Scottsdale Arts
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CREATE ARTS IN DIVERSE EXPERIENCES THAT ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY THOUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW AND EXCITING CULTURAL INITIATIVES FOR THE COMMUNITY; THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF ACTIVE PARTICIPATION AND COOPERATION OF THE GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, EDUCATION AND (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) PRIVATE SECTORS; AND THE PROVIDING OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT, FUNDRAISING, AND FINANCIAL SERVICES TO OUR OPERATING DIVISIONS AND OTHER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS DESIRING OUR SERVICES.
- Income
- $13.0 million
- Spending
- $14.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 8.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 50%
- Employees
- 207
- Volunteers
- 147
- Highest pay
- $515,017, president & ceo
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: 67 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 48% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2528 of 28 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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)
- $4.6 million spent. LOCATED IN THE HEART OF SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA, THE SCOTTSDALE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS SHOWCASES A VIBRANT ARRAY OF ARTISTIC PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS. AS A PART OF THE SCOTTSDALE ARTS DISTRICT, IT HOSTS AN ECLECTIC MIX OF MUSIC, DANCE, THEATER, AND VISUAL ARTS, ENRICHING THE COMMUNITY WITH DIVERSE CULTURAL EXPERIENCES. WITH ITS STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES, INCLUDING THE VIRGINIA G. PIPER THEATER AND THE NEW EAST BOWL STAGE IN THE CIVIC CENTER, SCOTTSDALE ARTS ATTRACTS RENOWNED ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD WHILE ALSO NURTURING LOCAL TALENT.
- $1.7 million spent. SCOTTSDALE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (SMOCA) IS AN ACCREDITED AND INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED INSTITUTION THAT ENCOURAGES REFLECTIONS AND CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LIFE THROUGH ART. WE PRODUCE AND MEDIATE CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS THAT LEAD TO SHARED CURIOSITY AND MEANING ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF PUBLICS.
- $1.3 million spent. TO ENHANCE THE CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE CITY OF SCOTTSDALE, SCOTTSDALE PUBLIC ART (SPA) INITIATED, INSTALLED, AND MAINTAINED MAJOR PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY ART INSTALLATIONS AT NUMEROUS PUBLIC LOCATIONS. SPA ALSO PROVIDED FREE EVENTS, EXHIBITIONS, AND WORKSHOPS ATTENDED BY OVER 257,000 PEOPLE. SPA'S 160+ PERMANENT PUBLIC ART INSTALLATIONS ARE VIEWED BY AN ESTIMATED 20,000 PEOPLE DAILY YEAR-ROUND.
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 May 1988.
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.