Steam Exchange Community Arts Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO FACILITATE PASSION-DRIVEN LEARNING EXPERIENCES WHERE INDIVIDUALS EXPLORE THE WORLD, THEMSELVES, AND THE ARTS THROUGH CREATIVE PLAY AND PRODUCTION. WE USE THE ARTS TO TEACH CONCEPTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS(STEAM). WE WORK TOWARD GREATER EQUITY IN OUR COMMUNITY BY AMPLIFYING VOICE, SHOWCASING CREATIVITY AND LEADERSHIP, AND CO-CREATING COLLABORATIVE, PUBLIC ART WITH YOUTH OF COLOR AND LOW-INCOME YOUTH. DIALOGUE WITH PEOPLE WHO LIVE, LEARN, WORK OR WORSHIP IN SMOKETOWN DIRECTLY SHAPES WORKSHOP CONTENT AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS.
- Income
- $184,983
- Spending
- $200,047
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 68%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $49,671, co-exec dire
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
Fair: 60 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 94 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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 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 (2)
- $104,821 spent. SMOKETOWN FREE AFTERSCHOOL & SUMMER PROGRAMS - STEAM EXCHANGE PROVIDES FREE, SAFE, STRUCTURED AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR SMOKETOWN YOUTH AGES 5-21. WE RECRUIT YOUTH NOT ALREADY INVOLVED IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, EMPLOY NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH, AGES 14-21, AS STUDENT INTERNS WHO HELP IN ALL ASPECTS OF PROGRAM FACILITATION & MAINTAINING OUR CENTER. INTERNS GAIN RESPONSIBILITY AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, TRAIN TO PRODUCE PROFESSIONAL QUALITY SCREEN PRINTED PRODUCTS, ASSIST IN GRANT WRITING AND GRANT IDEATION, AND HELP PREPARE MATERIALS AND TEACH CLASSES. OVER THE YEARS,STEX HAS TAUGHT CLASSES IN STEAM, SCREEN PRINTING, BOOKBINDING, PAINTING, TEXTILES, STOP MOTION, COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, SCULPTURE AND MORE. WE FACILITATE CAMPS, HOST INTERNSHIPS EACH SUMMER. CLASSES CHANGE YEARLY BASED ON YOUTH INTERESTS AND NEEDS. ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS GREATLY ENHANCE OUR PROGRAM. STEAM ADVENTRUES(WITH JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST) TAKES BI-WEEKLY FIELD TRIPS TO THE FOREST FOR HIKES, ROCK CLIMBING, AND WILDLIFE STUDY AS WELL AS A WEEK-LONG SUMMER CAMP. RHYTHM SCIENCE SOUND PARTNERS TO LEAD WORKSHOPS IN DEEJAYING, MUSIC MIXING AND RECORDING. FASHION DESIGNER, KARA MASON, HELPS TEACH OUR STUDENTS HOW TO TACKLE COMPLICATED FASHION PROJECTS TEACHING DESIGN, PATTERN MAKING, AND SEWING. GIRL SCOUTS OF KENTUCKIANA PROVIDES THE FUNDING FOR EACH OF OUR GIRLS TO BE GIRL SCOUTS AND FUNDS A LARGE PORTION OF THEIR SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCES. CRAFTING THE FUTURE PROVIDES ART INTENSIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR OLDER YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS. THE TRAGER FAMILY JCC GIVES US A DISCOUNT FOR OUR STUDENTS TO ATTEND SUMMER CAMP THERE AND GIVE STEX ACCESS TO THEIR SWIMMING FACILITES. SMOKETOWN FREE AFTERSCHOOL & SUMMER PROGRAMS - STEAM EXCHANGE PROVIDES FREE, SAFE, STRUCTURED AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR SMOKETOWN YOUTH AGES 5-21. WE RECRUIT YOUTH NOT ALREADY INVOLVED IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, EMPLOY NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH, AGES 14-21, AS STUDENT INTERNS WHO HELP IN ALL ASPECTS OF PROGRAM FACILITATION & MAINTAINING OUR CENTER. INTERNS GAIN RESPONSIBILITY AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, TRAIN TO PRODUCE PROFESSIONAL QUALITY SCREEN PRINTED PRODUCTS, ASSIST IN GRANT WRITING AND GRANT IDEATION, AND HELP PREPARE MATERIALS AND TEACH CLASSES. OVER THE YEARS,STEX HAS TAUGHT CLASSES IN STEAM, SCREEN PRINTING, BOOKBINDING, PAINTING, TEXTILES, STOP MOTION, COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, SCULPTURE AND MORE. WE FACILITATE CAMPS, HOST INTERNSHIPS EACH SUMMER. CLASSES CHANGE YEARLY BASED ON YOUTH INTERESTS AND NEEDS. ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS GREATLY ENHANCE OUR PROGRAM. STEAM ADVENTRUES(WITH JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST) TAKES BI-WEEKLY FIELD TRIPS TO THE FOREST FOR HIKES, ROCK CLIMBING, AND WILDLIFE STUDY AS WELL AS A WEEK-LONG SUMMER CAMP. RHYTHM SCIENCE SOUND PARTNERS TO LEAD WORKSHOPS IN DEEJAYING, MUSIC MIXING AND RECORDING. FASHION DESIGNER, KARA MASON, HELPS TEACH OUR STUDENTS HOW TO TACKLE COMPLICATED FASHION PROJECTS TEACHING DESIGN, PATTERN MAKING, AND SEWING. GIRL SCOUTS OF KENTUCKIANA PROVIDES THE FUNDING FOR EACH OF OUR GIRLS TO BE GIRL SCOUTS AND FUNDS A LARGE PORTION OF THEIR SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCES. CRAFTING THE FUTURE PROVIDES ART INTENSIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR OLDER YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS. THE TRAGER FAMILY JCC GIVES US A DISCOUNT FOR OUR STUDENTS TO ATTEND SUMMER CAMP THERE AND GIVE STEX ACCESS TO THEIR SWIMMING FACILITES.
