Ica La
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THROUGH ITS EXHIBITIONS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS, THE INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART, LOS ANGELES FOSTERS DIVERSITY, INNOVATION, AND DISCOVERY IN CONTEMPORARY ART - LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL.
- Income
- $4.4 million
- Spending
- $3.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- -8.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 35
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $256,013, executive director
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: 46 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 23% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 46% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $2.4 million spent. THE INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART, LOS ANGELES (ICA LA)-A CALIFORNIA NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION-IS A NON-COLLECTING ART MUSEUM. FOUNDED IN 1984 AS THE SANTA MONICA MUSEUM OF ART (SMMOA) AND REESTABLISHED IN 2017 WITH A NEW IDENTITY AND HOME IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, ICA LA BUILDS UPON A DISTINGUISHED HISTORY OF BOLD CURATORIAL VISION AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING TO ILLUMINATE THE IMPORTANT UNTOLD STORIES AND EMERGING VOICES IN CONTEMPORARY ART AND CULTURE. THE MUSEUM'S 12,700 SQUARE-FOOT RENOVATED INDUSTRIAL BUILDING-DESIGNED BY WHY ARCHITECTURE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF KULAPAT YANTRASAST-FEATURES AMPLE SPACE FOR EXHIBITIONS, PUBLIC PROGRAMS, RETAIL POP-UPS, INTEGRATED OFFICES, AND SPECIAL PROJECTS.ICA LA'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT ART THAT SPARKS THE PLEASURE OF DISCOVERY AND CHALLENGES THE WAY WE SEE AND EXPERIENCE THE WORLD, OURSELVES, AND EACH OTHER. ICA LA IS COMMITTED TO UPENDING HIERARCHIES OF RACE, CLASS, GENDER, AND CULTURE. THROUGH EXHIBITIONS, EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, ICA LA FOSTERS CRITIQUE OF THE FAMILIAR AND EMPATHY WITH THE DIFFERENT.PURSUANT TO ITS COMMITMENT TO MAKING CONTEMPORARY ART RELEVANT AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL, ADMISSION IS FREE.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1985.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.