Island Arts Council
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF WHIDBEY ISLAND ARTS COUNCIL (WIAC) IS TO FOSTER LOCAL ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH GRANTS, FISCAL MANAGEMENT, AND SPONSORSHIP TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND AWARENESS OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE ON WHIDBEY ISLAND. WIAC'S DIVERSE ARTS PROGRAMS DRAW VISITORS FROM BEYOND WHIDBEY ISLAND WITH MANY VISITING WHIDBEY SPECIFICALLY TO ENGAGE WITH ARTISTS ACROSS ALL DISCIPLINES AND ACROSS THE ISLAND.
- Income
- $246,152
- Spending
- $237,366
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 7.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 68%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 100
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 66% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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.
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, 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 (5)
- $15,438 spent. EDUCATION: WIAC SPONSORS 4 PROGRAMS WITH ART INSTRUCTION AND EXPLORATION TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS, AND 1 IN CULTURAL EXCHANGE. ARTS ALIVE WHIDBEY, ARTS IN EDUCATION, AND ISLAND STRINGS SUPPORT OUR YOUTH BY BRINGING AFFORDABLE, NO COST, AND SCHOLARSHIP-FUNDED INSTRUCTION, AND OFTEN PROVIDES DONATED SUPPLIES AND INSTRUMENTS, AND RECITALS FOR STRING STUDENTS. ARTS IN EDUCATION HELD ART CLASSES WITH BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS AND HELD A TIE-DYE PARTY WITH 60 YOUTH. CREATE SPACE LANGLEY BRINGS ADULTS AFFORDABLE AND PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN CLASSES AND TYPICALLY ATTRACTS 1,200 STUDENTS A YEAR TO EXPLORE A WIDE RANGE OF THE ARTS FROM UKULELE TO BOOKMAKING TO WATERCOLOR TO READING MUSIC WITH TEACHERS DEVOTING 8,400 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION. IN 2024, WIAC CREATED THE KAY PARSONS MEMORIAL FUND TO BROADEN EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND ESTABLISHED ITS CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM. THE INAUGURAL EVENT WORD SALAD WAS A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT WITH PARTICIPANTS FOR POETIC WORD PLAY, SELF-REFLECTION AND COMMUNITY BUILDING WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO DANCE, PAINT, DRAW, SING, AND PHOTOGRAPH FOR SELF-REFLECTION. EDUCATION: WIAC SPONSORS 4 PROGRAMS WITH ART INSTRUCTION AND EXPLORATION TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS, AND 1 IN CULTURAL EXCHANGE. ARTS ALIVE WHIDBEY, ARTS IN EDUCATION, AND ISLAND STRINGS SUPPORT OUR YOUTH BY BRINGING AFFORDABLE, NO COST, AND SCHOLARSHIP-FUNDED INSTRUCTION, AND OFTEN PROVIDES DONATED SUPPLIES AND INSTRUMENTS, AND RECITALS FOR STRING STUDENTS. ARTS IN EDUCATION HELD ART CLASSES WITH BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS AND HELD A TIE-DYE PARTY WITH 60 YOUTH. CREATE SPACE LANGLEY BRINGS ADULTS AFFORDABLE AND PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN CLASSES AND TYPICALLY ATTRACTS 1,200 STUDENTS A YEAR TO EXPLORE A WIDE RANGE OF THE ARTS FROM UKULELE TO BOOKMAKING TO WATERCOLOR TO READING MUSIC WITH TEACHERS DEVOTING 8,400 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION. IN 2024, WIAC CREATED THE KAY PARSONS MEMORIAL FUND TO BROADEN EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND ESTABLISHED ITS CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM. THE INAUGURAL EVENT WORD SALAD WAS A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT WITH PARTICIPANTS FOR POETIC WORD PLAY, SELF-REFLECTION AND COMMUNITY BUILDING WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO DANCE, PAINT, DRAW, SING, AND PHOTOGRAPH FOR SELF-REFLECTION.
