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Arts & Literature Laboratory Inc

EIN 81-1197708 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ARTS & LITERATURE LABORATORY (ALL) IS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER SUPPORTING THE VISUAL, LITERARY, AND PERFORMING ARTS THROUGH AN ACTIVE CALENDAR OF EXHIBITIONS, READINGS, CONCERTS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE ORGANIZATION BRINGS TOGETHER RESOURCES, PEOPLE, AND SPACE TO EMPOWER ARTISTS AND WRITERS TO TAKE RISKS THAT TRANSCEND FORMAL AND CONCEPTUAL BOUNDARIES. THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS FOSTER CRITICAL AND IMAGINATIVE DIALOGUE TOWARDS EQUITABLE SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION ACTIVELY CHALLENGING AUDIENCES WHILE PRIORITIZING ACCESSIBILITY AND COMMUNITY RESPONSIVENESS.

Income
$976,647
Spending
$782,290
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
7.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
7
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$57,833, co-director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 90% 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $235,421 spent. IN 2024, ALL'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS EMPOWERED LIFELONG CREATIVITY FOR OVER 800 INDIVIDUALS SPANNING YOUTH, ADULTS, AND SENIORS THROUGH INCLUSIVE, HIGH-QUALITY ARTS EDUCATION. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, 43 TEACHING ARTISTS LED 60 CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS, ENGAGING 384 YOUTH AND 430 ADULTS AND SENIORS IN A WIDE RANGE OF CREATIVE DISCIPLINES. OUR 10-WEEK YOUTH SUMMER ARTS CAMP SERVED 238 INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS AND FEATURED 23 DYNAMIC CAMPS TAUGHT BY 19 ARTISTS, WITH 25% OF ENROLLMENT RESERVED FOR STUDENTS RECEIVING FULL OR PARTIAL FINANCIAL AID, ENSURING ACCESS FOR FAMILIES FACING ECONOMIC BARRIERS. IN ADDITION TO YEAR-ROUND EDUCATION PROGRAMMING INCLUDING POETRY WORKSHOPS, VISUAL ARTS CLASSES, AND INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WE HOSTED THE BUSINESS OF ART CONFERENCE, EQUIPPING 150 ARTISTS WITH ESSENTIAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN LEGAL, FINANCIAL, AND MARKETING SKILLS TO SUSTAIN THEIR CREATIVE CAREERS. WITH A COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY, ALL CONTINUES TO NURTURE CREATIVITY, BUILD COMMUNITY, AND INVEST IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF ARTISTS AND CULTURAL LEADERS.
  2. $157,693 spent. IN 2024, ALL ENRICHED OUR COMMUNITY WITH 70 MUSIC PERFORMANCES FEATURING 239 MUSICIANS FROM EMERGING LOCAL TALENT AND STUDENT PERFORMERS TO INTERNATIONALLY MUSICIANS REACHING AN AUDIENCE OF OVER 20,000 PEOPLE. TO ENSURE BROAD ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY MUSIC, 33 OF THESE CONCERTS WERE OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE, REMOVING FINANCIAL BARRIERS AND EXPANDING COMMUNITY EXPOSURE TO JAZZ, CLASSICAL, AND EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC. BEYOND MUSIC, ALL CONTINUES TO CHAMPION A DIVERSE PERFORMING ARTS ECOSYSTEM THROUGH PRESENTATIONS OF THEATER, DANCE, AND PERFORMANCE ART, FOSTERING A VIBRANT AND INCLUSIVE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE.
  3. $98,672 spent. IN THE PAST YEAR, ALL STRENGTHENED THE LOCAL LITERARY LANDSCAPE THROUGH 26 PUBLIC LITERARY ARTS EVENTS, SHOWCASING THE VOICES OF 242 WRITERS AND ENGAGING OVER 1,100 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE HONORED WISCONSIN TALENT WITH EIGHT LITERARY AWARDS CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN WRITING AND DEEPENED OUR COMMITMENT TO NURTURING WRITERS AT EVERY STAGE THROUGH OVER 100 HOURS OF COMMUNITY WRITING SESSIONS, SERVING 90 EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED AUTHORS AND EXPANDING OUR SMALL PRESS LIBRARY. THESE PROGRAMS FOSTER ACCESS, AMPLIFY UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES, AND ENSURE THAT STORYTELLING REMAINS A VITAL FORCE IN OUR CULTURAL AND CIVIC LIFE.
  4. $139,877 spent. ALL PROUDLY PRESENTED 25 EXHIBITIONS ACROSS OUR FIVE GALLERIES AND THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, AMPLIFYING THE VOICES AND VISIONS OF 256 ARTISTS PRIMARILY FROM HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING BIPOC, LGBTQ+, WOMEN, AND ARTISTS WITH DISABILITIES. WE CELEBRATED INDIGENOUS CREATIVITY THROUGH OUR NATIVE ART MARKETS, FEATURING THE WORK OF 28 ARTISTS FROM TRIBES ACROSS WISCONSIN. ADDITIONALLY, WE HOSTED 14 POWERFUL FILM SCREENINGS SHOWCASING THE WORK OF 71 FILMMAKERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. IN TOTAL, THESE VIBRANT AND INCLUSIVE PROGRAMS REACHED AND INSPIRED AN AUDIENCE OF OVER 6,000 VISITORS, AFFIRMING OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2016.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 2026.

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