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Inner-City Arts

EIN 95-4239478 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

INNER-CITY ARTS BELIEVES THAT THE ARTS AND CREATIVITY ARE TRANSFORMATIONAL, AND WE ENVISION A SOCIETY THAT HONORS THE HUMAN CAPACITY FOR CREATIVITY, AND VALUES ITS CULTIVATION IN THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE. INNER-CITY ARTS USES ARTS EDUCATION TO POSITIVELY AFFECT THE LIVES OF UNDER-SERVED CHILDREN, DEVELOPING CREATIVITY, IMPROVING LEARNING AND PROBLEM SOLVING-SKILLS, AND BUILDING SELF CONFIDENCE.

Income
$5.9 million
Spending
$4.9 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
93
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$245,492, president and ceo

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 49% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 (4)
  1. $877,877 spent. LEARNING AND ACHIEVING THROUGH THE ARTS (LATA):FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAM OFFERED AT INNER-CITY ARTS, PROVIDING ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS LEARNING IN THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS OVER MULTI-WEEK SESSIONS FACILITATED REMOTELY THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING AND IN THE SPRING TERM RETURNING BACK TO IN-PERSON THROUGH OUR RESIDENCY MODEL ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES. THE CORE OBJECTIVE FOCUS IS SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING COMPETENCIES, 21ST-CENTURY SKILLS, ART SKILLS, AND MENTAL WELLBEING.
  2. $440,743 spent. OUT OF SCHOOL PROGRAM- INSTITUTES:OUT-OF-SCHOOL PROGRAMS PROVIDE 6-10-WEEK WORKSHOPS IN THE VISUAL ANDPERFORMING ARTS TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH OF AREA MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS.GOALS ARE TO PROVIDE ARTS INSTRUCTION FOR YOUTH TO FURTHER THEIR STUDYIN THE ARTS, LEADING TO SKILL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ANDPARENT, FAMILY AND ADULT SERVICES:CAREER AND WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT. PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED DURING AFTERSCHOOL HOURS AND ON WEEKENDS FOR 2-6 HOURS PER WEEK AND INCLUDE:(1) VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS INSTITUTES: SERVING MIDDLE AND HIGHSCHOOL STUDENTS DURING THE WEEK AFTER SCHOOL HOURS AND ON THE WEEKENDSWITH INTENSIVE YEAR-LONG STUDY IN A CHOSEN ART FORM. WORKSHOPS OFFERED:THEATER ARTS, ANIMATION, DANCE CHOREOGRPHY & PRODUCTION, STAND-UPCOMEDY, GRAPHIC DESIGN, DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY, VISUAL ARTS, FILMPROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY-BUILDING, LEARNING AND FUN. WORKSHOPSENGAGE PARENTS, IN EXPLORING AND CREATING ART TOGETHER
  3. $440,054 spent. WORK OF ART:WORK OF ART TAPS INTO THE STRENGTHS OF THE DIVERSE AND VIBRANT YOUTH OF LOS ANGELES AND SUPPORTS THEIR JOURNEY TO ASSUME THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE AS DRIVERS OF THE CREATIVE ECONOMY OF CALIFORNIA, THE NATION, AND THE WORLD. WE SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ABUNDANT SUPPLY OF NEW TALENT IN THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES. YOUTH ARE PAID INTERNS OF INNER-CITY ARTS AND PARTICIPATE IN MANDATORY YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITIES THAT DEVELOP THEM AS FUTURE PROFESSIONAL VISUAL, MEDIA, AND OR PERFORMING ARTISTS. WORK OF ART INTERNS ARE PAID TO CREATE CONTENT FOR INNER-CITY ARTS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DISCIPLINES. THAT CONTENT BECOMES PART OF THE PERMANENT COLLECTION. THE PILOT PROGRAM WITH EIGHT STUDENTS BEGAN IN 2013. NOW ESTABLISHED WITH YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITIES, WORK OF ART EMPLOYED 19 STUDENTS, PRODUCED 16 GRADUATES, WITH 99% OF THE GRADUATES ENROLLING IN A 4-YEAR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
  4. $2.1 million spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS: -INNER-CITY ARTS CONTINUED TO DEVELOP THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE PROGRAM. THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE ELEMENT OF PROGRAMS WAS PILOTED IN 2024-25 AS AN EXTENSION OF WORK OF ART TO TAP INTO THE STRENGTHS OF OUR GRADUATES AND SUPPORT THEIR JOURNEY TO ASSUME THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE AS DRIVERS OF THE CREATIVE ECONOMY OF CALIFORNIA, THE NATION, AND THE WORLD. THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS PROVIDE CREATIVE SERVICES FOR HIRE, FOR OUTSIDE CLIENTS, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF INNER-CITY ARTS MENTORS AND TEACHING ARTISTS. WHILE EMPLOYED AS "ENTERPRISERS," THE EMERGING ARTISTS RECEIVE TRAINING AND BUILD SKILLS THAT SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ABUNDANT AND DIVERSE SUPPLY OF NEW TALENT INTO THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES. IN 2021-22, INNER-CITY ARTS SUCCESSFULLY EMPLOYED AND OFFERED CONTINUED TRAINING TO 13 WOA ALUMNI. IN THEIR POST-SECONDARY PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT, ENTERPRISERS COMPLETED 3 COMMISSIONED WORKS FOR LOCAL CORPORATIONS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGING IN OVER 400 WORK HOURS COLLECTIVELY. -THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE PROVIDES TRAINING TO IN-SERVICE AND PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS, EDUCATORS, PARENTS/GUARDIANS AND SERVED OVER 250 PARTICIPANTS IN A PROGRAM SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY THE TRANSITION BACK TO SCHOOL AND COMPETING PRIORITIES IN SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT RECOVERY FROM THE LEARNING SLIDES AND DECREASED ENROLLMENTS ACROSS ALL SCHOOLS. FACILITATION FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ADULT EDUCATION OCCURRED VIA ZOOM AND IN-PERSON WHEN SAFELY POSSIBLE. THE IN-SERVICE COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM SERVE TEACHERS FROM PRIMARILY LOS ANGELES COUNTY. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS DEMONSTRATES HOW IT IS TO AN EDUCATOR'S ADVANTAGE TO FULLY INTEGRATE THE ARTS INTO TEACHING AND LEARNING PRACTICES. WE ADDRESS SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING BEST PRACTICES AND SHOW HOW CREATIVE CRITICAL-THINKING SKILLS IN THE ARTS ARE TRANSFERABLE TO EVERY LEARNING AREA. MOST IMPORTANTLY, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITH INNER-CITY ARTS DEMONSTRATES HOW THE ARTS CAN SERVE AS A VEHICLE FOR INCREASING AND SUSTAINING LEARNER ENGAGEMENT ACROSS THE ACADEMIC SPECTRUM.

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 1994.

    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.