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School of Arts and Culture at Mhp

EIN 80-0714882 · San Jose, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE SCHOOL IS TO CATALYZE CREATIVITY AND EMPOWER COMMUNITY. THE SCHOOL ENVISIONS A WORLD WHERE CREATIVITY INSPIRES COMPASSION AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES.

Income
$5.5 million
Spending
$5.6 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
11.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
80
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$172,425, ceo

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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

    9 of 11 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 (4)
  1. $463,221 spent. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT:DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2022, SOAC FORMALLY LAUNCHED A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AREA, EXPANDING ITS WORK BEYOND CULTURAL PROGRAMMING TO INCLUDE NEIGHBORHOOD-CENTERED DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES. THIS BODY OF WORK ADVANCES A LONG-TERM VISION TO STABILIZE, ACTIVATE, AND PRESERVE THE CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC VITALITY OF EAST SAN JOSE.IN DECEMBER 2022, SOAC ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH GARDNER HEALTH SERVICES AND COMMUNITY ARTS STABILIZATION TRUST TO FORM 1751 ALUM ROCK, LLC ("THE LLC") TO ACQUIRE AND REDEVELOP A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET FROM LA PLAZA. SOAC IS THE MANAGING AND MAJORITY MEMBER OF THE LLC. THE PROPERTY, KNOWN AS LA PLACITA, IS BEING DEVELOPED AS A MIXED-USE HUB FOR ARTS, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY-SERVING USES, INCLUDING CULTURAL SPACE, LOCAL RETAIL, AND HEALTH-SERVING FACILITIES. THE LLC IS CONSOLIDATED IN SOAC'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AND THE INTERESTS OF THE OTHER MEMBERS ARE REFLECTED AS NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS.IN ADDITION TO LA PLACITA, SOAC IS ADVANCING LA AVENIDA, A CULTURAL DISTRICT STRATEGY FOCUSED ON THE ALUM ROCK CORRIDOR, AND PARTICIPATES IN COLLABORATIVE LAND-STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE FORMATION OF THE MAYFAIR NEIGHBORHOOD TRUST.SOAC'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT EVOLUTION OF ITS OPERATING MODEL, POSITIONING THE ORGANIZATION AS BOTH A CULTURAL ANCHOR AND A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTION.
  2. $1.8 million spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CULTURAL EVENTS:SOAC CURATES AND HOSTS YEAR-ROUND CULTURAL PROGRAMMING, FESTIVALS, AND PERFORMANCES WHILE PROVIDING SUBSIDIZED ACCESS TO LA PLAZA FOR LOCAL ARTISTS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THESE PROGRAMS ACTIVATE THE CAMPUS AS A CULTURALLY ROOTED, INCLUSIVE PUBLIC SPACE AND SUPPORT LOCAL CREATIVE ECONOMIES.MERCADITOS HUNGER RELIEF:LAUNCHED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, MERCADITOS PROVIDES FRESH FOOD AND ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES TO EAST SAN JOSE FAMILIES. THE PROGRAM HAS BECOME A SUSTAINED COMMUNITY SERVICE RESPONDING TO ONGOING ECONOMIC AND FOOD-ACCESS CHALLENGES.
  3. $1.2 million spent. MARKET-RATE RENTALS AND PRODUCTION SERVICES:SOAC GENERATES MISSION-ALIGNED EARNED REVENUE THROUGH FACILITY RENTALS AND PRODUCTION SERVICES AT LA PLAZA. THESE ACTIVITIES SUPPORT FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND DIRECTLY SUBSIDIZE COMMUNITY ACCESS AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMING.
  4. $317,372 spent. ARTS EDUCATION:SOAC PROVIDES CULTURALLY GROUNDED ARTS EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH THROUGH SUMMER CAMPS, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, AND COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS. PROGRAMMING EMPHASIZES CREATIVE EXPRESSION, CULTURAL IDENTITY, AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.MULTICULTURAL ARTS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (MALI):MALI IS A YEAR-LONG PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT CULTIVATES ARTISTS AND ART ADMINISTRATORS WORKING ACROSS THE ARTS, CULTURE, AND CREATIVE ECONOMY SECTORS. SINCE ITS FOUNDING, MALI HAS TRAINED MORE THAN 150 ALUMNI AND INVESTED SIGNIFICANTLY IN STRENGTHENING THE REGION'S MULTICULTURAL ARTS LEADERSHIP ECOSYSTEM.

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 July 2011.

    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.