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Western Avenue Community for the Arts Inc

EIN 87-4789167 · Lowell, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak15 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 97 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE CORPORATION'S PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO CREATE THRIVING ECOSYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT THE ARTS, CULTURE AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AND STEWARDSHIP OF PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND ADVOCACY WITH A FOCUS ON AFFORDABLE ARTIST WORK, LIVE/WORK AND COMMUNITY SPACES AND OTHER MAKER SPACES WHERE WORK CAN BE CREATED, REHEARSED, AND PRESENTED.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
-78.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 99%
Employees
7
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$199,767, vice president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 15 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 84% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 97 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    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 June 30, 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. $2.4 million spent. IN MARCH 2022, WACA PURCHASED WESTERN AVENUE STUDIOS AND LOFTS IN LOWELL MASSACHUSETTS, A MIXED-USE CONDOMINIUM PROPERTY WHICH IS PRIMARILY COMPRISED OF 250 WORK-ONLY ARTIST STUDIO SPACES IN THREE BUILDINGS AND 50 LIVE/WORK STUDIOS IN A FOURTH BUILDING. WACA'S INTEREST IN THE CONDOMINIUM IS FOUR UNITS OF A FIVE-UNIT PROPERTY, REPRESENTING AN UNDIVIDED 92% COMBINED PERCENTAGE INTEREST OF THE ENTIRETY OF THE PROPERTY.WACA IS AN EXAMPLE CREATIVE CAMPUS INITIATIVE WITH A MISSION TO CREATE THRIVING ECOSYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT THE ARTS, CULTURE AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AND STEWARDSHIP OF PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND ADVOCACY WITH A FOCUS ON AFFORDABLE ARTIST WORK, LIVE/WORK AND COMMUNITY SPACES AND OTHER MAKER SPACES WHERE WORK CAN BE CREATED, REHEARSED, AND PRESENTED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 May 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.