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Ryman Carroll Foundation

EIN 95-1051084 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RYMAN ARTS TRANSFORMS LIVES BY CREATING ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF YOUNG ARTISTS THROUGH SELF-EXPRESSION, RIGOROUS EDUCATION IN FUNDAMENTAL ART SKILLS, AND MENTORING.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
32
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$197,177, executive director

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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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. $1.0 million spent. 2025 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS THIS YEAR, RYMAN ARTS EXPANDED ITS COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES AND SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP STUDENTS TRANSITION TO COLLEGE AND BEYOND. IN FALL 2025, 1051 STUDENTS, ALUMNI, AND THEIR FAMILIES PARTICIPATED IN THE COLLEGE PREPARATION WEEKEND, A VIRTUAL TWO-DAY EVENT OFFERING 23 SESSIONS. REPRESENTATIVES FROM COLLEGES AND ARTS SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE CONDUCTED PORTFOLIO REVIEWS, ADMISSIONS SESSIONS, AND FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, STUDENTS LEARNED FROM VISITING GUEST ARTISTS, INCLUDING ESTABLISHED AND MID-CAREER ARTISTS AND PROFESSIONALS ACROSS A VARIETY OF CREATIVE FIELDS. ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT WAS STRENGTHENED IN 2025 THROUGH THE SPRING CREATIVE CAREERS PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDED 16 VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON EVENTS HELD OVER THE COURSE OF A MONTH. WE DEEPENED RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALUMNI WORKING IN THE CREATIVE WORKFORCE, ADDING A NEW LAYER TO OUR CAREER SERVICES AS THEY SERVED AS ROLE MODELS AND SHARED THEIR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES WITH THE NEXT GENERATION OF RYMAN ARTS STUDENTS. SESSION TOPICS RANGED FROM BALANCING A FREELANCE CAREER, TO THEME PARK DESIGN AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING. THE TOTAL ATTENDANCE ACROSS ALL EVENTS WAS 575, INCLUDING STUDENTS, ALUMNI, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS CONTINUED BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUALLY IN 2025. LEVERAGING OUR STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH EDUCATORS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN LOW-INCOME AREAS, RYMAN ARTS EXPANDED APPLICATION GUIDANCE AND PROGRAM ACCESS TO MORE UNDERSERVED YOUTH AND NEW COMMUNITIES. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSIONS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, AS WELL AS PARTICIPATION IN VARIOUS VIRTUAL COMMUNITY EVENTS. WE ALSO CONTINUED OUR MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SANTA ANA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (SAUSD), OFFERING FREE PRESENTATIONS, ON-SITE DRAWING WORKSHOP, TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND CAMPUS VISITS TO CAL STATE FULLERTON, WITH THE GOAL OF CREATING A PIPELINE OF STUDENTS FROM SAUSD SCHOOLS TO THE RYMAN ARTS PROGRAM. OUR COMBINED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING REACHED A TOTAL OF 1,800 PEOPLE IN 2025. THE MOST EXCITING ADDITION IN 2025 WAS BRINGING BACK USC AS A THIRD CAMPUS LOCATION, RENEWING A LONG TIME PARTNERSHIP THAT HAD BEEN ON PAUSE SINCE 2012. WE HELD A SUMMER INTENSIVE CLASS THROUGH JUNE-JULY SUMMER 2025, AND LOOK FORWARD TO BEING BACK IN 2026. IN 2025, WE ALSO SECURED AN AGREEMENT WITH CALIFORNIA STATE SAN BERNARDINO AS A NEW CAMPUS FOR RYMAN ARTS, AND WE BEGAN CLASSES THERE IN JANUARY 2026.

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 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 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 December 1994.

    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.