Vibrant Places Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Organization was formed for the purpose of supporting and creating vibrant and welcoming public spaces. The Organization aims to activate cross-sector collaboration and citizen-led approaches to promoting increased access to public spaces, related enriching programming, and grantmaking activities.
- Income
- $188,000
- Spending
- $94,187
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 0 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $554,374, dir., secretary
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
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 50% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 56% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 253 of 5 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 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)
- $94,187 spent. Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing Park is currently Vibrant Places, Inc.'s primary focus, as a premier example of place-centered investments driving an increased sense of community belonging. The Park was constructed in the historic LaVilla neighborhood in Jacksonville, Florida, where it honors two of Jacksonville's most famous residents, James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson. The Johnson brothers wrote "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," often called the Black National Anthem, at their home in the LaVilla neighborhood between 1900 and 1905.Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing Park was designed by world-renowned MacArthur Foundation "Genius Grant" recipient Walter Hood. The park incorporates elements of the Johnson brothers and LaVilla's cultural and built history while making space for a more inclusive future.The vision for Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing park comes after years of planning, input meetings, and discussions with community stakeholders about how to best revitalize LaVilla, a once bustling and vibrant neighborhood alive with arts, culture, and entrepreneurship.Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing Park is designed to be a destination for residents and visitors to learn about Jacksonville's dynamic history and participate in programs and activities that allow everyone to feel they belong. The Park is activated regularly through partnerships with the City of Jacksonville and individual activators, with an expansive view of the opportunities for vibrant programming at the Park. Park activations are curated by a community-led Vibrant Places Collective, who help to ensure the LaVilla community's voice is reflected in the programming at the Park.
- Vibrant Places, Inc. has begun accepting donations and will soon contribute to the re-creation of Augusta Savage's monumental sculpture Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing ("The Harp"). World-renowned sculptor Augusta Savage was born in Green Cove Springs in 1892 and spent her formative years in Jacksonville. This internationally celebrated work was originally a 16-foot plaster sculpture created for the 1939 New York World's Fair but was ultimately destroyed due to lack of funds. This project seeks to re-create the sculpture at its original scale in bronze for the first time, restoring a significant work of American art with deep Northeast Florida roots for lasting impact. This project supports tourism and economic activity, provides educational enrichment in the historic LaVilla neighborhood, and advances a publicly-supported effort to honor Jacksonville's artistic history.This project is also supported by the City of Jacksonville, the University of Florida and local philanthropy. The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, the official Local Arts Agency by ordinance for the City of Jacksonville, will oversee artist selection, fabrication, and installation through its Art in Public Places program.
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 April 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 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.