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North Pole Studio

EIN 85-2096031 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

We support careers in the arts and exist to increase opportunities for artists with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities to thrive as active members of the arts community. We foster self-determination and facilitate meaningful connections through total engagement in the arts.

Income
$500,055
Spending
$472,554
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
15
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$53,176, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 48% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $97,637 spent. OUR PROFESSIONAL STUDIO PROGRAM PROVIDES ARTISTS WITH AUTISM AND INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WHO ARE 18 YEARS AND OLDER WITH AN ACCESSIBLE, SUPPORTED STUDIO SPACE TO PURSUE A SELF-DETERMINED ART PRACTICE. IN THIS PROGRAM ARTISTS ACCESS THE SPACE, MATERIALS, SUPPORT, AND ADVOCACY TO PRODUCE, EXHIBIT AND SELL THEIR ARTWORK. THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED PROGRAMMING, WE SERVE A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS WITH COMPLEX PHYSICAL, COMMUNICATION, BEHAVIORAL, AND SOCIAL NEURODIVERSITIES. THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY SPECIALIZED ART FACILITATORS, WHO EXIST TO FACILITATE PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ALIGNED WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL'S GOALS AND DREAMS. IN 2025 JANUARY THROUGH JUNE, WE BROUGHT IN $15,400 IN INCOME FROM OUR PROFESSIONAL STUDIO PROGRAM. IN 2025 JANUARY THROUGH JUNE, WE SERVED 27 ARTISTS IN THE PROFESSIONAL STUDIO PROGRAM. 100% OF OUR ARTISTS WITH COLLECTIONS SOLD ORIGINAL ARTWORK, AND 100% OF THESE ARTISTS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXHIBIT EITHER LOCALLY OR NATIONALLY. IN ADDITION TO EXHIBITIONS, WE FACILITATED PAID OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS TO TEACH AND LECTURE IN THE COMMUNITY. WE SUPPORTED EVERY ARTIST WITH MAINTAINING A DIGITAL PORTFOLIO OF WORK, AND CREATED AN INDIVIDUALIZED WEBPAGE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL TO SHOW AND SELL THEIR WORK.
  2. $71,350 spent. OUR WEEKLY ART CLASSES ARE OFFERED EACH QUARTER, AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR ARTISTS WITH AUTISM OR I/DD WHO ARE 16 YEARS AND OLDER. THIS PROGRAM IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO SERVE "TRANSITION-AGED" YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16-25 AND ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO UNEMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL ISOLATION, AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES UPON GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL. THESE CLASSES COVER DIVERSE TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES, PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE A WIDE RANGE OF ART-MAKING METHODS. OUR WORKSHOPS ARE OFFERED ON A WEEKLY BASIS, AND LESSONS ARE DESIGNED BASED ON ARTIST REQUEST AND ARE EITHER HOSTED IN THE STUDIO OR AT A PARTNERSHIP SITE. THESE WORKSHOPS PROVIDE AN ACCESSIBLE ALTERNATIVE TO COMMUNITY OFFERINGS (SUCH AS FIGURE DRAWING, POTTERY, DIGITAL DRAWING) THAT ARE OFTEN INACCESSIBLE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. IN 2025 JANUARY THROUGH JUNE, WE OFFERED OVER 73 OPPORTUNITIES TO A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF ART STUDENTS ACROSS FOUR, QUARTERLY CLASS TERMS. THROUGH THESE CLASSES, WE DELIVERED LESSONS ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF ART METHODS AND MATERIALS INCLUDING DRAWING, SCULPTURE, PRINTMAKING, FIBER ARTS, POTTERY, GLASSWORKING, AND MORE. WE PARTNERED WITH OVER 21 COMMUNITY ARTISTS TO TEACH LESSONS IN THEIR AREA OF EXPERTISE. THROUGH THESE PARTNERSHIPS, WE TAUGHT COMMUNITY ARTISTS ABOUT HOW TO INCORPORATE ACCESSIBLE PRACTICES INTO THEIR TEACHING METHODS. ADDITIONALLY, WE WORKED WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PROVIDE QUARTERLY WORKSHOPS BASED ON ARTIST REQUEST. OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS INCLUDED KEEN, THE MARIE LAMFROM FOUNDATION, LAIKA, STEPHEN'S PLACE AND MORE. COMMUNITY OUTREACH WORKSHOPS ARE DESIGNED TO BUILD ORGANIC CONNECTIONS BETWEEN DIVERSE COMMUNITIES OF ARTISTS THROUGH THE SHARED LANGUAGE OF THE ARTS. WE BROUGHT IN $11,420 IN PROGRAMMING REGISTRATION FEES IN 2025 JANUARY THROUGH JUNE.
  3. $206,539 spent. OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING PROMOTES THE INCLUSION OF ARTISTS WITH AUTISM AND I/DD IN THE ARTS COMMUNITY, AND SEEKS TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THIS POPULATION'S EXPERIENCES. OUR STUDIO IS LOCATED IN PORTLAND'S PEARL DISTRICT, AN ARTS AND CULTURE CORRIDOR IN THE CITY. IN THIS SPACE, WE ENSURE THAT ARTISTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE FULLY INTEGRATED INTO THE PROFESSIONAL ARTS COMMUNITY AND WE FACILITATE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ARTISTS WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES. THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, WE INCREASE REPRESENTATION OF ARTISTS WITH DISABILITIES IN EXHIBITION SPACES, EVENTS, AND DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES. IN 2025 JANUARY THROUGH JUNE, WE WORKED WITH OVER 17 COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO FACILITATE EXHIBITION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS. WE FACILITATED 12 EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS LOCAL AND NATIONAL SPACES, INCLUDING COMPETITIVE AND REPUTABLE PROFESSIONAL GALLERIES SUCH AS WATERSTONE GALLERY AND THE OUTSIDER ART FAIR NYC. ALL EXHIBITIONS WERE WIDELY ATTENDED BY INDIVIDUALS WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES, AND GENERATED ART SALES AND VISIBILITY AROUND ARTIST'S STORIES. WE PARTNERED WITH SCHOOLS SUCH AS PPS AND VICTORY ACADEMY THROUGH WHICH NORTH POLE STUDIO ARTISTS TAUGHT WORKSHOPS AND DELIVERED LECTURES. ADDITIONALLY, WE HOSTED TRANSITION-AGED AND SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS IN THE STUDIO FOR TOURS. IN 2025 JANUARY THROUGH JUNE WE BROUGHT IN $33,157 IN ARTIST EARNED INCOME THROUGH ART SALES, LICENSING, LECTURING AND TEACHING AND $6,248 IN MERCHANDISE SALES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 2025.

    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 April 2021.

    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.

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