- $97,080 spent. PERFORMING ARTS: WIAC SPONSORS 2 PERFORMANCE-BASED PROGRAMS. MEANDER DANCE COLLECTIVE OFFERS SPACE FOR ADULT DANCE ARTISTS TO PRACTICE THEIR ART AND PERFORM FOR THE PUBLIC OUTDOORS IN DANCE CONCERTS THAT ARE DONATION BASED, PROVIDING EQUAL ACCESS TO VIEW DANCE ART. WHIDBEY ISLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL, A SEASONED PROGRAM ON WHIDBEY, BRINGS TOGETHER TALENTED MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL FOR PERFORMANCES AND DISCUSSIONS YEAR-ROUND IN THE SUBLIME BAROQUE AND CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC.
- $80,850 spent. VISUAL ARTS: WIAC SPONSORS 7 PROGRAMS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING ARTISTS PURSUITS AND ENGAGING THE PUBLIC IN CREATIVE EXPERIENCES. LANGLEY ARTS FUND PROVIDES NUMEROUS PUBLIC INSTALLATIONS WITH WALL ART, SCULPTURE, COLORFUL ART-WRAPPED UTILITY BOXES AND IMPROVING PUBLIC ACCESS TO ARTWORK DISPLAYS. SOUNDSPACE ON EARTH SANCTUARY IS A NEW VENTURE FOR A MONUMENTAL VISUAL ART STRUCTURE DESIGNED AS AN ACOUSTICALLY TUNED CHAMBER MOUND FOR EXPERIENCING THE POWER OF SOUND; THE STRUCTURE WILL OFFER ACOUSTICAL LEARNING, PERFORMANCE AND RECORDINGS, MEDITATION AND SINGING SPACE AS WELL AS SOUND HEALING, MUSIC THERAPY, AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH. UPRISE GALLERY, LAUNCHED IN 2024, IS A VIBRANT GALLERY SPACE FOR YOUNG ARTISTS TO LEARN, CREATE, AND DISPLAY WORK. WHIDBEY ART MARKET IS AN EVOLVING GROUP OF LOCAL FINE ARTISTS, ARTISANS AND CRAFTSPEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO SHARE AND SELL THEIR ART WITH 3 PUBLIC EVENTS IN 2024 THAT ATTRACTED 1,500 VISITORS. WHIDBEY ART TRAIL IS A YEAR-ROUND, SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF 20 WORKING STUDIOS, GALLERIES AND SCULPTURE PARKS ACROSS SCENIC WHIDBEY AND IS SUPPORTED BY A PRINTED MAP, BROCHURE AND EASY-TO-NAVIGATE WEBSITE. WHIDBEY ISLAND SCULPTURE EXPERIENCE, OFFERS AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE OF ART IN NATURE WITH 70 LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS ON 10 ACRES AND WELCOMED NEARLY 200 VISITORS IN 2024. WHIDBEY WORKING ARTISTS' ANNUAL STUDIO TOUR CELEBRATED ITS 20TH YEAR. MORE THAN 60 ARTISTS WELCOMED VISITORS INTO THEIR STUDIOS TO EXPLORE A RANGE OF ARTS THAT INCLUDED TEXTILES, WOODWORK, PAINTING, SCULPTURE, AND PHOTOGRAPHY. VISUAL ARTS: WIAC SPONSORS 7 PROGRAMS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING ARTISTS PURSUITS AND ENGAGING THE PUBLIC IN CREATIVE EXPERIENCES. LANGLEY ARTS FUND PROVIDES NUMEROUS PUBLIC INSTALLATIONS WITH WALL ART, SCULPTURE, COLORFUL ART-WRAPPED UTILITY BOXES AND IMPROVING PUBLIC ACCESS TO ARTWORK DISPLAYS. SOUNDSPACE ON EARTH SANCTUARY IS A NEW VENTURE FOR A MONUMENTAL VISUAL ART STRUCTURE DESIGNED AS AN ACOUSTICALLY TUNED CHAMBER MOUND FOR EXPERIENCING THE POWER OF SOUND; THE STRUCTURE WILL OFFER ACOUSTICAL LEARNING, PERFORMANCE AND RECORDINGS, MEDITATION AND SINGING SPACE AS WELL AS SOUND HEALING, MUSIC THERAPY, AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH. UPRISE GALLERY, LAUNCHED IN 2024, IS A VIBRANT GALLERY SPACE FOR YOUNG ARTISTS TO LEARN, CREATE, AND DISPLAY WORK. WHIDBEY ART MARKET IS AN EVOLVING GROUP OF LOCAL FINE ARTISTS, ARTISANS AND CRAFTSPEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO SHARE AND SELL THEIR ART WITH 3 PUBLIC EVENTS IN 2024 THAT ATTRACTED 1,500 VISITORS. WHIDBEY ART TRAIL IS A YEAR-ROUND, SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF 20 WORKING STUDIOS, GALLERIES AND SCULPTURE PARKS ACROSS SCENIC WHIDBEY AND IS SUPPORTED BY A PRINTED MAP, BROCHURE AND EASY-TO-NAVIGATE WEBSITE. WHIDBEY ISLAND SCULPTURE EXPERIENCE, OFFERS AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE OF ART IN NATURE WITH 70 LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS ON 10 ACRES AND WELCOMED NEARLY 200 VISITORS IN 2024. WHIDBEY WORKING ARTISTS' ANNUAL STUDIO TOUR CELEBRATED ITS 20TH YEAR. MORE THAN 60 ARTISTS WELCOMED VISITORS INTO THEIR STUDIOS TO EXPLORE A RANGE OF ARTS THAT INCLUDED TEXTILES, WOODWORK, PAINTING, SCULPTURE, AND PHOTOGRAPHY.
