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Big Arts Organization Inc

EIN 87-3337446 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADVANCE PUBLIC APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS AND TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT AND RAISE AWARENESS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
0
Volunteers
125

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 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 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 September 30, 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 (1)
  1. $2.1 million spent. BIG ARTS ORGANIZATION CONTINUED TO OPERATE AND TOUR TITANIC'S END, A MOBILE ARTS PERFORMANCE PLATFORM AND LARGE-SCALE INTERACTIVE SCULPTURE. WE DEPLOYED THE PIECE AT MULTIPLE MAJOR PUBLIC EVENTS, INCLUDING THE FRAMEWORK UNDER CONSTRUCTION MUSIC EVENT, COACHELLA MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL, AND THE ANNUAL BURNING MAN ART CULTURE MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL. THESE DEPLOYMENTS PROVIDED ARTS ACCESS AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AUDIENCE MEMBERS, MANY ENCOUNTERING THE PIECE FOR THE FIRST TIME. EACH EVENT FEATURED PERFORMANCES BY DIVERSE ARTISTS - MUSICIANS, DANCERS, AND STORYTELLERS - WHO USED TITANIC'S END AS A PLATFORM FOR IMMERSIVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.BIG ARTS COMPLETED THE BUILD OF OUR NEWEST LARGE SCALE ART PIECE, MOTHERSHIP - A TWO-STORY POLYCARBONATE AND STEEL SCULPTURAL WITH A FULLY INTEGRATED LIGHT ART SYSTEM. IT IS A VISUAL CANVAS FOR SOFTWARE BASED ART, AN INTRICATELY BUILT MOBILE SCULPTURE, AND THE TECHNICAL CONTROL CENTER FOR THE LIGHTING, SOUND, AND LASER OPERATIONS FOR TITANIC'S END. THE BUILD OF MOTHERSHIP EMPHASIZED INCLUSIVE ACCESS, ARTISTIC MENTORSHIP, AND COMMUNITY-DRIVEN LEARNING, SUPPORTING OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSE, MULTI-GENERATIONAL ARTS EDUCATION. BIG ARTS ALSO LAUNCHED A NEW INITIATIVE: TITANIC'S END SUMMER CAMP. THIS WEEKLONG IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE BROUGHT TOGETHER OUR ARTIST COLLECTIVE AND EMERGING CREATORS TO DEVELOP, MAINTAIN, AND ACTIVATE LARGE-SCALE ARTWORKS. PARTICIPANTS LEARNED TECHNICAL, PERFORMANCE, AND PRODUCTION SKILLS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 2025.

    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 September 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.