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Betti Ono Foundation

EIN 86-3301756 · Emeryville, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceFair63 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

"THE BETTI ONO FOUNDATION DESIGNS AND PRODUCES HIGH-IMPACT ARTS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES THAT LEVERAGE CULTURAL PRODUCTS AND NETWORKS FOR GOOD. THE BETTI ONO FOUNDATION OPERATIONS ARE HEADQUARTERED IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, AND OUR WORK IS PRODUCED LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY IN OTHER GEOGRAPHIES IN CULTURAL SPACES, THE PUBLIC SPHERE, AND ONLINE. THE MISSION OF BETTI ONO FOUNDATION IS TO BUILD POWER THROUGH CULTURE. OUR VISION AND CREATIVE PRACTICE EMBODY THE BOLD, CURIOUS AND UNAPOLOGETIC SPIRIT OF OUR NAMESAKES: BETTI MABRY DAVIS AND YOKO ONO. WE VALUE ART-MAKING AS A FUNCTION OF ACTIVISM, COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION, AND CULTURAL RESILIENCE. AS A BLACK WOMEN-LED AND OPERATED ORGANIZATION, WE ARE DEDICATED TO AMPLIFYING THE LIVES AND WORK OF ARTISTS AND COMMUNITIES WHO ARE BLACK, BROWN, IMMIGRANT, INDIGENOUS, AND LGBTQ+."

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
7.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
6
Volunteers
33
Highest pay
$186,582, ceo/presiden

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 697% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $115,843 spent. OUR CULTURAL PERMANENCE STRATEGY AIMS TO CREATE WEALTH-BUILDING AND COOPERATIVE OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR BIPOC ARTISTS, CULTURAL WORKERS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH LAND AND REAL ESTATE PURCHASES. THE BETTI ONO MOBILE HUB: THE MOBILE HUB IS A MOBILE UNIT FOR CULTURE, ART, AND ADVOCACY THAT CAN BE USED FOR VARIOUS PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING WORKSHOPS, EVENTS, PERFORMANCES, STUDIOS FOR INRESIDENCY PROGRAMS, AND COLLABORATIVE GATHERINGS. THROUGH THE BETTI ONO MOBILE HUB AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY ARTS STABILIZATION TRUST (CAST) AND BLINKLAB ARCHITECTURE, BETTI ONO WILL BE ABLE TO MEET PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY ARE, SHOWCASE LOCAL ARTISTS, AND ENGAGE AUDIENCES ON CRITICAL ADVOCACY ISSUES. THE MOBILE HUB ALLOWS US TO HAVE UNPRECEDENTED ACCESS TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN NEW AND EXCITING WAYS. THE BLACSPACE COOPERATIVE: IN COORDINATION WITH OTHER BLACK LED CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE BLACSPACE COOPERATIVE LEVERAGES THE BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT TRADITION TO BUILD A SUPPORTIVE ECOSYSTEM WHERE BLACK ARTS, BUSINESS, OWNERSHIP, AND CULTURE THRIVE. LAUNCHED IN 2021 WITH THREE LOCAL PARTNERS: BLACK CULTURE ZONE (BCZ), THE BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT BUSINESS DISTRICT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (BAMBD, CDC), AND THE EAST BAY PERMANENT REAL ESTATE COOPERATIVE (EBPREC). BLACSPACE HAS A LONGTERM VISION OF BUILDING A NETWORK OF PROGRAMS AND COOPERATIVE BUSINESS PRACTICES THAT SUSTAIN A NETWORK OF CULTURAL SPACES THROUGHOUT OAKLAND. OVER THE NEXT YEAR, BETTI ONO WILL FINALIZE DIFFERENT ASPECTS NECESSARY FOR FUTURE PROPERTY ACQUISITION, INCLUDING CONDUCTING A FEASIBILITY STUDY, DEVELOPING A BUSINESS PLAN, AND CREATING A FINANCING MODEL. OUR CULTURAL PERMANENCE STRATEGY AIMS TO CREATE WEALTH-BUILDING AND COOPERATIVE OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR BIPOC ARTISTS, CULTURAL