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Decentered Arts

EIN 92-3517697 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceWeak24 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 8% of its spending went to programs.

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

What it says it does

DECENTERED ARTS' MISSION IS TO CREATE PLATFORMS FOR EMERGING ARTISTS - ESPECIALLY POETS - VIA COMMUNITY EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS THAT ARE FREE AND ON A CONSISTENT WEEKLY CADENCE. IN ADDITION TO REGULAR PROGRAMMING WE PRODUCE SPECIAL EVENTS, WORKSHOPS AND OTHER PROJECTS USING OUR NETWORK OF ARTISTS.

Income
$114,614
Spending
$203,953
Spent on programs
8%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 87%
Employees
2
Highest pay
$78,692, treasurer

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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 78% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    8% 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

Weak: 24 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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.

  • 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, 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 (2)
  1. DECENTERED ARTS IS AN ARTIST-LED MULTIMEDIA ARTS NONPROFIT. DECENTERED'S TEAM OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTISTS-INCLUDING POETS, FIBER ARTISTS, COMEDIANS, DESIGNERS, AND FILMMAKERS-COLLABORATES TO PRODUCE INCLUSIVE, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN EVENTS. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE ORGANIZED 150+ EVENTS, PROMOTED 2,000+, AND PAID OVER 100 PERFORMERS, HANDLING EVERYTHING FROM MARKETING TO SOUND, ENSURING ACCESSIBILITY AND IMPACT, AND SUPPORTING ARTISTS TO MAKE A LIVABLE INCOME THROUGH THEIR ART. FOR EXAMPLE, WE PRODUCE THE DECENTERED OPEN MIC, A FREE PUBLIC WEEKLY EVENT THAT ANNUALLY ENGAGES OVER 1,500 ARTISTS-FROM NEWCOMERS TO PROFESSIONALS-AND DRAWS 3,000+ ATTENDEES FROM ACROSS SAN FRANCISCO. WE PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION FOR ARTISTS FOR WORK SAMPLES AND HAVE DEVELOPED AN ARCHIVE THAT INCLUDES 60+ PROFESSIONAL PHOTO ALBUMS. WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH ESTABLISHED NONPROFITS SUCH AS RUTH'S TABLE, LITQUAKE AND CHURCH OF THE CLOWN. WE HAVE RECEIVED NOTICE FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION AND MEDIA COVERAGE IN THE SF STANDARD. WE ARE ALSO THE SUBJECT OF A FORTHCOMING DOCUMENTARY. DECENTERED ARTS IS AN ARTIST-LED MULTIMEDIA ARTS NONPROFIT. DECENTERED'S TEAM OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTISTS-INCLUDING POETS, FIBER ARTISTS, COMEDIANS, DESIGNERS, AND FILMMAKERS-COLLABORATES TO PRODUCE INCLUSIVE, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN EVENTS. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE ORGANIZED 150+ EVENTS, PROMOTED 2,000+, AND PAID OVER 100 PERFORMERS, HANDLING EVERYTHING FROM MARKETING TO SOUND, ENSURING ACCESSIBILITY AND IMPACT, AND SUPPORTING ARTISTS TO MAKE A LIVABLE INCOME THROUGH THEIR ART. FOR EXAMPLE, WE PRODUCE THE DECENTERED OPEN MIC, A FREE PUBLIC WEEKLY EVENT THAT ANNUALLY ENGAGES OVER 1,500 ARTISTS-FROM NEWCOMERS TO PROFESSIONALS-AND DRAWS 3,000+ ATTENDEES FROM ACROSS SAN FRANCISCO. WE PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION FOR ARTISTS FOR WORK SAMPLES AND HAVE DEVELOPED AN ARCHIVE THAT INCLUDES 60+ PROFESSIONAL PHOTO ALBUMS. WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH ESTABLISHED NONPROFITS SUCH AS RUTH'S TABLE, LITQUAKE AND CHURCH OF THE CLOWN. WE HAVE RECEIVED NOTICE FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION AND MEDIA COVERAGE IN THE SF STANDARD. WE ARE ALSO THE SUBJECT OF A FORTHCOMING DOCUMENTARY.
  2. $16,592 spent. PROGRAM EXPENSES

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

  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 2024.

    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 June 2023.

    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.