Americans for the Arts Inc

Analysis

Americans for the Arts Inc is a registered charity in United States, based in Washington, DC. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in March 1997, 29 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts, culture and humanities, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Americans for the Arts Inc reported income of $2.6m and spending of $11.9m, spending 448% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income fell from $9.9m to $2.6m (-73%), an average of -28% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income dropped by 46%. Over the whole period it spent 257% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Americans for the Arts Inc sits at the 93rd percentile: it is larger than about 93% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 88th percentile, and in the 71st percentile within DC. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Microscopy Society of America ($2.6m), Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago ($2.6m) and Durham Arts Council Inc ($2.6m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 31% and program service revenue 59% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $870k (7.3% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $4.3m. At year end it held assets of $111.6m against liabilities of $9.6m, net assets of $102.0m. It reported 66 employees.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.