE PLACES TO LEARN.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
-0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
46
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$110,989, 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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 70% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

    18 of 18 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 (3)
  1. $1.5 million spent. CREATIVE SCHOOLS TRANSFORMS LEARNING IN 12 ORLEANS PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGH DEEP-IMPACT ARTS INTEGRATION. BY EMBEDDING PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS INTO CLASSROOMS FOR FULL-YEAR RESIDENCIES, WE PROVIDE OVER 3,000 STUDENTS WITH 30-60 HOURS OF SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION THAT BRIDGES COMMON CORE STANDARDS WITH ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. OUR COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH INCLUDES AXIS, AN INTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR EDUCATOR TEAMS, ALONGSIDE INDIVIDUALIZED CLASSROOM COACHING AND FULL-FACULTY WORKSHOPS. THIS MODEL FOSTERS JOYFUL, EFFECTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS WHERE 97% OF EDUCATORS REPORT SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN STUDENT COMPREHENSION AND CURRICULUM RETENTION.
  2. $149,812 spent. THE BLOOMBERG ARTS INTERNSHIP PROVIDES SELECT NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH RIGOROUS, PAID PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES AT LOCAL CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS. THIS PROGRAM EQUIPS INTERNS WITH CRITICAL COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS SKILLS WHILE FOSTERING A PATH INTO THE CITY'S VIBRANT CREATIVE ECONOMY. BEYOND THE INITIAL SUMMER PLACEMENT, ALUMNI REMAIN ELIGIBLE FOR CONTINUED INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THEIR COLLEGIATE CAREERS, ENSURING LONG-TERM MENTORSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE PROGRAM HAS EMPOWERED OVER 1,700 STUDENTS ACROSS SEVEN CITIES TO ENVISION AND ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND DIVERSE CAREER FIELDS.
  3. $302,069 spent. THE KID SMART CENTER FOR ARTS & EDUCATION SERVES AS A PERMANENT, MULTI-GENERATIONAL HUB FOR CREATIVITY IN THE HEART OF THE 7TH WARD. THIS $5.5 MILLION INVESTMENT FEATURES SIX SPECIALIZED CREATIVE STUDIOS-INCLUDING VISUAL ARTS, PERFORMING ARTS, AND PODCASTING-ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY TRAINING AND CONVENING SPACES. BY ESTABLISHING THIS PHYSICAL ANCHOR, KID SMART IS GROWING ITS ANNUAL IMPACT FROM 3,200 TO OVER 8,200 INDIVIDUALS. THE CENTER HOSTS NEW MISSION-DRIVEN INITIATIVES, INCLUDING AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, SUMMER CAMPS, AND CREATIVE AGING WORKSHOPS, WHILE PROVIDING A VITAL GATHERING SPACE FOR EDUCATORS AND PARTNERS TO ADVANCE ARTS EQUITY ACROSS THE REGION.

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 May 1999.

    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.