Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

West Valley Arts Council

EIN 94-2769484 · Surprise, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WEST VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL IS A 501C3 NONPROFIT THAT SERVES THE 13 MUNICIPALITIES THAT MAKE UP THE WEST VALLEY BY ACTING AS AN ADVISOR AND ADVOCATE FOR INCLUSIVE ART AND CULTURE, A CREATOR AND FACILITATOR OF INNOVATIVE ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES, A RESOURCE AND FOR LOCAL ARTISTS, AND PROVIDER OF LEADERSHIP IN IDENTIFYING TRENDS AND IMPACT OF ART AND CULTURE IN THE WEST VALLEY. THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WE USE OUR RESOURCES TO CONNECT AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES BY GROWING ART AND CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT INCLUDE ALL PEOPLE.

Income
$492,658
Spending
$505,803
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
6.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 46%
Employees
4
Volunteers
17

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 46% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • 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, 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. $317,949 spent. IN THE CALENDAR YEAR 2023, WEST VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL COORDINATED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR ARTS AND MUSIC TEACHERS. WE SERVED OVER 200 SENIORS THROUGH IN PERSON CLASSES THROUGH OUR CREATIVE AGING ART PROGRAMS. WE ALSO PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL TRAINING TO LOCAL ARTISTS AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, EQUIPPING THOSE INDIVIDUALS WITH THE TOOLS NEEDED TO LEAD SUCCESS CREATIVE AGING PROGRAMS AND CLASSES. OUR ARTS HQ GALLERY COORDINATED AND EXECUTED EXHIBITS FEATURING LOCAL ARTISTS, HOSTED PERFORMANCES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SURPRISE ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION, AND AN ARTISAN MARKET. OVERALL, THROUGH OUR GALLERY EVENTS AND ACTIVITY WE ENGAGED 3500 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. OUR G37 PROGRAM ENGAGED LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY PLAN, DESIGN, AND PITCH A PUBLIC WORK CONCEPT FOR THE CITY OF GOODYEAR. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COLLEGE CREDIT, AND STIPENDS TO EACH OF THE PARTICIPATING STUDENTS. IN THE CALENDAR YEAR 2023, WEST VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL COORDINATED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR ARTS AND MUSIC TEACHERS. WE SERVED OVER 200 SENIORS THROUGH IN PERSON CLASSES THROUGH OUR CREATIVE AGING ART PROGRAMS. WE ALSO PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL TRAINING TO LOCAL ARTISTS AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, EQUIPPING THOSE INDIVIDUALS WITH THE TOOLS NEEDED TO LEAD SUCCESS CREATIVE AGING PROGRAMS AND CLASSES. OUR ARTS HQ GALLERY COORDINATED AND EXECUTED EXHIBITS FEATURING LOCAL ARTISTS, HOSTED PERFORMANCES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SURPRISE ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION, AND AN ARTISAN MARKET. OVERALL, THROUGH OUR GALLERY EVENTS AND ACTIVITY WE ENGAGED 3500 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. OUR G37 PROGRAM ENGAGED LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY PLAN, DESIGN, AND PITCH A PUBLIC WORK CONCEPT FOR THE CITY OF GOODYEAR. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COLLEGE CREDIT, AND STIPENDS TO EACH OF THE PARTICIPATING STUDENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1982.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.