Roman Susan Art Foundation NFP
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Arts & Culture - ROMAN SUSAN ART FOUNDATION celebrates and shares the work of artists in the Great Lakes region. We create cultural engagements that provide resources and paid opportunities for artists. We are Chicago-based. We are artist-led. We are experimental and learning.
- Income
- $272,297
- Spending
- $197,808
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 10.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 83%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $22,500, 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 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 76% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (5)
- $78,374 spent. Roman Susan Art Foundation storefront at 1224 W Loyola Ave, Chicago IL featured 21 projects with the contributions of 135 artists. In 2025, the total expense of this program was $78,374 - with $33,782 spent on artist fees (43%). All events and artist projects were free to the public. For details, visit https://romansusan.org/1224-W-Loyola-Ave
- $66,175 spent. AUX provides administrative support to help artist-run initiatives realize their work. Over the past year, this program worked with 8 artist projects. The total expense of this program was $66,175 - with $35,054 spent on artist fees (53%). For details, visit https://romansusan.org/aux
- $22,199 spent. Roman Susan ANNEX facilitated 11 events with the contributions of 29 artists. Expenses totaled $22,199 - with $10,100 spent on artist stipends (45%). For details, visit https://romansusan.org/ANNEX
- $12,268 spent. Navigations presented supports 7 ongoing projects, and 5 forthcoming projects by individual artists. Total expenses for this program in the past year was $12,268 - with $8,150 spent on artist stipends (66%). For details, visit https://romansusan.org/navigations
- $7,816 spent. 4750 N Sheridan Road is a media room and workspace within the landmarked Mutual Insurance Building in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. This program hosted 1 exhibition and 6 events with contributions of 21 artists. Total expenses at this program were $7,816 - with $3,500 spent on artist fees (45%). For details, visit https://romansusan.org/4750-N-Sheridan-Road
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
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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2016.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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.