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Santa Fe Art Institute

EIN 85-0404277 · Santa Fe, NM

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SFAI IS AN INDEPENDENT ARTS ORGANIZATION FORGING CRITICAL INQUIRY AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE AMONG ARTISTS, CREATIVE PRACTITIONERS, AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY. WE SUPPORT AND AMPLIFY DYNAMIC ARTISTIC PRACTICES THAT ENGAGE COMPLEX SOCIAL ISSUES, INSPIRE INDIVIDUAL TRANSFORMATION, AND INFORM COLLECTIVE ACTION.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
8
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$122,315, 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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 49% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 317% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 69% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • 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. $413,556 spent. GENERAL PROGRAMS - BRINGING TOGETHER LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS AND CREATIVE PRACTITIONERS WITH ACTIVISTS, CULTURE BEARERS, CONTENT EXPERTS, AND INSTITUTIONS IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY THROUGH INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS, PERFORMANCES, CONVERSATIONS, AND EXHIBITIONS. GENERAL PROGRAMS SERVE LOCAL ARTISTS, ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, AND THE NORTHERN NEW MEXICO COMMUNITY. SFAI PROVIDED OVER 12 PUBLIC, IN PERSON PROGRAMS IN 2023, INCLUDING SFAI140, OPEN STUDIOS, PROCESS EVENTS, THE ONLINE TILT SERIES, OUR ANNUAL ART OF CHANGE.
  2. RESIDENCY PROGRAMS - SFAI SUPPORTS RESEARCH, ARTWORKS, AND CREATIVE ACTIONS THAT USE ARTISTIC IMAGINATION THROUGH OUR FREE, ANNUAL THEMATIC RESIDENCY PROGRAM, WHICH IS OPEN TO ARTISTS AND CREATIVE PRACTITIONERS OF ALL DISCIPLINES. SFAI HOSTED 53 RESIDENTS IN 2023 THROUGH THE CHANGING CLIMATE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC RESIDENCY, AND 4 RESIDENCY FELLOWSHIPS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. SFAI LAUNCHED THE BIPOC STIPENDS IN 2023, PROVIDING $500 TO ALL BIPOC-IDENTIFYING RESIDENTS.
  3. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, OUTREACH, AND EDUCATION - SHOWCASING THE WORK OF SOCIALLY-ENGAGED LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS AND CREATIVE PRACTITIONERS, SFAI COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DEMONSTRATES THE POWER OF ART TO SHAPE SOCIETY. THIS INCLUDES ONLINE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION FOR ALL AGES, INCLUDING THE TILT SERIES AND MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS; PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL ADVOCACY AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE SPACE AND A PLATFORM FOR CRITICAL DIALOGUE AND CREATIVE EXCHANGE AROUND SOCIAL ISSUES; AND CREATIVE PLACEKEEPING PROJECTS SUCH AS THE NEWLY FORMING MIDTOWN ARTS AND DESIGN ALLIANCE.
  4. $237,396 spent. SFAI IS ALSO THE PARENT ORGANIZATION OF THE MIDTOWN ARTS AND DESIGN ALLIANCE (MADA), A COLLABORATION OF OVER 10 TRUSTED LOCAL AND REGIONAL NON-PROFITS AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, IS A ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION OPPORTUNITY FOR SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN SANTA FE'S CREATIVE COMMUNITY, LOCATED AT ITS GEOGRAPHICAL CENTER, MIDTOWN.

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 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 June 1997.

    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.