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Life on Earth Art

EIN 87-3805682 · Petaluma, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LIFE ON ART UNITES PEOPLE FROM DIVERSE COMMUNITIES TO CO-CREATE HANDMADE LARGE SCALE INTERACTIVE ART AS A PLATFORM FOR SOCIAL ACTION AND HEALING.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$874,246
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
12
Volunteers
53
Highest pay
$134,195, executive director (thru 7/2025)

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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1071% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 7 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $694,524 spent. LOA'S 2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: (I) EXPANDED OUR HEART STORIES PROGRAM WITH ADDITIONAL ART-AND-STORY WORKSHOPS SERVING TRAUMA IMPACTED PEOPLE IN MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CALIFORNIA STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES; (II) DEEPENED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH PUBLIC ARTMAKING EVENTS AND WATCH PARTIES THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE UNBOUND SCULPTURE AND DOCUMENTARY AND OTHER ARTS IN HEALING FILMS FOR LOCAL AUDIENCES; (III) CONTINUED TO SHARE VISIONS OF HOPE: ART OF THE INCARCERATED THROUGH IN PERSON AND DIGITAL PLATFORMS TO UPLIFT THE STORIES OF INCARCERATED ARTISTS; (IV) GROWING OUR NETWORK OF VOLUNTEERS AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS WHO CO-CREATE LARGE SCALE INTERACTIVE ARTWORKS AS A PLATFORM FOR SOCIAL ACTION AND HEALING; (V) PRODUCED A LARGE-SCALE INSTALLATION, THE ART OF REHABILITATION, OF INCARCERATED HEART STORIES AT THE MONTEREY COUNTY GOVERNMENT BUILDING IN SALINAS, CA SEEN BY OVER 5,000 PEOPLE; AND (V) ADVANCED ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BY RECRUITING NEW PROGRAM STAFF TO SUPPORT THE DELIVERY OF HEART STORIES AND OTHER CREATIVE ARTS BASED MENTAL WELLBEING PROGRAMS STATEWIDE.

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

  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 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.