Rare Bird Cultural Arts
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
We create and host cultural programming in our rural Appalachian community, with a focus on inclusion of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the fostering of various traditional and contemporary arts and folk practices.
- Income
- $174,932
- Spending
- $137,819
- Reserves
- 5.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 74%
- Highest pay
- $21,000, arts program coordinator
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (2)
- $534 spent. IDD: We lead arts programming with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Open Hearts Arts Center, a day program for adults with IDD in Asheville, and at Rare Bird Farm, our primary host site. We also integrate our IDD work with our cultural events, featuring performers with IDD at our music festivals and facilitating collaboration between performers with and without disabilities.
- $90,414 spent. Music and folk cultural programming: We host concerts and workshops that provide a vital meeting ground for people from our rural community and people from the nearby city of Asheville. This programming sustains traditional arts and practices such as ballad singing, basket weaving, and Appalachian dance and also brings practitioners of contemporary and experimental forms into conversation with such traditions. We have about 300 attendees at each of our three annual festivals; 40-100 attendees at each of our 5-10 annual concerts; and 10-30 attendees at each of our 5-10 annual workshops.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.