Arts Southeast
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO MAKE SAVANNAH A DESTINATION FOR ART AND CULTURE IN THE SOUTHEAST BY SUPPORTING ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING ARTISTS, ENGAGING A DIVERSE COMMUNITY WITH CREATIVE PROGRAMMING, AND DEVELOPING AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS.
- Income
- $392,392
- Spending
- $354,129
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 49%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 54
- Highest pay
- $42,096, executive director
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 3.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
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 (3)
- $132,986 spent. Studios - Art Southeast provides affordable studio spaces to its members at below market rates. Artist members are able to develop their creative voice, grow their carrers and connect with a community of other artists. Public open studio nights allow us to share the artistic process with a larger community.
- $89,928 spent. Exhibitions - Exhibitions are the primary way Arts Southeast engages the community with contemporary ideas in art. All exhibitions have educational components and virtual engagement opportunities for the community at large. Semi annual public art events and street fairs round our ways the public can directly engage with contemporary art from the Southeast.
- $29,836 spent. Publications - Arts Southeast produces catalogs for select exhibitions to increase the educational and community impact of the work shown in our spaces. The production of IMPACT Magazine, a semi-annual publication that is available in print and for free online celebrates and promotes the talent and creativity of artists in the southeast, while educating a wider public on issues in contemporary art.
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 November 6, 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 February 2022.
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 November 4, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Southeast Inc (Columbus, OH), EIN 31-0940189. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.