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Laguna College of Art and Design

EIN 95-2415066 · Laguna Beach, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LAGUNA COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN PREPARES INDIVIDUALS FOR CAREERS AS CREATIVE ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS IN A CULTURALLY AND ETHNICALLY DIVERSE WORLD THROUGH A CURRICULUM THAT EMPHASIZES ACQUIRING SKILLS BASED ON OBSERVATION, REPRESENTATION, AND CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT, WHILE EMBRACING CHALLENGES OF NEW, INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES. THE COLLEGE IS COMMITTED TO OFFERING ITS CURRICULUM THROUGH ACCREDITED DEGREE PROGRAMS THAT IMAGINATIVELY COMBINE STUDIO WORK WITH ACADEMIC STUDIES, AND TO SHARING ITS RESOURCES WITH THE BROADER COMMUNITY THROUGH CONTINUING EDUCATION AND EXHIBITION PROGRAMS.LAGUNA COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN IS ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS OF ART AND DESIGN AND THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES AND IS COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING THE HIGHEST EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS.

Income
$75.8 million
Spending
$28.7 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
482
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$450,393, president

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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 62% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 168% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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.

  • 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 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 (1)
  1. $25.3 million spent. LAGUNA COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN IS A FULLY ACCREDITED FOUR YEAR COLLEGE WITH A CURRENT ENROLLMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 699 STUDENTS IN THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM. LAGUNA COLLEGE AWARDS A BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS DEGREE WITH MAJORS IN DRAWING AND PAINTING, GRAPHIC DESIGN, GAME ART, ILLUSTRATION, AND ANIMATION. LAGUNA COLLEGE ALSO PROVIDES A MASTERS OF FINE ARTS DEGREE IN PAINTING, WITH A CURRENT ENROLLMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 19 STUDENTS AND A MASTER IN FINE ARTS PROGRAM IN THE ART OF GAME WITH APPROXIMATELY 10 STUDENTS.

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 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 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 June 1966.

    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.