Gray Area Foundation for the Arts

What it reported doing in 2024

Public events: we hosted one hundred and twenty-eight (150) total events in 2024. Thirty (30) of these were free for the public. Thirty-six (36) of these events were in partnership with local community nonprofit organizations which we supported through sharing resources and staff. We directly paid 450 artists. We elevate a plurality of voices through thoughtful curation of artists and presenters, including lgbtqia2+ and bipoc artists, highlighting issues and interests important to their communities. Gray area draws a statewide audience of over 45,000 visitors a year through its projects in san francisco, los angeles, and san diego. Our audience demographics include diverse gender, ethnicity, income, and age representation: 72% of our audience identifies as bipoc, and 70% as lgbtqia2+.in 2024, we presented they sustain us, the world premiere of first nations artist skawennati's latest machinima music video installation, fashion-art collection, and runway performance; and bodily autonomy, a solo exhibition by lauren lee mccarthy examining bio-surveillance. We produced our 10th annual gray area festival, inviting artists, researchers, technologists, and thinkers from around the world to explore the impact of technology on society through a creative lens. We develop and maintain deep relationships in the bay area by providing physical and digital space, financial and technical support, content sharing, and increased visibility to dozens of local organizations each year. We operate the grand theater in san francisco, a 1938 historic movie theater that we renovated back into a cultural resource. We have produced online events in partnership with 50+ local arts, cultural and civic organizations and donate technical support including video production, live streaming, web design, and outreach. Online events include speaker series, festivals, video blogs, artist showcases, virtual exhibitions, and live performances with immersive technologies. Our organizational partners touch a wide range of communities, and include city lights bookstore, mechanics institute, sf cinematheque, California college for the arts, leonardo, and creativity explored. Our facility has also become the home to two other organizations with deeply aligned missions: recombinant media labs has been producing experiential media events in the bay area for over 40 years and moved into gray area after its space was lost due to increasing rents. Crowbar corner is san francisco's only 24-hour electronic music production studio, which is a shared space serving primarily nightlife communities.we did not produce a dedicated fundraising event in 2024.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 94.8%; rating input score 95
• Fundraising efficiency: $17.12 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -7%; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.27; rating input score 8; 8th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.78; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 14.1%; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 23.4% per year; rating input score 100; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 21.1% per year; rating input score 100; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 18.3% per year; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings