Sonoma Community Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SCC exists to enrich the lives of the people of Sonoma Valley by fostering a broad range of cultural, educational, recreational and community service activities in an affordable space as well as helping to preserve and restore our historic buildings.
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $2.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 1.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 48%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 270
- Highest pay
- $102,292, executive dir.
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
Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 42 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
Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $1.6 million spent. For 70 years, the Sonoma Community Center has been the cultural heart and soul of the Sonoma Valley. Originally built as the Sonoma Grammar School in 1916, the Community Center was incorporated as a public benefit 501(c)3 organization in 1952, and is listed on the National Register for Historic Places. Today, the mission of the Sonoma Community Center is to cultivate a vibrant community through extraordinary creative, cultural, and learning experiences. Driven by values of community, innovation, creativity, inclusion, and leadership, the Center offers a broad range of programs, events, and performances that encourage people from all walks of life to create, connect, thrive, and build community together. We offer over 200 classes annually in ceramics, fine art, fiber art, music, movement, culinary arts, and writing. We also host an Artist-in-Residence program that attracts expert artists to work and teach at the Center. On campus, we house and maintain valued partnerships with the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, Crescent Montessori School, the Sonoma International Film Festival, and Sonoma Arts Live, our theater production partner. Our Andrews Hall Theater offers a year-round schedule of films, live music, theater performances, and more for audiences of all ages. We host a variety of creative community events throughout the year, including our annual Da de los Muertos celebration in early November, and our free Thanksgiving Dinner, a valued community tradition for decades now. The Center is also an integral part of the City of Sonoma's emergency preparedness plans; we serve on the City's Disaster Council, and serve as the Emergency Volunteer Center for the City of Sonoma during local disasters and other emergencies. In 2020-21, the Center provided virtual and in-person arts experiences to 3,844 individuals. In addition, approximately 5,000 participated in several free virtual events. Approximately 20 community groups made use of our building space for meetings or activities.
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
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 June 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 November 1953.
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.