The organization mission is to educate, empower, and connect people of all ages and backgrounds through interactive encounters with visual Art. The organization believes that there are many ways to see, and that Art can be a powerful vehicle to better understand ourselves and the world around US.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
62¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$60K 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

FY2021 · 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
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $30K a year · 6% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
62%
of spending
Worth a look: 62% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$60K
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
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 6.5 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $3K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$91K
16% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 16% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
15
of 15 voting members
Looks good: 15 of 15 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$371K
-14% vs prior year
Spent
$302K
To programs
62%
Net assets
$467K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$371K
FY2021▼ -14%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$433K
FY2021$371K
FY2022$460K
FY2023$457K
FY2024$667K
FY2025$598K
Expenses
$302K
FY2021▼ -29%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$428K
FY2021$302K
FY2022$404K
FY2023$446K
FY2024$655K
FY2025$573K
Net assets
$467K
FY2021▲ +25%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$374K
FY2021$467K
FY2022$466K
FY2023$480K
FY2024$506K
FY2025$556K

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in May 1979.

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

Where the money goes

62 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 62% · $187K Management & general 22% · $66K Fundraising 16% · $49K

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

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Who runs it and what they're paid

16 people listed on the 990; $60K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Dir.
$60,000Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Lea Pinsky$78,750$79,560$65,271$48,643$60,000$59,583

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 Art Encounter executive salaries →

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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

Connects people of all ages and backgrounds through interactive visual art encounters.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $162K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Local Art Tours

The programs provide exclusive access to private collections, galleries, museums, and artist studios with discussions led using the signature Art Encounter method. Programs are offered throughout the year for the general public.

$76Kprogram expense
02

Outreach School

School programs are at the heart of community engagement to bring art to youth across the Chicago area. The Organization empowers students from a broad range of backgrounds through engaging explorations of art that critical thinking, creativity, and self-discovery.

$52Kprogram expense
03

Mural Arts

The goal of the program is to uplift and beautify neighborhoods with mural art through creative partnerships with community organizations, schools, and business districts. The Organization pairs professional artists with community members and youth to create large-scale public works of art that last for years to come.

$33Kprogram 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$3K

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$371K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$249K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$107K
Investment incomeLn 3$10K
Money outPt IX
$302K
Ln 25
Programscol B$187K
Managementcol C$66K
Fundraisingcol D$49K
Owns and owesPt X
$467K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$165K
Total assetsLn 16$558K
LiabilitiesLn 26$91K
PeoplePt VI, VII
16
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a15
IndependentVI 1b15
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$249K
Government grantsLn 1e$130K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$36K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$107K
Investment incomeLn 3$10K
Other incomeLn 4–11$4K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$371K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$165K
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$165K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1K
Other assetsLn 15$373K
Total assetsLn 16$558K
LiabilitiesLn 26$91K
Net assetsLn 32$467K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 57
VolunteersI 615
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$101K$165K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2K$1K
Total assetsLn 16$445K$558K
LiabilitiesLn 26$71K$91K
Net assetsLn 32$374K$467K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$62K$26K$17K$18K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$116K$87K$7K$21K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$4K$2K$888$1K
Payroll taxesLn 10$11K$7K$1K$2K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$17K$17K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$25K$9K$16K$96
Advertising and promotionLn 12$922$772$150
Office expensesLn 13$3K$180$2K$368
Information technologyLn 14$3K$798$1K$747
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$12K$8K$2K$3K
TravelLn 17$0
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$2K$229$250$1K
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1K$647$135$224
InsuranceLn 23$1K$512$712$178
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$44K$44K$73$122
All other expensesLn 24e$982$200$91$691
Total functional expensesLn 25$302K$187K$66K$49K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $598K$573K$25K$556K 990 PDF
FY2024 $667K$655K$12K$506K 990 PDF
FY2023 $457K$446K$11K$480K 990 PDF
FY2022 $460K$404K$56K$466K 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $371K$302K$69K$467K 990 PDF
FY2020 $433K$428K$5K$374K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $370,891 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $155,106$248,906
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $231,971$107,473
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $35,793$10,461
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $9,876$4,051
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $432,746$370,891
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $181,703$192,061
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $246,154$109,778
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $427,857$301,839
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $4,889$69,052
Part VI · Governance 15 of 15 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body15
VI-1b Independent voting members15
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
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $370,891 across 12 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$36,380
VIII-1e Government grants$129,684
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$82,842
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$248,906
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $107,473$107,473
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $10,461$10,461
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $3,000$3,000
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$1,012
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $39$39
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $110,512 · Excluded from tax $10,461$370,891
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $301,839 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $26,453 · Management $16,610 · Fundraising $18,456$61,519
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $87,441 · Management $7,099 · Fundraising $21,060$115,600
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,628 · Management $888 · Fundraising $1,154$3,670
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $7,396 · Management $1,442 · Fundraising $2,434$11,272
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $17,208$17,208
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $9,458 · Management $15,544 · Fundraising $96$25,098
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $772 · Fundraising $150$922
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $180 · Management $2,041 · Fundraising $368$2,589
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $798 · Management $1,300 · Fundraising $747$2,845
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $7,641 · Management $1,591 · Fundraising $2,652$11,884
IX-17 Travel$0
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $229 · Management $250 · Fundraising $1,045$1,524
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $647 · Management $135 · Fundraising $224$1,006
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $512 · Management $712 · Fundraising $178$1,402
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $44,123 · Management $73 · Fundraising $122$44,318
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $200 · Management $91 · Fundraising $691$982
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $186,706 · Management $65,756 · Fundraising $49,377$301,839
Part X · Balance sheet $558,047 assets, 21 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $100,669$164,561
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $318$8,926
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $6,811$8,152
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $2,180$1,174
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $2,000$2,000
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $333,451$373,234
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $445,429$558,047
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $11,907$22,359
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $3,500$3,500
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $14,937$24,091
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $41,085$41,085
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $71,429$91,035
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $374,000$467,012
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $374,000$467,012
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $445,429$558,047
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $467,012 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$370,891
XI-2 Total expenses$301,839
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$69,052
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$374,000
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$23,960
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$467,012

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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