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International Council of Fine Arts Deans

EIN 75-1727752 · West Palm Bch, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ICFAD IS A MULTINATIONAL ALLIANCE OF EXECUTIVE ACADEMIC VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS, DESIGN, AND MEDIA ADMINISTRATORS REPRESENTING INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. BEYOND BEING THE PROVIDER OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ICFAD FACILITIES FORUMS FOR EXCHANGE OF IDEAS, INFORMATION, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRESIDENTS, PROVOSTS, DEANS, ASSOCIATE DEANS, ASSISTANT DEANS, DIRECTORS, CHAIRS, AND FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONAL IN THE ARTS.ICFAD COMMITS TO ITS ROLE AS INFLUENTIAL ADVOCATE FOR THE ARTS.

Income
$464,156
Spending
$454,559
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
8.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 65%
Employees
0
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$114,208, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    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, 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. $344,809 spent. FROM ITS INCEPTION IN 1964, ICFAD HAS ORGANIZED CONFERENCES TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTS DEANS TO HELP DEANS. DURING THESE CONFERENCES, TOPICS OF INTEREST TO THE MEMBERSHIP ARE DISCUSSED BY ARTIST, ACADEMIC AND INTELLECTUAL LEADERS, AND GOVERNMENT AND FOUNDATION OFFICIALS. ICFAD'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS HELD USUALLY IN OCTOBER IN A MAJOR CULTURAL CENTER. THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY, IN FORMAL AND INFORMAL SETTINGS, TO NETWORK WITH COLLEAGUES AND GUESTS ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ARTS OR OTHER GENERAL TOPICS OF INTEREST. ANNUAL CONFERENCES USUALLY FEATURE PANEL DISCUSSIONS WITH LEADING NATIONAL EXPERTS IN THE ARTS, LOCAL ARTS LEADERS, AND ICFAD DEANS. ICFAD MEMBERS ARE KEPT INFORMED AND INVOLVED IN DEVELOPMENTS THROUGH THIS ANNUAL CONFERENCE. ICFAD ALSO PROVIDES ADDITIONAL TRAINING IN POST CONFERENCE SESSIONS, FELLOWS PROGRAMS AND INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUMS. IN 2020,MANAGEMENT REALIZED HOW FINANCIALLY DEPENDENT ICFAD'S OPERATIONS WERE ON CONFERENCE-RELATED INCOME. ICFAD PROMPTLY DEVELOPED ONLINE PROGRAMMING FOR MEMBERS AND DEVELOPED RELATED SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES; FOCUSED ON MEMBERSHIP RETENTION AND RECRUITING EFFORTS; TRANSITIONED TO AN ANNIVERSARY-DATE INSTEAD OF CALENDAR YEAR DUES CYCLE; AND APPROVED POLICY RELATED TO USE OF FINANCIAL RESERVES. CREATIVELY AND COLLABORATIVELY ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES OF 2020 RESULTED IN FINANCIAL SOLVENCY AND INCREASED MEMBER BENEFITS. ICFAD PROVIDES A NETWORK OF COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION TO INFORM AND EDUCATE MEMBERS OF CURRENT ISSUES AND TOPICS FACING ARTS ADMINISTRATORS IN HIGHER EDUCATION ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD. FREQUENT EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS, THE WEBSITE, THE ONLINE PROGRAMMING, AN ONLINE FORUM AND NATIONAL CONFERENCES PROVIDE THE FOUNDATION OF COMMUNICATION TO KEEP MEMBERS ABREAST OF INITIATIVES, RESOLUTIONS AND NEW TRENDS IN THE ARTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 October 1980.

    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.