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Nonprofit · EIN 56-1129587

SOUTH ARTS INC

Tax-exempt · ATLANTA, GA 30309

Financials

$9.4M$8.7M2022$8.3M$10.4M2023$15.3M$16.7M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of SOUTH ARTS INC by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
June 30, 2025990$15,300,474$16,700,039-$1,399,565$18,339,996$12,216,332$6,123,664
June 30, 2024990$8,298,403$10,383,597-$2,085,194$15,041,398$7,640,970$7,400,428
June 30, 2023990$9,400,617$8,743,114$657,503$16,798,337$7,474,324$9,324,013
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$14,855,800
of which government grants
$9,944,232
Program service revenue
$131,802
Investment income
$308,902
Other revenue
$3,970

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$10,400,732
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$435,155
Other salaries and wages
$1,636,261
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$2,428,459
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$17,833
Accounting fees
$24,820
Occupancy
$159,662
Travel
$317,140
Depreciation
$23,292
Program services (functional)
$14,076,503
Management and general (functional)
$2,346,195
Fundraising (functional)
$277,341

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$15,041,398
Total assets, end of year
$18,339,996
Total liabilities, end of year
$12,216,332
Net assets, end of year
$6,123,664
Land, buildings and equipment
$32,006
Publicly traded securities
$1,466,808
Net assets without donor restrictions
$6,123,664
Gross receipts
$15,300,474
Employees
30
Volunteers
30
Year formed
1975
State of legal domicile
NC

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
Suzette SurkamerExecutive Director
Officer
40$300,000$5,675
Joy YoungVP of Programs
Highest-paid employee
40$152,325$0
Charles PhaneufVP of Strategy
Highest-paid employee
40$141,173$0
Michael BosargeChief Financial Officer
Officer
40$138,468$0
Elliott KnightTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
Gretchen McLennonVice Chair
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
Neil BarclayBoard Chair
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
William McKinneySecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
Alice RandallDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Anne B PopeDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Basu MonimalaDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Cathy AdamsDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Christopher CathersDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
David LewisDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
David PlattsDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
19 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Elmore DeMottDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Gina CharbonnetDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Glenda E HoodDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Jeff BellDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
John T EdgeDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Justin LemoineDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Kara OlidgeDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Keith SummerourDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Leea RusselDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Meg ReidDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Mike WoodardDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Natalie ChaninDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Nina ParikhDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Olga Garay-EnglishDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Phillip March JonesDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Sandy ShaughnessyDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Sejal Mehta ChaudhuriDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Tina LillyDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Yvahn MartinDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 30 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
SUZETTE M SURKAMEREXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
40$235,675$5,675
JOY YOUNGVP OF PROGRAMS
Highest-paid employee
40$140,767$0
CHARLES PHANEUFVP OF STRATEGY
Highest-paid employee
40$140,680$0
MICHAEL E BOSARGECHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Officer
40$121,153$0
NEIL BARCLAYBOARD CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
GRETCHEN MCLENNONVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
WILLIAM MCKINNEYSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
ELLIOTT KNIGHTTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
CATHY ADAMSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ALEJANDRO AGUIRREDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JEFF BELLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
CHRISTOPHER CATHERSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
NATALIE CHANINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ELMORE DEMOTTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JOHN T EDGEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
OLGA GARAY-ENGLISHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
SONYA HALPERNDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ANNE B POPEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
GLENDA E HOODDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
SUSANNAH JOHANNSENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
TINA LILLYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BILL MEDICHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KARA OLIDGEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
NINA PARIKHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DAVID PLATTSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ALICE RANDALLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
NIGEL REDDENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DENIS SCHOLLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
SANDY SHAUGHNESSYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MIKE WOODARDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 30 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
SUZETTE M SURKAMEREXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
40$245,000$27,000
JOY YOUNGVP OF PROGRAMS
Highest-paid employee
40$131,021$7,950
CHARLES PHANEUFVP OF STRATEGY
Highest-paid employee
40$120,180$4,817
MICHAEL E BOSARGECHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Officer
40$109,881$8,769
NEIL BARCLAYBOARD CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
CATHY ADAMSVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
WILLIAM MCKINNEYSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
ELLIOTT KNIGHTTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
ALEJANDRO AGUIRREDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JEFF BELLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
CHRISTOPHER CATHERSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
NATALIE CHANINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ELMORE DEMOTTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JOHN T EDGEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
OLGA GARAY-ENGLISHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
SONYA HALPERNDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ANNE B POPEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
GLENDA E HOODDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
SUSANNAH JOHANNSENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
TINA LILLYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
GRETCHEN MCLENNONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BILL MEDICHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KARA OLIDGEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
NINA PARIKHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DAVID PLATTSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ALICE RANDALLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
NIGEL REDDENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DENIS SCHOLLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
SANDY SHAUGHNESSYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MIKE WOODARDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
1800 PEACHTREE ST NW STE 808, ATLANTA, GA 30309-2512
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
Suzette Surkamer, 1800 Peachtree Street NW 808, Atlanta, GA 30309
Signed the 990
Suzette Surkamer, Executive Director
Phone
(404) 874-7244
Return prepared by
MAULDIN & JENKINS LLC

