City Hearts Kids Say Yes to the Arts L a Fringe Theatre Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CITY HEARTS IS DEDICATED TO COMBATING INEQUITIES IN ARTS ACCESS. SPECIFICALLY, WE PROVIDE HIGH-IMPACT, HOLISTIC VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS EDUCATION TO UNDERSERVED ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN LOS ANGELES. OUR CLASSES AND EXPERIENCES ARE GROUNDED IN THE BELIEF THAT EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO EXPERIENCE THE EXTENSIVELY RESEARCHED AND WELL- DOCUMENTED ACADEMIC, CREATIVE, AND EMOTIONAL BENEFITS OF MEANINGFUL ARTS EDUCATION. OUR INITIATIVES ARE LED BY ACCOMPLISHED TEACHING ARTISTS WHO BRING EXTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AS PRACTICING ARTISTS, ALONG WITH FORMAL TRAINING IN THEIR CREATIVE DISCIPLINES. THROUGH OUR IMMERSIVE OFFERINGS, STUDENTS GAIN EXPOSURE TO CREATIVE CAREERS AND PROFESSIONALS WHILE PARTICIPATING IN PROGRAMS THAT CULTIVATE A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY, PERSONAL RESILIENCE, AND LIFELONG LEARNING SKILLS. IN KEEPING WITH OUR MISSION TO COMBAT INEQUITIES IN ARTS ACCESS, ALL CITY HEARTS PROGRAMMING IS OFFERED AT NO COST TO STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
- Income
- $454,681
- Spending
- $387,519
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 6.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 82%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $138,634, executive di
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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 86% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $282,048 spent. DURING THE 202425 ACADEMIC YEAR, CITY HEARTS SERVED 1,010 STUDENTS THROUGH 1,060 CLASSES, HOSTED 17 FIELD TRIPS AND FOUR MASTERCLASSES, AND ENGAGED 12 GUEST ARTISTS AND CREATIVES. PROGRAMS WERE DELIVERED ACROSS 14 SITES SPANNING FOUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ONE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER. IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 202526 SCHOOL YEAR, CITY HEARTS CONTINUED TO DELIVER A WIDE RANGE OF HIGH-IMPACT PROGRAMMING ACROSS LOS ANGELES COUNTY. THE WILSON N WILLIAM THEATRE PROGRAM TRANSITIONED TO A CONSERVATORY-STYLE MODEL AT OUR HARBOR CITY OFFICE, EXPANDING ACCESS TO STUDENTS REPRESENTING 10 SCHOOLS ACROSS SEVEN CITIES. IN OCTOBER, WE ALSO LAUNCHED A NEW SHORT- TERM STAND-UP COMEDY PROGRAM, WITH TEACHING ARTIST LYDIA ROBINSON LEADING THE INAUGURAL FOUR-WEEK WORKSHOP AT MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY. THIS PROGRAM INTRODUCED ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO THE FUNDAMENTALS OF COMEDY. TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN OUR MASTERCLASS WORKSHOP INITIATIVE, CITY HEARTS HOSTED FOUR MASTERCLASSES IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER, ALL LED BY DISTINGUISHED GUEST ARTISTS. THESE INCLUDED RESIDENT TEACHING ARTIST RON G. PRESENTING THE ART OF FUNNY; A PROSE POETRY WORKSHOP LED BY PULITZER PRIZE NOMINEE MATHIEU CAILLER; A VIDEO GAME VOICEOVER MASTERCLASS LED BY ACCLAIMED ACTRESS YVONNE SENAT JONES; AND A BRANDING & STORYTELLING SESSION FACILITATED BY CITY HEARTS ALUMNA, INFLUENCER, AND ACTRESS HONEY ROBINSON. DURING THE 202425 ACADEMIC YEAR, CITY HEARTS SERVED 1,010 STUDENTS THROUGH 1,060 CLASSES, HOSTED 17 FIELD TRIPS AND FOUR MASTERCLASSES, AND ENGAGED 12 GUEST ARTISTS AND CREATIVES. PROGRAMS WERE DELIVERED ACROSS 14 SITES SPANNING FOUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ONE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER. IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 202526 SCHOOL YEAR, CITY HEARTS CONTINUED TO DELIVER A WIDE RANGE OF HIGH-IMPACT PROGRAMMING ACROSS LOS ANGELES COUNTY. THE WILSON N WILLIAM THEATRE PROGRAM TRANSITIONED TO A CONSERVATORY-STYLE MODEL AT OUR HARBOR CITY OFFICE, EXPANDING ACCESS TO STUDENTS REPRESENTING 10 SCHOOLS ACROSS SEVEN CITIES. IN OCTOBER, WE ALSO LAUNCHED A NEW SHORT- TERM STAND-UP COMEDY PROGRAM, WITH TEACHING ARTIST LYDIA ROBINSON LEADING THE INAUGURAL FOUR-WEEK WORKSHOP AT MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY. THIS PROGRAM INTRODUCED ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO THE FUNDAMENTALS OF COMEDY. TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN OUR MASTERCLASS WORKSHOP INITIATIVE, CITY HEARTS HOSTED FOUR MASTERCLASSES IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER, ALL LED BY DISTINGUISHED GUEST ARTISTS. THESE INCLUDED RESIDENT TEACHING ARTIST RON G. PRESENTING THE ART OF FUNNY; A PROSE POETRY WORKSHOP LED BY PULITZER PRIZE NOMINEE MATHIEU CAILLER; A VIDEO GAME VOICEOVER MASTERCLASS LED BY ACCLAIMED ACTRESS YVONNE SENAT JONES; AND A BRANDING & STORYTELLING SESSION FACILITATED BY CITY HEARTS ALUMNA, INFLUENCER, AND ACTRESS HONEY ROBINSON.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1991.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 2026.
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