Montalvo Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MONTALVO ARTS CENTER'S MISSION IS TO ENHANCE ALL PEOPLE'S LIVES THROUGH THE ARTS. MONTALVO CREATES AND PRESENTS WORKS FORM A DIVERSITY OF ART FORMS, NURTURES ARTISTS, AND USES OUR 175-ACRE HISTORIC PROPERTY IN INNOVATIVE WAYS. WE BELIEVE THE ARTS BUILD BRIDGES LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY.
- Income
- $8.8 million
- Spending
- $7.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 6.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 87
- Volunteers
- 661
- Highest pay
- $332,555, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2534 of 34 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (4)
- $759,846 spent. SALLY AND DON LUCAS ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAM THE LUCAS ARTISTS PROGRAM OFFERS SELECTED ARTISTS PRIVATE HOUSING IN ONE OF THE 10 DISCIPLINE-SPECIFIC LIVE/WORK STUDIOS, A PROFESSIONAL STAFF THAT IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE CREATIVE PROCESS, AND AN ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO BOTH INDIVIDUAL PRACTICE AND THE ENERGETIC EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AMONG INTERNATIONAL AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE FELLOWS. THE RESIDENCY PROGRAM HAS EARNED INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION AS A MODEL OF CURATORIAL PRACTICE, SUPPORTING NEW AND CHALLENGING CONTEMPORARY WORK.
- $2.6 million spent. HISTORIC VILLA AND EXTANT BUILDINGS ANCHORED BY THE HISTORIC VILLA MONTALVO AND THE LUCAS RESIDENCY PROGRAM COMPOUND OF STUDIOS, THE COMPLEX ALSO INCLUDES NEW AND HISTORIC BUILDINGS ON ITS GROUNDS. GARDENS AND GROUNDS THE ESTATE'S 175-ACRE GROUNDS INCLUDE THE FORMAL ITALIANATE GARDEN, THE HISTORIC CACTUS GARDEN, THE OVAL GARDEN, THE LOVE TEMPLE, THE BELVEDERE TEMPLE, AND MORE THAN 5 MILES OF HIKING TRAILS.
- $905,838 spent. PERFORMING ARTS SERIES THE LIVELY PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM CONSISTS OF MORE THAN 45 MUSIC CONCERTS AND THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES PRESENTED IN THE 1200-SEAT GARDEN THEATRE, THE INTIMATE 300-SEAT CARRIAGE HOUSE THEATRE, THE GRAND HALL OF THE VILLA AND THROUGHOUT THE GROUNDS. MONTALVO ALSO PRESENTS STUDENT PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS (PASS) IN THE CARRIAGE HOUSE THEATRE THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.
- $820,646 spent. OTHER PROGRAM EXPENSES CONSIST OF EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND PROGRAM MARKETING.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 September 2025.
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 May 1955.
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 October 21, 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.