Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Public Works

EIN 83-2051277 · Summerville, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PUBLIC WORKS ART CENTER IS AN INTENTIONALLY INCLUSIVE CULTURAL HUB AND CREATIVE INCUBATOR. HERE, ARTISTS AND VISITORS OF ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS, AND ABILITIES SHOWCASE AND LEARN A VARIETY OF ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES, CONNECTING WITH THEMSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER. THESE EXPERIENCES ENHANCE THE VIBRANCY OF DOWNTOWN SUMMERVILLE AND BEYOND.

Income
$625,194
Spending
$638,178
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
-13.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 45%
Employees
11
Volunteers
22

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

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 74% 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 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (6)
  1. FREE ADMISSION PROGRAM: THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS EVERY PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY TO EXPERIENCE EVER-CHANGING ART EXHIBITIONS, AND AVERAGING AROUND 2,500 VISITORS A MONTH WITH THREE GALLERIES THAT FEATURE DIFFERENT ARTISTS EVERY EIGHT WEEKS (HUNDREDS OF ARTISTS DISPLAYED IN 2025, INCLUDING GROUP AND COMMUNITY SHOWS), FREE CRAFTS FOR ALL AGES WITH EVERY EXHIBITION, AND PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE TO HAVE THEIR WORK DISPLAYED,THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO BE PART OF THE MISSION OF PUBLIC WORKS ART CENTER.
  2. ART CLASSES FOR ALL: IN 2025, PUBLIC WORKS ART CENTER EDUCATED OVER 1,500 STUDENTS. MEDIUMS INCLUDE OIL PAINTING, STAINED GLASS, NEEDLE FELTING, POTTERY, DRAWING, SWEETGRASS BASKET MAKING, CANDLE MAKING, CHARCOAL DRAWING, AND SO MUCH MORE. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE JOHN AND CAROLYN PETERSON FOUNDATION, ENSURING THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO HIGH- QUALITY ARTS EDUCATION.
  3. SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM: EACH SUMMER, PUBLIC WORKS IS OPEN EVERY WEEK OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT SUMMER SCHEDULE FOR SUMMER CAMP, AND IN 2025, WE HAD 237 SUMMER CAMPERS COME THROUGH OUR PROGRAM THANKS TO A GRANT FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA ARTS COMMISSION, WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER FULL SCHOLARSHIPS TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS IT.
  4. $425,426 spent. PUBLIC WORKS ART CENTER IS AN INTENTIONALLY INCLUSIVE CULTURAL HUB AND CREATIVE INCUBATOR. HERE, ARTISTS AND VISITORS OF ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS, AND ABILITIES SHOWCASE AND LEARN A VARIETY OF ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES, CONNECTING WITH THEMSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER. THESE EXPERIENCES ENHANCE THE VIBRANCY OF DOWNTOWN SUMMERVILLE AND BEYOND.
  5. LINE 4D PUBLIC WORKS ART CENTER IS ALSO FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY BUILDING, OFFERING FREE EVENTS SUCH AS MUSIC OPEN MIC NIGHTS, OPEN MIC POETRY NIGHTS, FREE CRAFT SATURDAYS, AND EVENTS DESIGNED TO CONNECT COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH ONE ANOTHER
  6. PUBLIC WORKS ART CENTER IS AN INTENTIONALLY INCLUSIVE CULTURAL HUB AND CREATIVE INCUBATOR. HERE, ARTISTS AND VISITORS OF ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS, AND ABILITIES SHOWCASE AND LEARN A VARIETY OF ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES, CONNECTING WITH THEMSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER. THESE EXPERIENCES ENHANCE THE VIBRANCY OF DOWNTOWN SUMMERVILLE AND BEYOND.

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

  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 December 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 June 2019.

    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.