WORKERS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH LAND AND REAL ESTATE PURCHASES. THE BETTI ONO MOBILE HUB: THE MOBILE HUB IS A MOBILE UNIT FOR CULTURE, ART, AND ADVOCACY THAT CAN BE USED FOR VARIOUS PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING WORKSHOPS, EVENTS, PERFORMANCES, STUDIOS FOR INRESIDENCY PROGRAMS, AND COLLABORATIVE GATHERINGS. THROUGH THE BETTI ONO MOBILE HUB AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY ARTS STABILIZATION TRUST (CAST) AND BLINKLAB ARCHITECTURE, BETTI ONO WILL BE ABLE TO MEET PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY ARE, SHOWCASE LOCAL ARTISTS, AND ENGAGE AUDIENCES ON CRITICAL ADVOCACY ISSUES. THE MOBILE HUB ALLOWS US TO HAVE UNPRECEDENTED ACCESS TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN NEW AND EXCITING WAYS. THE BLACSPACE COOPERATIVE: IN COORDINATION WITH OTHER BLACK LED CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE BLACSPACE COOPERATIVE LEVERAGES THE BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT TRADITION TO BUILD A SUPPORTIVE ECOSYSTEM WHERE BLACK ARTS, BUSINESS, OWNERSHIP, AND CULTURE THRIVE. LAUNCHED IN 2021 WITH THREE LOCAL PARTNERS: BLACK CULTURE ZONE (BCZ), THE BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT BUSINESS DISTRICT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (BAMBD, CDC), AND THE EAST BAY PERMANENT REAL ESTATE COOPERATIVE (EBPREC). BLACSPACE HAS A LONGTERM VISION OF BUILDING A NETWORK OF PROGRAMS AND COOPERATIVE BUSINESS PRACTICES THAT SUSTAIN A NETWORK OF CULTURAL SPACES THROUGHOUT OAKLAND. OVER THE NEXT YEAR, BETTI ONO WILL FINALIZE DIFFERENT ASPECTS NECESSARY FOR FUTURE PROPERTY ACQUISITION, INCLUDING CONDUCTING A FEASIBILITY STUDY, DEVELOPING A BUSINESS PLAN, AND CREATING A FINANCING MODEL.
  2. $200,620 spent. THROUGH THE COMMUNITY WELLBEING STRATEGY, WE ARE CREATING AUTONOMOUS SPACES THAT DEEPEN COMMUNITY CONNECTION, FOSTER CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND EXTEND ARTS AND CULTURE INTO THE FABRIC OF PUBLIC LIFE. THE ARTS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT (ACE) YOUTH FELLOWS: THE ACE YOUTH FELLOWS ARE TRANSITIONAL AGE YOUNG LEADERS (16-24 YEARS) WH ARE GIVEN A PLATFORM TO AMPLIFY THE PUBLIC ISSUES THAT THEY CARE ABOUT. WE CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWS TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH SKILLS. THEY WORK WITH OUR TEAM TO DESIGN AND EXECUTE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON DISRUPTING THE CULTURE OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND CHALLENGING HARMFUL GENDER NORMS. IN ADDITION TO ENGAGING WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER, YOUTH HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THEIR PERSONAL LEADERSHIP CAPACITY AND MAKE CONCRETE CONNECTIONS TO LOCAL ARTISTS, ACTIVISTS, AND EDUCATORS ADVANCING SOCIAL CHANGE EFFORTS IN OAKLAND. THE ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM: SO FAR WE HAVE COMMISSIONED FIVE PAID RESIDENCIES FEATURING EIGHT BLACK AND BROWN ARTISTS FROM OAKLAND, ST. LOUIS, NEW YORK, AND THE CARIBBEAN. WE HAVE HAD AT LEAST 3,000 PUBLIC PARTICIPANTS AND BUILT STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH 20 ACTIVELY ENGAGED COMMUNITY GROUPS. OUR MOST RECENT ARTIST IN RESIDENCE WAS SAFI KOLOZSVARI REGALADO, A BAY AREA BASED ARTIST/MURALIST, WHO WORKED WITH YOUTH FELLOWS TO CONCEPTUALIZE AND DESIGN THE ARTWORK FOR PHASE II OF THE NOT ONE MORE GIRL INITIATIVE, WHICH WAS INSPIRED BY THE LONG TRADITION OF CHICANO STYLE BALLPOINT PEN ART. THE