Mission

SOUTH ARTS STRENGTHENS THE SOUTH THROUGH ADVANCING EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS BY PRESENTING PROGRAMS AND CONNECTING WITH STATE ARTS AGENCIES IN THE REGION.

990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • SOUTH ARTS, WITH SUPPORT FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, OFFERS GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES IN AN EFFORT TO STRENGTHEN PRESENTERSGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY, AND TO SUSTAIN AND EXPAND MARKETS FOR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND ARTISTS. THROUGH OUR REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT FUNDS, WE SUPPORT PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES AND PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS TO ENGAGE WITHIN COMMUNITIES. THIS PROGRAM CONTRIBUTES TO THE SUSTAINABILITY OF ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND SUPPORTS HIGH ARTISTIC QUALITY PROJECTS WITH STRONG EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH COMPONENTS FOR THE PARTICIPANTS ACROSS THE REGION. INCLUDED ARE TRAINING, EDUCATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, FILM SCREENINGS, TRADITIONAL ARTS, AND TOURING GRANTS TO PERFORMING AND LITERARY ARTS ORGANIZATIONS. THE PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES CROSS-SECTOR IMPACT GRANTS THAT AIM TO FACILITATE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE ARTS COMMUNITY AND OTHER SECTORS (NON-ARTS ORGANIZATIONS).
    Expenses $8,622,435 · grants $7,043,797
  • CULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY - WALLACE - Open to arts nonprofit organizations, fiscally sponsored groups, private entities, and state/federally recognized tribes, the Cultural Sustainability program offers general operating funds to organizations rooted in communities of color.
    Expenses $1,184,474 · grants $1,087,152
  • JAZZ ROAD IS AN ARTIST-CENTRIC TOURING AND RESIDENCY PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO ENSURE JAZZ IS PERFORMED AND PRESENTED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THE PROGRAM ENSURES PAID WORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR JAZZ ARTISTS, AS WELL AS BOLSTERS DEEPER ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN JAZZ MUSICIANS, PRESENTERS AND COMMUNITIES. U.S.-BASED JAZZ ARTISTS WHO DEFINE THEMSELVES AS EMERGING TO MORE ESTABLISHED ALONG A CAREER SPECTRUM ARE ELIGIBLE FOR GRANTS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THE PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO SUPPORT JAZZ ARTISTS FOR WHICH A GRANT WOULD OFFER NEW AND SIGNIFICANT CAREER IMPACT. JAZZ ROAD IS SUPPORTED BY THE DORIS DUKE FOUNDATION WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE MELLON FOUNDATION.
    Expenses $1,166,313 · grants $747,727 · revenue $87,500
  • All other program activities.
    Expenses $1,824,107 · grants $806,309 · revenue $44,302
  • In These Mountains initiative preserves and perpetuates the traditional arts and culture of Central Appalachian counties of Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Through a series of strategic projects supporting practitioners, arts organizations, and communities, In These Mountains supports the longevity and intergenerational transfer of the cultural traditions that have grown in this unique region. As we learn and grow, we continue to refine how we support the Central Appalachian communities with impactful programming.
    Expenses $651,914 · grants $423,748
  • ARIST READINESS, RELIEF, & RECOVERY - The Arts Readiness, Relief, and Recovery Grant provided financial support to artists in need affected by Hurricane Helene and/or Hurricane Milton and provide activities that help artists collectively prepare for or mitigate the impact of such disasters in the form of disaster preparedness education.
    Expenses $267,399 · grants $267,399
