Lupinewood Institute Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
to organize and administer community-based arts and educational programs.
- Income
- $213,766
- Spending
- $85,891
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 18.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $10,800, executive 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 18.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 60% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4414% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
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, 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 (5)
- $20,927 spent. EAM is a music studio and collectively-run practice space. This program is ongoing and ran through 2024. Most of 2024 was spent building out the infrastructure and organizing its library of instruments and equipment to make them accessible to the general public. The studio hosts and puts on shows featuring affiliated bands as well as visiting artists, and has plans to host other music-related worshops in 2025.
- $12,356 spent. Letters for Release is a program offering support to incarcerated queer and trans folks, in the form of letters written by volunteers and monetary donations to commissary funds which recipients can use to purchase gender-affirming hygiene products and other necessary supplies. The program ran as part of the Institute through October 2024.
- $11,953 spent. Paper Ghost is a print-making studio open to the general public on a membership basis. The studio is still in its preparation phase. 2024 was spent training staff and developing the space with necessary materials for a fully-functional studio. It is anticipated that Paper Ghost will open to the general public in summer 2025. In addition to studio and creation space, it has plans to host gallery shows of work produced through its programs.
- $11,676 spent. The woodshop is a fledgling program to build and explore the feasibility of a community woodshop and makers space. It ran through the first 6 months of 2024 and elected not to continue due to a shortage of skilled staff.
- $10,458 spent. The Community Garden program focused on the development of a garden plot for community use, which involved improving the soil, delineating garden beds, and educating staff about permaculture and sustainable farming practices.
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
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 October 13, 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 2024.
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 2024.
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 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.