Performing Arts Workshop Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Dedicated to helping young people develop critical thinking, creative expression, and basic learning skills through the arts.
- Income
- $823,416
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 14.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 42%
- Employees
- 31
- Highest pay
- $159,865, co-exec. 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: 63 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 124% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 55% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 49 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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 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 (3)
- $1.3 million spent. Artists-In-Schools: The workshop partners with public schools serving a majority of historically underrepresented youth: each year at least 80% of youth we serve are in low/lower-income families; 41% reporting are English learners, and 11% have individualized educational plans. The youth in our classrooms bring a wealth of cultural and familiar values and traditions that are spoken to, nurtered and shared through the workshop.
- Space Rental: Since 2017, PAW has been in partnership with the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department as the new tenants of the Geneva Powerhouse. As part of the lease and community benefit agreement for the space, we have agreed to make the building available for below-market and market rate rentals on evenings and weekends. The rental program began at the end of 2021 due to COVID restrictions.
- Advocacy: At Performing Arts Workshop, we believe that art programs are an essential part of each child's education. We also believe that the arts make youth more innovative, creative and better critical thinkers - which are vitally important skills for the 21st century. As a result, school districts, local and state government need to be held accountable for providing instruction in the arts. In 2008, Performing Artys Workshop launched its advocacy initiative to achieve this broader goal - beyond the bounds of what the organizations direct service can provide.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1966.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.