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Topa Institute

EIN 95-4076358 · Ojai, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 24% 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

THE TOPA INSTITUTE IS AN ARTS, CULTURE, AND EDUCATIONAL RETREAT CENTER & LAND SANCTUARY SET ATOP AN AWE-INSPIRING RIDGE IN THE UPPER OJAI VALLEY. TOPA INSTITUTE HOSTS CREATIVE WORKSHOPS, CLASSES, AND GATHERINGS FACILITATED BY LEADING TEACHERS, ARTISTS, AND CULTURE MAKERS IN THEIR FIELDS. THE INSTITUTE'S PROGRAMMATIC OFFERINGS FALL UNDER THREE INTERCONNECTED UMBRELLA CATEGORIES: ARTS AND CULTURE, LAND CONNECTION, YOUTH EDUCATION.

Income
$457,437
Spending
$952,212
Spent on programs
24%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 56%
Employees
11
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$109,298, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 108% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    24% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 2024, 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. $225,329 spent. ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMS: THE INSTITUTE CRAFTS PROJECTS THAT ENGAGE WITH INTERCULTURAL HISTORY.TO FIND MODELS OF CREATIVITY, INTERCONNECTION, AND VIBRANCE IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGE, LOSS, AND TRAUMA. WE INCUBATE NEW ARTS PROGRAMS INSPIRED BY OUR UNIQUE POINT OF VIEW AND RESIDENTIAL RETREATS LED BY LEADERS IN CONTEMPORARY ARTS AND CULTURE.ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMS: TOPA INSTITUTE HOSTS RESIDENTIAL ARTIST PROGRAMS THAT BRING TOGETHER A BROAD, TRANSDISCIPLINARY ALLIANCE OF ARTISTS.TO CELEBRATE AND EXPLORE THE EVERYDAY AND HISTORICAL INTERSECTIONS, PARTICULARLY FOCUSED ON WORK WHERE MARGINALIZED CULTURES, LANGUAGES, AND PEOPLE MAKE CONTACT.ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMS: THE ORGANIZATION FOSTERS AND PROMOTES CULTURAL AWARENESSAND EDUCATION OF YIDDISH AND MINORITY CULTURES IN A CONTEMPORARY SETTING.THE ORGANIZATION PRODUCES CONCERTS, FILM SCREENINGS, LECTURES, PERFORMANCES, ANDWORKSHOPS FOR FREE OR OFFERED AT A SUBSIDIZED LOW COST.NATURE CONNECTION PROGRAMS: THE INSTITUTE OFFER PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE EDUCATION INREGENERATIVE LAND AND WATER PRACTICES, ECOLOGY, PERMACULTURE, SEED-KEEPING,HERBALISM, FIRE-SAFETY CLEARANCE, AND NATURAL BUILDING.HOLISTIC SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS INCLUDE OPPORTUNITIES TO TEND THE LAND AND ENGAGEPARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES IN HISTORICAL PRACTICES AND FUTURE POSSIBILITIES FORMUTUALLY BENEFICIAL HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS WITH LAND.NATURE CONNECTION PROGRAMS: ADDITIONAL NATURE CONNECTION ACTIVITIES INCLUDE GUIDEDNATURE WALKS AND EXPLORATION, PLANT IDENTIFICATION, AWARENESS GAMES, CRAFTS UTILIZING WHAT WE FIND IN OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, AND EXPLORING ECOSYSTEMS.EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: WE OFFER MULTI-DAY RETREATS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS,INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS, TO HELP MARK LIFE TRANSITIONS. SUCH PROGRAMS BY COMBININGDEEP LISTENING PRACTICES WITH NATURE-BASED ACTIVITIES, GROUP BUILDING, AND FUN,"PASSAGEWAYS" PROGRAMS CHALLENGE PARTICIPANTS TO INVEST IN THEMSELVES, FIND MEANINGIN THE CHANGING STAGES OF THEIR LIVES.EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: HOLISTIC EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING OFFERS A UNIQUE COMBINATION OF SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PRACTICES THAT BRING TOGETHER DEEP AND EMPATHIC LISTENING PRACTICES WITH NATURE-BASED ACTIVITIES.OUTREACH: TOPA INSTITUTE PUBLISHES A SERIES OF ONLINE PUBLICATIONS AIMED ATPROMOTING ARTS, CULTURE, AND EDUCATION VIA ITS WEBSITE AND ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 June 1992.

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