- $260 spent. OTHER: ISLAND BOHEMIANS IS AN INCLUSIVE LOCAL ARTS COMMUNITY WITH 1,200 MEMBERS ESTABLISHED TO SUPPORT THE CREATIVE PROFESSIONAL ACROSS ALL FORMS OF CREATIVITY VISUAL, MUSIC, LITERATURE, THEATER, DANCE, DESIGN, FINE CRAFT, AND CULINARY AND BOTANICAL ARTS. WIAC GIFTS AN ARTIST GRANT FUND EACH YEAR FOR ITS ADULT MEMBERS, PROVIDING FUNDS TO SUPPORT CREATIVE PROJECTS. IN 2024, FIVE ARTISTS WERE EACH AWARDED 500. WIAC ALSO PROVIDES EMERGENCY ARTIST RELIEF GRANTS FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY DISASTERS AND OFFERS HARDSHIP RELIEF GRANTS. IN 2024, WIAC'S MEMBERSHIP REACHED 142 INDIVDUAL, FAMILY, AND BUSINESS MEMBERS. THIS IS AN INCREASE OF 23% OVER 2023. WIAC ADMINISTRATION IS THE BACKBONE TO THESE CHARITABLE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS BY PROVIDING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE FORM OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGNS, MARKETING AND OUTREACH AND FOSTERS ARTISTS AND THE ARTS COMMUNITY THROUGH A SOPHISTICATED CALENDAR OF EVENTS FREE TO ALL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND PROGRAMS ON WHIDBEY ISLAND TO LIST THEIR ACTIVITIES.
- OTHER: ISLAND BOHEMIANS IS AN INCLUSIVE LOCAL ARTS COMMUNITY WITH 1,200 MEMBERS ESTABLISHED TO SUPPORT THE CREATIVE PROFESSIONAL ACROSS ALL FORMS OF CREATIVITY VISUAL, MUSIC, LITERATURE, THEATER, DANCE, DESIGN, FINE CRAFT, AND CULINARY AND BOTANICAL ARTS. WIAC GIFTS AN ARTIST GRANT FUND EACH YEAR FOR ITS ADULT MEMBERS, PROVIDING FUNDS TO SUPPORT CREATIVE PROJECTS. IN 2024, FIVE ARTISTS WERE EACH AWARDED 500. WIAC ALSO PROVIDES EMERGENCY ARTIST RELIEF GRANTS FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY DISASTERS AND OFFERS HARDSHIP RELIEF GRANTS. IN 2024, WIAC'S MEMBERSHIP REACHED 142 INDIVDUAL, FAMILY, AND BUSINESS MEMBERS. THIS IS AN INCREASE OF 23% OVER 2023. WIAC ADMINISTRATION IS THE BACKBONE TO THESE CHARITABLE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS BY PROVIDING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE FORM OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGNS, MARKETING AND OUTREACH AND FOSTERS ARTISTS AND THE ARTS COMMUNITY THROUGH A SOPHISTICATED CALENDAR OF EVENTS FREE TO ALL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND PROGRAMS ON WHIDBEY ISLAND TO LIST THEIR ACTIVITIES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 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 2024.
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 February 1998.
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 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.