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Kolaj Institute

EIN 88-2857040 · New Orleans, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Education

Income
$134,806
Spending
$126,187
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 86%

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 (4)
  1. $8,168 spent. KOLAJ INSTITUTE RESIDENCIES, WORKSHOPS, ARTIST LABS, AND SOLO RESIDENCIES. KOLAJ INSTITUTE WELCOMED 137 ARTISTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN 15 IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL RESIDENCIES, LABS AND WORKSHOPS AND 23 SOLO RESIDENCIES.
  2. $3,496 spent. KOLAJ FEST NEW ORLEANS IS A 5-DAY IN-PERSON CONFERENCE THAT ATTRACTS ARTISTS FROM NEW ORLEANS, THE US, AND OVERSEAS FOR SYMPOSIA, WORKSHOPS, COLLAGE MAKING, AND ENGAGING WITH THE NEW ORLEANS COMMUNITY THROUGH PUBLIC FACING EVENTS. IN 2025, 151 ARTISTS ATTENDED.
  3. $34,259 spent. KOLAJ INSTITUTE GALLERY PRESENTED 316 ARTWORKS BY 225 ARTISTS IN 2025, ACROSS 6 EXHIBITIONS. THE GALLERY IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND IS OPEN WEEKLY, THURSDAY-SATURDAY. MANY OF THE ARTISTS WHOSE WORK IS SHOWN HAVE EITHER TAKEN PART IN A RESIDENCY, LAB, OR WORKSHOP. THE GALLERY IS EXHIBITION ONLY. THE WORK IS NOT FOR SALE.
  4. $586 spent. World Collage Day

Source: Form 990EZ 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 November 4, 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.