Promoting sustainable economic growth and quality of place; educating the public on growth and development policy options.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
63¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$145K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2022 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $15K a year · 2% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
63%
of spending
Worth a look: 63% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$145K
to officers and key staff · 20% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 20% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.7 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $500
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$67K
44% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 44% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
36
of 36 voting members
Looks good: 36 of 36 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$711K
+10% vs prior year
Spent
$734K
To programs
63%
Net assets
$84K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$711K
FY2022▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$579K
FY2021$646K
FY2022$711K
FY2023$627K
FY2024$763K
Expenses
$734K
FY2022▲ +28%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$610K
FY2021$575K
FY2022$734K
FY2023$703K
FY2024$630K
Net assets
$84K
FY2022▼ -21%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$36K
FY2021$107K
FY2022$84K
FY2023$7K
FY2024$132K

From the FY2022 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2022 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Nov 1998.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

63 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 63% · $463K Management & general 26% · $187K Fundraising 11% · $84K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

37 people listed on the 990; $145K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$144,895Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

J Scott Wolf’s $156K as Executive Director is at the 99th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2215 $100K–1M arts & culture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
J Scott Wolf$156,041$133,749$144,895$150,469$142,806

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Grow Smart Rhode Island executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Promotes sustainable growth and quality of place, educating the public on development policies.

Questions for Grow Smart Rhode Island

Tap to ask. Grow Smart Rhode Island sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Grow Smart Rhode Island answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

3 programs · $454K · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Public policywe organized our policy and program work in 2022 under the goals discussed below:a) revitalize main streets and downtowns specific 2022 deliverables /OUTPUTS on this front have included: 1.

$313Kprogram expense
02

Educationgrow smart ri's return to an in person power of place summit on june 21, 2022 appeared to be well-received by a crowd of approximately 300 people. The summit survey results indicate that the keynote speaker, mike lydon, noted urbanist and smart growth strategist, and the panel discussions were the top two most valuable elements…

$82Kprogram expense
03

Outreach and COMMUNCATION1) grow smart ri continued its stepped up communications strategy for two overriding purposes a.) to support an expanded fundraising capacity, and b.) to increase grow smart's influence with targeted opinion leaders, decision makers and the PUBLIC.2) staff initially engaged the services of the jai communications…

$59Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$500

By the numbers

The FY2022 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$711K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$523K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$188K
Other incomeLn 4–11$323
Money outPt IX
$734K
Ln 25
Programscol B$463K
Managementcol C$187K
Fundraisingcol D$84K
Owns and owesPt X
$84K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$104K
Total assetsLn 16$151K
LiabilitiesLn 26$67K
PeoplePt VI, VII
37
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a36
IndependentVI 1b36
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$523K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$188K
Other incomeLn 4–11$323
Total revenueLn 12$711K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$104K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$104K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4K
Other assetsLn 15$38K
Total assetsLn 16$151K
LiabilitiesLn 26$67K
Net assetsLn 32$84K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 57
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY22End FY22
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$99K$104K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$7K$4K
Total assetsLn 16$119K$151K
LiabilitiesLn 26$12K$67K
Net assetsLn 32$107K$84K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$395K$211K$119K$66K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$79K$34K$39K$6K
Payroll taxesLn 10$33K$19K$9K$5K
Accounting feesLn 11c$7K$7K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$104K$104K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$9K$9K$675$75
Office expensesLn 13$27K$17K$10K
OccupancyLn 16$15K$15K
TravelLn 17$259$259
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$22K$20K$1K
InterestLn 20$1K$1K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$4K$4K
InsuranceLn 23$1K$1K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$32K$18K$12K$1K
All other expensesLn 24e$6K$32K−$32K$5K
Total functional expensesLn 25$734K$463K$187K$84K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 LatestFiled with the IRS Nov 17, 2025 $763K$630K$133K$132K 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2024 $627K$703K−$76K$7K 990 PDF
FY2022 ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 15, 2023 $711K$734K−$23K$84K 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2022 $646K$575K$70K$107K 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2021 $579K$610K−$31K$36K 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2022 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $710,862 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $566,038$522,544
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $79,506$187,995
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $118$323
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $645,662$710,862
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $448,959$506,682
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $126,395$226,964
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $575,354$733,646
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $70,308−$22,784
Part VI · Governance 36 of 36 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body36
VI-1b Independent voting members36
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $710,862 across 5 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$522,544
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$522,544
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $187,995$187,995
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $323$323
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $188,318 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$710,862
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $733,646 across 15 lines filed
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $210,728 · Management $118,847 · Fundraising $65,720$395,295
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $33,516 · Management $38,831 · Fundraising $6,194$78,541
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $18,540 · Management $9,196 · Fundraising $5,110$32,846
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $7,150$7,150
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $103,628$103,628
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $8,694 · Management $675 · Fundraising $75$9,444
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $16,574 · Management $10,100$26,674
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $15,035$15,035
IX-17 TravelManagement $259$259
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $20,465 · Management $1,149$21,614
IX-20 InterestManagement $1,029$1,029
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $3,518$3,518
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $1,484$1,484
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $18,173 · Management $11,890 · Fundraising $1,471$31,534
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $32,291 · Management −$31,834 · Fundraising $5,138$5,595
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $462,609 · Management $187,329 · Fundraising $83,708$733,646
Part X · Balance sheet $150,905 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $99,369$104,039
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $4,400$1,000
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $7,974$4,496
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $7,035$3,517
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$37,853
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $118,778$150,905
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $12,175$29,233
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$37,853
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $12,175$67,086
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $11,734$0
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $94,869$83,819
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $106,603$83,819
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $118,778$150,905
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $83,819 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$710,862
XI-2 Total expenses$733,646
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$22,784
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$106,603
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$83,819

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2022 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.