Palo Alto Art Center Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 47% 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
THE MISSION OF THE PALO ALTO ART CENTER FOUNDATION IS TO EXPAND THE REACH AND IMPACT OF THE PALO ALTO ART CENTER THROUGH FUNDRAISING AND ADVOCACY
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 47%
- Reserves
- 16.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 68%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 300
- Highest pay
- $145,990, director of development
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1547% 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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
- $355,370 spent. DIRECT SUPPORT OF THE PALO ALTO ART CENTER: THE PAACF ACHIEVES ITS PRIMARY MISSION BY DIRECTLY SUPPORTING THE PROGRAMS AND GOALS OF THE PALO ALTO ART CENTER. THIS DIRECT SUPPORT COVERS FIVE PROGRAM AREAS: CHILDREN'S FINE ART, ADULT STUDIO CLASSES, EXHIBITIONS, PROJECT LOOK! (AN INQUIRY BASED MUSEUM EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN FROM THROUGHOUT THE REGION), AND THE ART CENTER'S VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
- $20,191 spent. EVENTS, INCLUDING GREAT GLASS PUMPKIN PATCH, A COLLABORATION WITH THE BAY AREA GLASS INSTITUTE, IS A UNIQUE PROGRAM THAT SERVES GLASS ARTISTS FROM THROUGHOUT THE REGION. A FOUR-DAY EXHIBITION OF THOUSANDS OF GLASS PUMPKINS SERVES AS THE BASIS FOR PROJECT LOOK! TOURS FOR LOCAL SCHOOL CHILDREN, AND A TWO-DAY SALE GENERATES SUBSTANTIAL REVENUE FOR THE ARTISTS INVOLVED AND INCREASED VISIBILITY OF THE ART CENTER
- $103,344 spent. 1. CULTURAL KALEIDOSCOPE IS AN ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT PAIRS ARTISTS WITH K-5 CLASSROOMS IN PALO ALTO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND EAST PALO ALTO'S RAVENSWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT. THERE ARE TEN RESIDENCIES EACH YEAR, EACH OF WHICH PAIRS A VISUAL ARTIST WITH A CLASSROOM FROM EACH DISTRICT, THEREBY ENCOURAGING COLLABORATIVE ART MAKING BETWEEN STUDENTS FROM TWO NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANT DISPARITIES IN CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC MAKEUP. THE PROGRAM CULMINATES IN A PUBLIC EXHIBITION OF STUDENT ARTWORK AT THE PALO ALTO ART CENTER. 2. THE STUDIO SALE SERVES A UNIQUE AND HIGHLY DISTINGUISHED GROUP OF ARTISTS WORKING IN A RANGE OF DISCIPLINES, INCLUDING JEWELRY DESIGN, CERAMICS AND TEXTILES.
- $83,845 spent. ART TRAVEL PROGRAM; EDUCATION TRIPS TO VIEW EXHIBITIONS, STUDIOS, AND CREATIVE COMMUNITIES
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 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 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 April 1977.
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.