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The Polaris Art Foundation

EIN 81-5299782 · San Juan, PR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AT THE POLARIS ART FOUNDATION, WE BELIEVE THAT ART AND CREATIVITY HAVE THE POWER TO ILLUMINATE MINDS, TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES, AND SHAPE A BETTER WORLD. OUR MISSION IS TO NURTURE AND SUPPORT THE CREATIVE SPIRIT THROUGH COLLABORATION, EDUCATION AND MENTORSHIP, GUIDING ASPIRING ARTISTS AND DOSTERING A VIBRANT, INCLUSIVE ART COMMUNITY.

Income
$75,965
Spending
$62,872
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%

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

Financial health

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 83% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

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

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 (3)
  1. $23,431 spent. COLLABORATE WITH MUSICIANS, ARTISTS, AND ENGINEERS TO CREATE AN INTERACTIVE ART CAR INSTALLATION THAT SERVES AS A PLATFORM FOR ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THIS PROGRAM EMPOWERS BOTH ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING ARTISTS BY OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOWCASE THEIR WORK IN PUBLIC SPACES, FOSTERING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ARTISTS AND AUDIENCES. BY FACILITATING COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS, WE AIM TO MAKE ART MORE ACCESSIBLE, ALLOWING DIVERSE AUDIENCES TO ENGAGE WITH CREATIVITY IN IMMERSIVE WAYS AND PROMOTING PERSONAL GROWTH AND A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR THE ARTS.
  2. $29,858 spent. EACH YEAR, WE SELECT A DIVERSE GROUP OF ARTISTS THROUGH AN APPLICATION AND INTERVIEW PROCESS TO JOIN OUR ANNUAL CREATIVE WORKSHOP. PARTICIPANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO INSPIRE AND ENGAGE WITH ONE ANOTHER, FOSTERING A RICH EXCHANGE OF IDEAS. WE PROVIDE ESSENTIAL RESOURCES LIKE WORKSPACE AND MATERIALS, CREATING A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ARTISTIC GROWTH. THROUGH DISCUSSIONS, SEMINARS, AND COLLABORATION, WE HELP PARTICIPANTS REFINE THEIR SKILLS AND GROW PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.
  3. $1,473 spent. IN 2024, WE ESTABLISHED A SCHOLARSHIP TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS PURSUING CAREERS IN THE ARTS, EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ARTISTS. THIS INITIATIVE HELPS RECIPIENTS FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION, DEVELOP THEIR CREATIVITY, AND ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS, WHILE REINFORCING OUR MISSION TO

Source: Form 990EZ 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 October 13, 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 February 2017.

    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 October 21, 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.