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California State Summer School Arts Foundation

EIN 95-4111128 · Los Angeles, 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

THE CALIFORNIA STATE SUMMER SCHOOL ARTS FOUNDATION (CSSSAF) SUPPORTS THE STUDENTS OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE SUMMER SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS (CSSSA) FROM PRE-APPLICATION THROUGH COLLEGE AND BEYOND.

Income
$876,642
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
14.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
4
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$129,500, interim 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 51% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • 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 (3)
  1. $423,375 spent. CALIFORNIA STATE SUMMER SCHOOL ARTS FOUNDATION (CSSSAF) SUPPORTS CSSSA ALUMNI DEVELOPMENT THROUGH COLLEGE AND CAREER ACCESS PROGRAMS. PRIMARILY, THANKS TO PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HERB ALPERT FOUNDATION, CSSSAF PROVIDES COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE ATTENDED THE CSSSA SUMMER PROGRAM. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, CSSSAF AWARDED $336,000 IN NEW COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO 21 CREATIVE TEENS AND DISBURSED OVER $275,000 TO SUPPORT PREVIOUSLY AWARDED SCHOLARS. FOUNDATION STAFF COUNSELED AND SUPPORTED STUDENTS ON THEIR COLLEGE JOURNEYS AND WORKED WITH OVER 20 DIFFERENT SCHOOL FINANCIAL AID OFFICES TO FACILITATE AND MAXIMIZE THE AWARD. STUDENTS ATTENDED SCHOOLS SUCH AS ARTCENTER COLLEGE OF DESIGN, UC BERKELEY, BARD COLLEGE, THE JUILLIARD SCHOOL, KENYON COLLEGE, CAL STATE FULLERTON, UCLA, USC, AND STANFORD. IN ADDITION, CSSSAF PARTNERS WITH COLLEGES TO OFFER INSTIUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIP OPTIONS FOR CSSSA ALUMNI AND PROVIDES COLLEGE AND CAREER INFORMATION TO THE ALUMNI COMMUNITY.
  2. $397,047 spent. CSSSAF PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR EACH CSSSA SUMMER PROGRAM AND ITS STUDENTS THROUGH NEED-BASED TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS; EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES; TEACHING GUEST ARTISTS; AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE AND GENERAL SUPPORT. IN JULY AND AUGUST 2024, APPROXIMATELY 520 STUDENTS ATTENDED THE SUMMER SCHOOL. CSSSAF PROVIDED $220,000 IN FULL AND PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS WHO APPLIED FOR AND WERE APPROVED TO RECEIVE NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID. CSSSAF PROVIDED ALL STUDENTS WITH A SUBSCRIPTION TO ADOBE CREATIVE CLOUD AND PROVIDED VARIOUS PROGRAM ARTS SUPPLIES AND SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT AS NEEDED. CSSSAF PROVIDED 52 INDUSTRY EXPERTS, ACCOMPLISHED ARTISTS, AND HIGH-PROFILE GROUPS AS TEACHING GUEST ARTISTS FOR EACH ARTS DISCIPLINE. THESE GUEST ARTISTS INCLUDED INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKERS, PERFORMERS, AND TEACHERS SUCH AS WRITER SAYDA TRUJILLO; DISNEY ANIMATOR IVAN AGUIRRE; AND VISUAL ARTIST, MARIO YBARRA JR. WITH CONTRACTS TOTALING OVER $44,000 THESE ARTISTS PROVIDED INDUSTRY EXPOSURE, REAL-WORLD ADVICE, AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING FEEDBACK TO CSSSA STUDENTS. CSSSAF ALSO PROVIDED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THE ANIMATION DEPT AND THEIR ALUMNI.
  3. $173,764 spent. CSSSAF MANAGES A VARIETY OF OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVES TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE CSSSA PROGRAM; HELP ENSURE THE STUDENT BODY IS REPRESENTATIVE OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE POPULATION; AND ENGAGE ALUMNI TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR CSSSA EXPERIENCE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 CSSSAF INCREASED ITS IN-SCHOOL RECRUITING AND VIRTUAL INFORMATION PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY IN SCHOOLS AND IN AREAS OF THE STATE UNDERREPRESENTED AT CSSSA. CSSSAF'S PROGRAM MANAGER CONTINUES THE WORK OF EXPANDING AND IMPROVING OUTREACH. THEY MANAGES VARIOUS IN-SCHOOL PRESENTERS AND TEACHERS TO INSPIRE STUDENT INTEREST AND APPLICATIONS. CSSSAF PROVIDES IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING WITH ACCEPTED AND INVITED CSSSA STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE CSSSA SUMMER. CSSSAF ALSO MANAGES VARIOUS COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS THAT ENGAGE ALUMNI, PROVIDES INFORMATION ON OPPORTUNITIES, AND KEEP THEM CONNECTED TO THEIR CSSSA NETWORK AND TO THE PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, CSSSAF MANAGES COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THAT OFFER SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CSSSA STUDENTS AND ALUMNI.

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 January 2020.

    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.