Upstream Arts
Upstream Arts maintains stable finances with consistent revenue and no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 204451219 · Minneapolis, MN · NTEE: A25 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $1.1M |
| Total Expenses | $962K |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $1 |
| Net Assets | $539K |
| Transparency Score | 90/100 |
Is Upstream Arts Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Upstream Arts directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Upstream Arts
Upstream Arts (EIN: 204451219) is a nonprofit organization based in Minneapolis, MN, classified under NTEE code A25. The organization reported total revenue of $1.1M and total assets of $602K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Upstream Arts's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Upstream Arts is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2024). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 8.2%.
Key Financial Metrics (2024)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $949K |
| Total Expenses | $962K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-13,210 |
| Total Assets | $586K |
| Total Liabilities | $47K |
| Net Assets | $539K |
| Operating Margin | -1.4% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 8.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 7.3 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2024, Upstream Arts reported a deficit of $13K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 7.3 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 8.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 14 years of filings (2011–2024), Upstream Arts's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +23.1% | +2.4% | -3.1% |
| 2023 | -21.5% | +3.0% | -21.2% |
| 2022 | -6.9% | +6.1% | -4.8% |
| 2021 | +15.0% | +2.8% | +33.3% |
| 2020 | +5.1% | -0.7% | +56.6% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2100 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2006 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Upstream Arts with a Mission Score of 90 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Upstream Arts allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2024)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $13K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 8.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Upstream Arts consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size with over $1 million in annual revenue. This suggests either a fully volunteer executive leadership or compensation structured in a way that is not categorized as officer compensation on the 990, which could be a point for further inquiry.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Upstream Arts's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size and could warrant further inquiry into executive compensation structure.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Upstream Arts:
- Consistent revenue generation, demonstrating stable donor support and program demand.
- Healthy asset growth over the past decade, indicating increasing financial capacity.
- Low liabilities relative to assets, suggesting strong financial management and minimal debt.
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, indicating good transparency and compliance.
- No reported officer compensation, suggesting a high proportion of funds are directed to programs (assuming executive roles are volunteer or compensated through other means).
Frequently Asked Questions about Upstream Arts
Is Upstream Arts a legitimate charity?
Upstream Arts (EIN: 204451219) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Minnesota. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 90/100. It has 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $1.1M. 1 red flag identified. 5 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Upstream Arts spend its money?
Upstream Arts directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Upstream Arts tax-deductible?
Upstream Arts is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 204451219). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Upstream Arts CEO make?
Upstream Arts's highest-compensated officer earns $1 annually. The organization reported $1.1M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Upstream Arts's spending goes to programs?
Upstream Arts directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Upstream Arts compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 90/100 (Excellent), Upstream Arts is above average for NTEE category A25 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Upstream Arts located?
Upstream Arts is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and files with the IRS under EIN 204451219. It is classified under NTEE code A25.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Upstream Arts have?
Upstream Arts has 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $1.1M in total revenue.
Is Upstream Arts a good charity?
Based on the provided financial data, Upstream Arts appears to be a good charity. It demonstrates financial stability, consistent revenue generation, and notably reports 0% officer compensation, suggesting a strong commitment to directing funds towards its mission.
How has Upstream Arts' revenue trended over time?
Upstream Arts' revenue has shown a general upward trend over the past decade, growing from $686,436 in 2015 to $949,057 in 2024, with a peak of $1,055,637 in 2021. This indicates consistent donor support and program activity.
What is the organization's asset growth like?
The organization's assets have grown significantly and steadily, from $333,807 in 2015 to $586,157 in 2024, demonstrating increasing financial capacity and stability.
Are there any concerns about executive compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation is unusual for an organization of this size. While it could indicate a highly efficient, volunteer-led model, it also warrants further investigation to understand how executive leadership is compensated, if at all, to ensure full transparency.
How does Upstream Arts manage its liabilities?
Upstream Arts generally maintains low liabilities relative to its assets and revenue. For example, in 2024, liabilities were $46,716 against assets of $586,157, indicating sound financial management and minimal debt.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Upstream Arts showing financial trends over 14 years of public records:
Over 14 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2024), Upstream Arts's revenue has grown by 180.1%, moving from $339K to $949K. Total assets increased by 483.3% over the same period, from $100K to $586K. Total functional expenses rose by 155.9%, from $376K to $962K. In its most recent filing year (2024), Upstream Arts reported a deficit of $13K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $47K in liabilities against $586K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 8.0%), resulting in net assets of $539K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $949K | $962K | $586K | $47K | — | View 990 |
| 2023 | $771K | $940K | $605K | $52K | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $982K | $912K | $768K | $47K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $1.1M | $860K | $807K | $156K | — | — |
| 2020 | $918K | $836K | $605K | $150K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $873K | $842K | $387K | $13K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $760K | $764K | $356K | $13K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $755K | $723K | $359K | $12K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $615K | $608K | $324K | $10K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $686K | $551K | $334K | $27K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $341K | $448K | $187K | $15K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $506K | $399K | $282K | $4K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $432K | $361K | $172K | $480 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $339K | $376K | $100K | $77 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2024: Revenue of $949K, expenses of $962K, and assets of $586K (revenue +23.1% year-over-year).
- 2023: Revenue of $771K, expenses of $940K, and assets of $605K (revenue -21.5% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $982K, expenses of $912K, and assets of $768K (revenue -6.9% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $860K, and assets of $807K (revenue +15.0% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $918K, expenses of $836K, and assets of $605K (revenue +5.1% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $873K, expenses of $842K, and assets of $387K (revenue +15.0% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $760K, expenses of $764K, and assets of $356K (revenue +0.6% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $755K, expenses of $723K, and assets of $359K (revenue +22.8% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $615K, expenses of $608K, and assets of $324K (revenue -10.4% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $686K, expenses of $551K, and assets of $334K (revenue +101.2% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $341K, expenses of $448K, and assets of $187K (revenue -32.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $506K, expenses of $399K, and assets of $282K (revenue +17.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $432K, expenses of $361K, and assets of $172K (revenue +27.5% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $339K, expenses of $376K, and assets of $100K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Upstream Arts:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Upstream Arts is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.