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San Luis Obispo County Arts Council

EIN 95-3738562 · Sn Luis Obisp, CA

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 30% 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

TO ADVANCE THE VISUAL, LITERARY AND PERFORMING ARTS IN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE LOCAL ARTS PLANNING AND COLLABORATION; THE ARTS IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS; PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE ARTS; AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS.

Income
$206,078
Spending
$231,586
Spent on programs
30%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 65%
Employees
1
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$68,343, executive dir.

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

Weak: 49 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 45% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    30% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 31 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.

  • 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

    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.

  • 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 (14)
  1. $30,000 spent. OPEN STUDIOS ART TOUR - AN ANNUAL, TWO-WEEKEND LONG, SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF WORKING ARTISTS STUDIOS OFFERED FREE-TO-THE-PUBLIC. STUDIOS ARE LOCATED IN ALL GEOGRAPHIES OF THE SLO COUNTY.
  2. $22,700 spent. POETRY OUT LOUD - COORDINATION COUNTYWIDE POETRY OUT LOUD RECITATION COMPETITION FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN COORDINATION WITH THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS AND THE CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL.
  3. $16,777 spent. ART AFTER DARK - MONTHLY ARTS WALK FEATURING REGIONAL ARTISTS IN LOCAL BUSINESS VENUES. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC RECEPTION EACH FIRST FRIDAY 6-9PM.
  4. ART IN PUBLIC PLACES - LEADERSHIP OF A COUNTYWIDE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES COALITION TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE PUBLIC ART AND TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND APP POLICIES AND PROCESSES. PROVISION OF SERVICES TO CALL FOR ARTISTS, DEVELOP ART PLANS AND FACILITATE PANEL REVIEW PROCESSES.
  5. ARTS EDUCATION - LEADERSHIP OF THE CREATESLO ARTS EDUCATION ALLIANCE AND WORK WITH THE SLO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES TO INCREASE DANCE, DRAMA, MUSIC, AND VISUAL ARTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS PRE-K THROUGH GRADE TWELVE IN THE COUNTY'S TEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
  6. ARTIST/ORG DEVELOPMENT - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO VISUAL, PERFORMING AND LITERARY ARTISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
  7. CREATIVE ECONOMY.2 - A DAY-LONG COMMUNITY FORUM FEATURING KEY NOTE SPEAKERS AND INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS COVERING ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY IMPACTS OF THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES ON THE CENTRAL COAST REGION.
  8. COWPARADESLO - IN COORDINATION WITH COWPARADESLO LLC, RECRUITMENT OF ARTISTS TO PAINT LIFESIZE FIBERGLASS COWS AND PROMOTION OF THE COW PARADE SLO COUNTYWIDE PUBLIC ART EXHIBITION.
  9. SLO COUNTY POET LAUREATE - THROUGH A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION PROCESS, EVERY TWO YEARS A NEW POET LAUREATE IS SELECTED TO TAKE POETRY TO THE PEOPLE AND THE SCHOOLS, CELEBRATING POETS AND WRITERS COUNTYWIDE.
  10. SLOCATS - COORDINATION OF BIMONTHLY ARTS, CULTURE & HERITAGE AFFINITY GROUP MEETINGS FOR IDEA EXCHANGE, COLLABORATIVE MARKETING, AND PROJECTS OF MUTUAL INTEREST.
  11. AEP5 - FACILITATE COUNTYWIDE ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY AS PART OF THE NATIONAL ARTS & ECONOMIC PROSPERITY 5 STUDY.
  12. EQUALITY MURAL
  13. PAINTERS GROUP
  14. PUBLIC ART LIASON (PAL) PROGRAM

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1982.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.

    California's Attorney General lists its registration as delinquent as of June 30, 2006. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 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.