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Friends of School of the Art Foundation

EIN 94-3373066 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Friends of Ruth Asawa School of the Arts FOSOTA is dedicated to championing arts education and arts-based learning at San Franciscos groundbreaking public arts high school and beyond. Our community of donors, volunteers, educators, students, alumni, artists, activists, and allies believe in the transformative power of art in the schools. Together we are mighty.

Income
$438,471
Spending
$451,528
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
9.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
0
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$5,000, treasurer

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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% 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 110% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

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

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (5)
  1. $278,963 spent. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION SUPPORT: FOSOTA offers free or low-fee funds management for mission-aligned projects that need access to nonprofit grants. In FY 24-25, the organization managed $200k+ in grant funds for projects by students from schools throughout the city, including a youth literacy laureate program, art workshops supporting mental health, and a community stem lab striving to provide STEM education, hands-on workshops and a space for robotics teams to work.
  2. $67,466 spent. MCATEER CAMPUS COMMUNITY FARM: Grants from the USDA, SF Parks Alliance, Youth Empowerment Fund, and SHARP are helping FOSOTA expand multidisciplinary farm-to-school programming and support the McAteer Campus Community Farms mission to become San Franciscos first schoolyard farm providing produce for public school meals. Improvements included raised garden beds, a shade house, fruit trees, a bee mural, lending library, monthly community volunteer days, and the seasons first crops.
  3. $40,364 spent. CAPSTONE PROJECT AWARDS: Our application-based grants provide funds for student, teacher, department, and community projects. Among them are grants to seniors to help them realize their capstone projects-- in-depth explorations with real-world applications that integrate the academic, artistic, cultural, and personal experiences of an arts-based education. In FY 24-25, the organization provided $16k in student funding, in addition to providing $18k in funding for the capstone class advisor.
  4. $36,834 spent. ARTS EDUCATION ADVOCACY: FOSOTA partnered with mural artist Nico Berry to create and install a new mural along Woodside Ave in San Francisco. Made possible with a grant from the SF Arts Commission, the mural features large-scale portraits of six arts educators and the names of many others who teach and work in a variety of disciplines, from music, to visual arts, to dance. The murals title, Dreamers of Dreams, comes from a 1873 poem championing the role of the artist in society.
  5. $17,268 spent. ALUMNI: FOSOTA supported our Alumni Association by partnering with the school and PTSA on graduation celebrations, administering scholastic awards, providing alumni grants, supporting reunions, and sharing alumni stories. In FY 2025-2026, FOSOTA awarded over $7,000 to students and contributed more than $10,000 to graduation and alumni programs that strengthen our school community.

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

  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 November 6, 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 June 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 November 2000.

    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 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.