- $53,913 spent. COMMUNITY WIDE PROGRAMS & SERVICES - STEAM EXHCANGE ENGAGES COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS KENTUCKIANA IN ARTMAKING THROUGH WORKSHOPS, EVENTS AND COMMUNITY AND COMMERCIAL SCREEN PRINTING. WE TEACH SINGLE WORKSHOPS AND MULTI-WEEK WORKSHOP SERIES EXPLORING A VARIETY OF MEDIA, INCLUDING CLASSES IN STEAM, SCREEN PRINTING, BOOKBINDING, PAINTING, TEXTILES, STOP MOTION, COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, SCULPTURE AND MORE. WE FACILITATE ON-SITE SCREEN PRINTING FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS, SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES OR PERSONAL EVENTS WHERE PARTICIPANTS SCREEN PRINT THEIR OWN POSTERS, T- SHIRTS, OR TOTE BAGS. OUR COMMUNITY AND COMMERCIAL SCREEN PRINTING SHOP PROVIDES AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GREATER LOUISVILLE COMMUNITY TO UTILIZE STEAM EXCHANGE'S SCREEN PRINTING EQUIPMENT AND EXPRETISE. OUR SHOP HAS BEEN UTILIZED BY A VARIETY OF PEOPLE, FROM INDIVIDUALS CREATING THEIR OWN CLOTHING LINES, TO BANDS, TO SMALL BUSINESSES. INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS MAY ALSO HIRE STEAM EXCHANGE FOR COMMERCIAL SCREEN PRINTING; WE SCREEN PRINT APPAREL, TOTES, POSTERS, AND YARD SIGNS. ALL PROFIT FROM COMMERCIAL SCREEN PRINTING JOBS GOES TOWARD FUNDING OUR SMOKETOWN FREE AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS. PROGRAM GRADUATES AND STUDENT INTERNS ASSIST IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE FUNCTIONING AND MAINTENANCE OF THE COMMUNITY AND COMMERCIAL SCREEN PRINTING SHOP. COMMUNITY WIDE PROGRAMS & SERVICES - STEAM EXHCANGE ENGAGES COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS KENTUCKIANA IN ARTMAKING THROUGH WORKSHOPS, EVENTS AND COMMUNITY AND COMMERCIAL SCREEN PRINTING. WE TEACH SINGLE WORKSHOPS AND MULTI-WEEK WORKSHOP SERIES EXPLORING A VARIETY OF MEDIA, INCLUDING CLASSES IN STEAM, SCREEN PRINTING, BOOKBINDING, PAINTING, TEXTILES, STOP MOTION, COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, SCULPTURE AND MORE. WE FACILITATE ON-SITE SCREEN PRINTING FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS, SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES OR PERSONAL EVENTS WHERE PARTICIPANTS SCREEN PRINT THEIR OWN POSTERS, T- SHIRTS, OR TOTE BAGS. OUR COMMUNITY AND COMMERCIAL SCREEN PRINTING SHOP PROVIDES AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GREATER LOUISVILLE COMMUNITY TO UTILIZE STEAM EXCHANGE'S SCREEN PRINTING EQUIPMENT AND EXPRETISE. OUR SHOP HAS BEEN UTILIZED BY A VARIETY OF PEOPLE, FROM INDIVIDUALS CREATING THEIR OWN CLOTHING LINES, TO BANDS, TO SMALL BUSINESSES. INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS MAY ALSO HIRE STEAM EXCHANGE FOR COMMERCIAL SCREEN PRINTING; WE SCREEN PRINT APPAREL, TOTES, POSTERS, AND YARD SIGNS. ALL PROFIT FROM COMMERCIAL SCREEN PRINTING JOBS GOES TOWARD FUNDING OUR SMOKETOWN FREE AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS. PROGRAM GRADUATES AND STUDENT INTERNS ASSIST IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE FUNCTIONING AND MAINTENANCE OF THE COMMUNITY AND COMMERCIAL SCREEN PRINTING SHOP.
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
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 June 2025.
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 September 2021.
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.
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