  • SERVICE TO THE FIELD INCLUDES THE NATIONAL COALITION - SOUTH ARTS CO-CHAIRS THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR ARTS' PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND ADMINISTERED A GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS TO SUPPORT COALITION ACTIVITIES. THE COALITION IS A CROSS-DISCIPLINARY NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS AND USES A COMBINED STRATEGY OF RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATIONAL EMPOWERMENT AND ADVOCACY TO STRENGTHEN DISASTER READINESS AND RESILIENCE WITHIN THE ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR.
    Expenses $211,357
  • SOUTHERN CIRCUIT TOUR OF INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS PROVIDES COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE SOUTH WITH A TOUR OF HIGHLY TALENTED INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS. PARTNER COMMUNITIES PRESENTED FILM SCREENINGS AND ENGAGED FILMMAKERS IN POST-SCREENING AND CLASSROOM DISCUSSIONS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES. SOUTHERN CIRCUIT IS THE NATION'S FIRST REGIONAL TOUR OF INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS, PROVIDING COMMUNITIES WITH AN INTERACTIVE WAY OF EXPERIENCING INDEPENDENT FILM. INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN SOUTHERN CIRCUIT SCREENINGS INCLUDING FILMMAKERS AND AUDIENCES IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH ARTS' NINE-STATE REGION.
    Expenses $118,818
  • WALKING TOGETHER - Walking Together: Investing in Folklife in Communities of Color supports folklife and traditional arts rooted in communities of color by investing in artists/practitioners and the community organizations that care for them. It is a national funding program managed by the six U.S. regional arts organizations (RAOs).This pilot program awards significant nonmatching grants to traditional artists, practitioners, nonprofits, local and Tribal governments, and community organizations and knowledge keepers that demonstrate a deep commitment to sustaining folklife rooted in communities of color.
    Expenses $29,686 · grants $24,600

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025June 30, 2026November 16, 2026Not due yet
2024June 30, 2025November 17, 2025990 on file
2023June 30, 2024November 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
56-1129587
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1976
Accounting year ends
June
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$18,339,996
Income (IRS master file)
$15,300,474

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990June 2025$15,300,474$16,700,039$18,339,996IRS
990June 2024$8,298,403$10,383,597$15,041,398IRS
990June 2023$9,400,617$8,743,114$16,798,337XML
990June 2022$15,914,685$8,140,904$13,575,500IRS
990June 2021–––IRS
990June 2020–––IRS
990June 2019–––IRS
990June 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 56-1129587).

Questions about SOUTH ARTS INC

What is the EIN of SOUTH ARTS INC?
The employer identification number (EIN) of SOUTH ARTS INC is 56-1129587.
Is SOUTH ARTS INC tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1976.
Are donations to SOUTH ARTS INC tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does SOUTH ARTS INC file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of SOUTH ARTS INC due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did SOUTH ARTS INC last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
Who is the principal officer of SOUTH ARTS INC?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names Suzette Surkamer.
Who are the officers and directors of SOUTH ARTS INC?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 34 people; 4 received compensation from the organization, the highest $300,000 (Suzette Surkamer, Executive Director).
How much revenue does SOUTH ARTS INC have?
On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $15,300,474, expenses of $16,700,039 and total assets of $18,339,996 at year end.

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