Sage Studio & Gallery
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IT IS SAGE STUDIO'S MISSION TO NURTURE AND AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF ARTISTS WITH DISABILITIES, SO THAT THEY MAY MEANINGFULLY ENGAGE WITH THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND CREATIVE LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $403,913
- Spending
- $376,829
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 4.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $85,643, president
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
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, 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)
- $204,666 spent. OUR CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL ARTS PROGRAM PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, A WORKSPACE, ARTISTIC MATERIALS, AND CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO ITS STUDIO ARTISTS SO THAT THEY CAN ENGAGE IN ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. THE ARTISTS CREATE THEIR ART AT SAGE STUDIO WITH ALL ARTISTIC MATERIALS PROVIDED TO THEM. THE SAGE TEAM EDUCATES ARTISTS ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF ART-MARKING AND SELLING. THIS EDUCATION HELPS FOSTER SELF-ESTEEM AND INDEPENDENCE, ESPECIALLY FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE, IN PARTICIPATING ARTISTS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE HAD LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WAGE-EARNING.
- $110,713 spent. OUR EXHIBITION PROGRAM PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR ARTISTS TO EARN INCOME AND TO SERIOUSLY PURSUE A CAREER IN THE ARTS. THE ARTISTS ARE PAID A 50% COMMISSION, EQUAL TO THE COMMISSION RATE OF TRADITIONAL ART GALLERIES. EXHIBITIONS TAKE PLACE IN SAGE'S GALLERY, ON SAGE'S WEBSITE, AND AT OTHER SITES, BOTH LOCAL AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SAGE ARTISTS HAVE BEEN REPRESENTED AT THE OUTSIDER ART FAIR IN NEW YORK CITY SEVEN TIMES AND IN EXHIBITIONS IN SAN ANTONIO, WASHINGTON, D.C., CHICAGO, AND LOS ANGELES.EXHIBITING ARTISTS MUST BE AT LEAST 18, HAVE AN INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY, LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES, AND HAVE DEVELOPED AN ARTISTIC PRACTICE. MARKETING AND SELLING THEIR OWN ART CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR MANY ARTISTS DUE TO THE NATURE OF THEIR DISABILITY. SAGE'S PROGRAM OFFERS SUPPORT TO THE ARTISTS AND ALLOWS ATTENDEES TO SEE THE IMPORTANT ARTISTIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF ARTISTS WITH DISABILITIES.
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
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 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 July 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.
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.