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Sammons Center for the Arts

EIN 75-1785673 · Dallas, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CENTER GROWS THE ARTS, IN AND FOR THIS COMMUNITY, BY PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SUPPORT UNIQUELY FOCUSED ON THE NEEDS OF LOCAL PERFORMING ARTISTS, ART GROUPS, AUDIENCES, AND ARTS EDUCATION TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
7.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
12
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$127,000, 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

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 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 (3)
  1. $536,735 spent. THE CENTER PROVIDES THE NORTH TEXAS COMMUNITY WITH RESOURCES AND A FACILITY FOR PERFORMING ARTISTS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO PURSUE THEIR CRAFT. THROUGH ITS CULTURAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES PROGRAM, THE SAMMONS CENTER IS THE SOLE PROVIDER OF AN AFFORDABLE FACILITY AND ADMINISTRATIVE, OPERATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR SMALL AND MIDSIZE PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS IN NORTH TEXAS. IT IS HOME TO 14 PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS REPRESENTING DANCE, THEATER, ORCHESTRAL MUSIC, AND CHORAL MUSIC. IT PROVIDES LOW-COST REHEARSAL, AUDITION, MEETING, WORKSHOP AND PERFORMANCE SPACE TO ITS RESIDENT GROUPS AND MORE THAN 90 OTHER NONPROFIT CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $693,213 spent. THE SAMMONS CENTERS CRITICAL MISSION OUTREACH ACTIVITIES ARE BOTH ACTUAL AND VIRTUAL, DESIGNED TO PROMOTE EFFICIENCY, INNOVATION AND SUCCESS WHILE MAKING THE ARTS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. IT HOSTS TALKS, WORKSHOPS AND SIMILAR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING ARTS GROUPS. IT PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN ORGANIZING TWO CITYWIDE EVENTS HELD EACH APRIL, DALLAS ART MONTH AND DALLAS JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH. IT SUPPORTS AND ASSISTS ARTISTS AND NONPROFIT ARTS GROUPS OF ANY SIZE BY PROVIDING FREE ONLINE INFORMATION, TOOLS, AND ACCESS TO CURRENT BEST PRACTICE CONCEPTS ON MULTIPLE TOPICS RELATED TO ARTS MANAGEMENT.
  3. $281,616 spent. ADDITIONALLY, THE SAMMONS CENTER PRESENTS ITS OWN DISTINCTIVE PERFORMANCE SERIES. CONCERT PROGRAMMING CONSISTS OF SAMMONS JAZZ, THE PREMIER JAZZ SERIES IN NORTH TEXAS FEATURING LOCAL JAZZ MUSICIANS; SAMMONS CABARET, A SERIES HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL SINGERS IN A CELEBRATION OF THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK AND CONTEMPORARY VOCAL MUSIC; AND SAMMONS CENTER DISCOVERY, A PRESENTATION OF UNIQUE GENRES, MUSICIANS, AND INSTRUMENTS. SAMMONS JAZZ INCLUDES AN INTERACTIVE YOUTH JAZZ OUTREACH INITIATIVE SERVING UNDERPRIVILEGED YOUTH AGES 6-12.

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

  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 August 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 December 1981.

    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.

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