POSTERS DEPICT STEPS PEOPLE CAN TAKE IF THEY WITNESS OR EXPERIENCE HARASSMENT. THROUGH THE COMMUNITY WELLBEING STRATEGY, WE ARE CREATING AUTONOMOUS SPACES THAT DEEPEN COMMUNITY CONNECTION, FOSTER CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND EXTEND ARTS AND CULTURE INTO THE FABRIC OF PUBLIC LIFE. THE ARTS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT (ACE) YOUTH FELLOWS: THE ACE YOUTH FELLOWS ARE TRANSITIONAL AGE YOUNG LEADERS (16-24 YEARS) WH ARE GIVEN A PLATFORM TO AMPLIFY THE PUBLIC ISSUES THAT THEY CARE ABOUT. WE CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWS TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH SKILLS. THEY WORK WITH OUR TEAM TO DESIGN AND EXECUTE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON DISRUPTING THE CULTURE OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND CHALLENGING HARMFUL GENDER NORMS. IN ADDITION TO ENGAGING WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER, YOUTH HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THEIR PERSONAL LEADERSHIP CAPACITY AND MAKE CONCRETE CONNECTIONS TO LOCAL ARTISTS, ACTIVISTS, AND EDUCATORS ADVANCING SOCIAL CHANGE EFFORTS IN OAKLAND. THE ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM: SO FAR WE HAVE COMMISSIONED FIVE PAID RESIDENCIES FEATURING EIGHT BLACK AND BROWN ARTISTS FROM OAKLAND, ST. LOUIS, NEW YORK, AND THE CARIBBEAN. WE HAVE HAD AT LEAST 3,000 PUBLIC PARTICIPANTS AND BUILT STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH 20 ACTIVELY ENGAGED COMMUNITY GROUPS. OUR MOST RECENT ARTIST IN RESIDENCE WAS SAFI KOLOZSVARI REGALADO, A BAY AREA BASED ARTIST/MURALIST, WHO WORKED WITH YOUTH FELLOWS TO CONCEPTUALIZE AND DESIGN THE ARTWORK FOR PHASE II OF THE NOT ONE MORE GIRL INITIATIVE, WHICH WAS INSPIRED BY THE LONG TRADITION OF CHICANO STYLE BALLPOINT PEN ART. THE POSTERS DEPICT STEPS PEOPLE CAN TAKE IF THEY WITNESS OR EXPERIENCE HARASSMENT.
  3. $405,268 spent. OUR ENDING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE (GBV) STRATEGY IS FOCUSED ON IMPLEMENTING SURVIVOR-LED CULTURAL CHANGE INITIATIVES TO DISRUPT THE CULTURE OF GBV. NOT ONE MORE GIRL (NOMG) IS A BIPOC YOUTH-LED INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY (BART) TO END GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. IT IS THE FIRST COMMUNITY DRIVEN BAY AREA INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THAT INCLUDE ART, CULTURAL STRATEGY, POLICY CHANGE, AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP. THIS ONGOING INITIATIVE WAS COCREATED WITH LOCAL BLACK AND LATINX ARTISTS AND YOUTH AND SEEKS TO DISRUPT THE NORMS PERPETUATING GENDERBASED VIOLENCE AND BYSTANDER INACTION ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. OUR ENDING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE (GBV) STRATEGY IS FOCUSED ON IMPLEMENTING SURVIVOR-LED CULTURAL CHANGE INITIATIVES TO DISRUPT THE CULTURE OF GBV. NOT ONE MORE GIRL (NOMG) IS A BIPOC YOUTH-LED INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY (BART) TO END GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. IT IS THE FIRST COMMUNITY DRIVEN BAY AREA INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THAT INCLUDE ART, CULTURAL STRATEGY, POLICY CHANGE, AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP. THIS ONGOING INITIATIVE WAS COCREATED WITH LOCAL BLACK AND LATINX ARTISTS AND YOUTH AND SEEKS TO DISRUPT THE NORMS PERPETUATING GENDERBASED VIOLENCE AND BYSTANDER INACTION ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2022.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.