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Illuminate the Arts
Illuminate the Arts reported $2.7 million in revenue and $9.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $96.86 went to program services, $1.16 to management and general costs and $1.98 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 92.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $255,787 (CEO). 2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 363% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $9.4MFor 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 June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $2.7MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 96.9% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 1.2% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.0% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.07 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 92.2% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 3.8% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.1% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $255,787 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.72% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 2.1 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 6 of 6 | 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 expenseIlluminate maintains a wide variety of large scale public arts projects across san francisco, including the bay lights, the golden mile (in golden gate park), spectra at fulton plaza, grace light (at grace cathedral), welcome (on market street), and the illumination of the conservatory of flowers (in golden gate park). Illuminate also hosts laser illuminations across the city and hosts nearly 200 live, free music concerts each year at the golden gate bandshell (in golden gate park) and other venues
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $234,623 | $0 | $21,164 | $255,787 |
| CHIEF/OPPORT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $174,623 | $0 | $19,265 | $193,888 |
2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Illuminate the Arts (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $488K (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–1b6 · 6 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bNo
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13No
- Document retention policy Part VI 14No
- 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 4No
- 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 52
- Volunteers Part I, line 66
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SHIMMICK CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Construction | $3,063,380 |
| MUSCO SPORTS LIGHTING Construction | $2,963,392 |
| INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTION COLLECTIVE Artist | $483,264 |
| ZOON ENGINEERING INC Construction | $375,000 |
| BROKE BUT GRAND LLC Artist | $331,250 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 8 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
5 private foundations reported grants to Illuminate the Arts totaling $370K 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 Illuminate the Arts's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Illuminate the Arts, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Illuminate the Arts spent in FY2025, $96.86 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Museum of Contemporary Art San DiegoLA Jolla, CA · revenue $1.7M · programs 61.9% · FY2025
- Heritage ConservancyDoylestown, PA · revenue $3.0M · programs 67.6% · 2025
- The Shed in WarroadWarroad, MN · revenue $263K · programs 52.9% · 2025
- Center for Asian American MediaSan Francisco, CA · revenue $3.7M · programs 81.9% · FY2025
- Calvin Simmons TheatreEmeryville, CA · revenue $0 · programs 0.0% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Illuminate the Arts's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Illuminate the Arts reported that 96.9% of its $9.4 million in expenses went to program services, 1.2% to management and general and 2.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Illuminate the Arts pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Illuminate the Arts reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $255,787, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Illuminate the Arts get its money?
Of $2.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 92.2% came from contributions and grants (including 3.8% from government grants) and 0.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Illuminate the Arts a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 45-3717224 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), 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 June 30, 2025, object 202641359349310784 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024 (amended), object 202641329349307034 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202431289349303328 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202311199349300801 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202103029349302160 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202140209349301509 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 45-3717224: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.