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Cincinnati Arts Association
Cincinnati Arts Association reported $21.3 million in revenue and $17.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $76.37 went to program services, $20.59 to management and general costs and $3.04 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 57.7% of the total. Government grants made up 9.4%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $392,882 (President - CEO). 20 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 73% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $17MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $21MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 76.4% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 20.6% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.0% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.17 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 14.5% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 9.4% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 57.7% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $392,882 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.25% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 20 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 44.2 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 15 of 15 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseEach season, CAA presents an eclectic mix of performing arts events from around the world designed to reach diverse audiences, with special attention to the Tri-state's minority communities (African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic/Latino, etc.)
As the region's premier promoter of the arts and entertainment, the Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) promotes life-long engagement in the arts while contributing to individual, organizational, and community wellness. CAA's Education & Community Engagement Department cultivates diverse, inclusive, and accessible arts engagements, seeking to remove barriers preventing arts participation. Committed to a practice of antiracism, the Education and Community Engagement Department encourages the use of CAA venues, develops diverse arts supporters, and fosters an appreciation and understanding of…
The popular Weston Art Gallery (located in the Aronoff Center) specializes in the work of local and regional artists and is the only gallery in the area that can be dedicated to location-specific works. In the heart of downtown Cincinnati's restaurant and theater district for more than 27 years, the Cincinnati Arts Association's Weston Art Gallery is acclaimed for its support of emerging and professional artists working in all media, locally and throughout the region. With galleries on two levels and 3,500 square feet of exhibition space, the Weston offers one-on-one assistance and support to…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President - CEO Officer, 45.0 hrs/week | $364,194 | $0 | $28,688 | $392,882 |
| Vice President - CFO Officer, 45.0 hrs/week | $165,885 | $0 | $13,493 | $179,378 |
| Vice President - Human Resources Officer, 45.0 hrs/week | $136,965 | $0 | $21,874 | $158,839 |
| Stagehand Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $125,255 | $0 | $20,476 | $145,731 |
| Vice President - Marketing Officer, 45.0 hrs/week | $132,264 | $0 | $12,968 | $145,232 |
| Vice President - Education Officer, 45.0 hrs/week | $126,401 | $0 | $11,984 | $138,385 |
| Vice President - Development Officer, 45.0 hrs/week | $126,848 | $0 | $4,447 | $131,295 |
| COO Highest compensated employee, 45.0 hrs/week | $123,115 | $0 | $6,355 | $129,470 |
20 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Cincinnati Arts Association (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.3M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b15 · 15 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5632
- Volunteers Part I, line 6698
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Peck Hannaford & Briggs Service Corporation Mechanical | $847,454 |
| Emerge IT Solutions It | $353,931 |
| Paciolan Ticketing | $310,324 |
| Heidelberg Distributing Company Food & Beverage | $278,379 |
| Pepsi-Cola Food & Beverage | $114,172 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 6 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
8 private foundations reported grants to Cincinnati Arts Association totaling $126K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Cincinnati Arts Association's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Cincinnati Arts Association, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Cincinnati Arts Association spent in FY2025, $76.37 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Creative Visions FoundationMalibu, CA · revenue $21M · programs 97.0% · 2024
- Capital of Texas Public Telecommunications CouncilAustin, TX · revenue $21M · programs 60.8% · FY2025
- Berkeley Repertory TheatreBerkeley, CA · revenue $21M · programs 85.3% · FY2025
- Discovery Science Center of Orange CountySanta Ana, CA · revenue $21M · programs 82.0% · FY2025
- Kansas City SymphonyKansas City, MO · revenue $21M · programs 82.4% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Ohio
Questions people ask
How much of Cincinnati Arts Association's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, Cincinnati Arts Association reported that 76.4% of its $17.5 million in expenses went to program services, 20.6% to management and general and 3.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Cincinnati Arts Association pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Cincinnati Arts Association reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $392,882, for the role of President - CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Cincinnati Arts Association get its money?
Of $21.3 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 14.5% came from contributions and grants (including 9.4% from government grants) and 57.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Cincinnati Arts Association a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 31-1310256 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, object 202641919349301459 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202511969349300811 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202401979349301220 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202321989349300842 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202231969349300848 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202131939349301213 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 31-1310256: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.