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California Institute of the Arts

EIN 95-6102146 · Valencia, CA

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CALARTS IS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS. OUR ONGOING EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVOR IS GROUNDED IN OPENNESS, EXPERIMENTATION, CRITICAL ENGAGEMENT, AND CREATIVE FREEDOM. THROUGH ARTISTIC PRACTICE, WE TRANSFORM OURSELVES, EACH OTHER, AND THE WORLD.

Income
$122.0 million
Spending
$122.3 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 68%
Employees
1,850
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$576,732, president

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: 44 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 29 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    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. $76.0 million spent. INSTRUCTION: INSTITUTE OFFERS BFAS, MFAS, MA AND DMAS IN BOTH THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS AND IS DEDICATED TO TRAINING AND NURTURING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ARTISTS. EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON NEW AND EXPERIMENTAL WORK AND STUDENTS ARE ADMITTED SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF ARTISTIC ABILITY. TO ENCOURAGE INNOVATION AND MULTI-DISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION, CALARTS SIX SCHOOLS - ART, CRITICAL STUDIES, DANCE, FILM/VIDEO, MUSIC AND THEATER - ARE ALL HOUSED UNDER ONE ROOF. DURING THE 2024/25 ACADEMIC YEAR, THERE WERE 1,323 FTE STUDENTS
  2. $15.5 million spent. ACADEMIC SUPPORT: EXPENDITURES PRIMARILY INCLUDE THOSE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR INSTRUCTION - PROVOST OFFICE, LIBRARY, REDCAT ETC.
  3. $7.4 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES: PRIMARY PURPOSE OF EXPENDITURE IS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE STUDENTS' EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELLBEING AND TO THEIR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE OF THE FORMAL INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM, INCLUDES ADMISSIONS, REGISTRAR AND FINANCIAL AID.

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 June 1963.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.

    California's Attorney General lists its registration as delinquent as of December 31, 1990. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.

    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.