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AKRON SOUL TRAIN

EIN 81-1199928 AKRON, OH

Browse the largest nonprofits in Ohio

Revenue 2024
$138,128
Expenses 2024
$176,741

Program services were 42.6% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
A99
Classification
1200
Street
121 S MAIN ST

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

AKRON SOUL TRAIN (AST) IS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESIDENCY PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES 12-15 ARTISTS EACH YEAR WITH PAID RESIDENCIES. OUR MISSION IS TO OFFER OHIO-BASED VISUAL, PERFORMING, AND LITERARY ARTISTS THE SPACE, TIME, AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES THEY NEED TO CREATE AND PRESENT NEW WORK TO THE PUBLIC. ALONG WITH FOSTERING CREATIVE EXPLORATION, ARTISTS ARE TASKED WITH DESIGNING A PUBLIC PROGRAM THAT ENGAGES THE GREATER AKRON COMMUNITY. THESE PROGRAMS, WHICH RELATE DIRECTLY TO THE ARTIST'S RESIDENCY WORK, MAY TAKE THE FORM OF PERFORMANCES, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, ARTIST TALKS, DEMONSTRATIONS, OR HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS. AST COLLABORATES CLOSELY WITH EACH RESIDENT TO HELP FULLY DEVELOP THEIR COMMUNITY EVENT AND TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL AKRON PARTNERS FOR CROSS-COLLABORATION AND AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT.

Activities or mission (Part I)

AKRON SOUL TRAIN (AST) STRIVES TO BE A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS PROGRAM THAT ATTRACTS AND SUPPORTS DIVERSE ARTISTS, FOSTERING CREATIVITY AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. AS A DRIVING FORCE FOR THE ARTS IN NORTHEAST OHIO, OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE ARTISTS AND ENGAGE THE GREATER AKRON COMMUNITY IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS. THROUGH COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS, AST SEEKS TO CULTIVATE A THRIVING ARTS ECOSYSTEM THAT ENRICHES THE CULTURAL FABRIC OF OUR REGION. IN 2019, AST ESTABLISHED A PERMANENT GALLERY SPACE ON SOUTH MAIN STREET, LOCATED IN AKRON'S DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT. THIS CENTRAL LOCATION PROVIDES THE COMMUNITY WITH ACCESS TO VISUAL ART EXHIBITIONS, PERFORMANCES, AND WORKSHOPS LED BY OUR RESIDENT ARTISTS. ITS PROXIMITY TO OTHER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON FACILITATES COLLABORATION AND CROSS-DISCIPLINARY INITIATIVES. AST HAS FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED AND SHOWCASED THE WORK OF MANY ARTISTS ACROSS A BROAD SPECTRUM OF ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES, INCLUDING LITERARY, VISU

  • SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2016, AKRON SOUL TRAIN HAS AWARDED PAID RESIDENCIES TO 86 ARTISTS AND SUPPORTED AN ADDITIONAL 20 THROUGH PROJECTS CREATED FOR OUR CAPSOUL GALLERY. TO AMPLIFY ARTISTS' VOICES AND ENGAGE OUR BROADER COMMUNITY, WE PRODUCE INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS ALONGSIDE THE 12 ARTIST- LED INITIATIVES WE HOST ANNUALLY. IN 2024, WE PROVIDED STIPENDS TO 15 ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE AND THREE EMERGING ARTISTS, SHOWCASING THEIR CREATIVE WORK TO THE PUBLIC AND HOSTING 13 COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. ADDITIONALLY, WE SUPPORTED 31 STORE ARTISTS THROUGH MARKETING EFFORTS AND CONSIGNMENT-BASED SALES IN OUR GIFT SHOP. WE ARE ALSO COMMITTED TO BUILDING COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS THAT ALIGN WITH OUR MISSION OF CREATING A DESTINATION WHERE GREATER AKRON RESIDENTS CAN ENGAGE WITH ARTISTS AND PARTICIPATE IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS. IN 2024, WE PARTNERED WITH 12 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS: SUMMIT ARTSPACE, AKRON PUBLIC SCHOOLS MILLER SOUTH, EAST AVENUE MARKET AND GALLERY, ELIZABETH'S BOOKSHOP AND WRITING CENTRE, KENMORE COMMUNITY CENTER, THE AKRON ART MUSEUM, OHIO AND ERIE CANAL, MILLENNIAL THEATRE PROJECT, AKRON BLACK ARTIST GUILD, ARTS TOGETHER, AND EVENTS AKRON. OUR RECENT DATA HIGHLIGHTS SOME KEY ACHIEVEMENTS WE ARE PROUD OF. SINCE LAUNCHING OUR ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS IN 2018, WE'VE SEEN A 40% INCREASE IN ARTIST RESIDENCY APPLICATIONS. WE ALSO CONDUCT ANONYMOUS POST-RESIDENCY FEEDBACK SURVEYS, BOTH AFTER EACH RESIDENCY AND TWO YEARS AFTERWARD, TO EVALUATE OUR IMPACT AND ENSURE WE MEET ARTISTS' NEEDS. TESTIMONIALS FROM THESE SURVEYS CONFIRM THAT OUR PROGRAM IS MAKING A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE. "AN UNEXPECTED OUTCOME OF MY AST RESIDENCY HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN QUESTIONS AND INTEREST FROM MY AUDIENCE WHICH HAS IMPROVED MY ABILITY TO VERBALLY SPEAK ABOUT MY WORK AND CONTEXTUALIZE IT FOR OTHERS." "MY PERFORMANCE WAS JUST FEATURED ON NPR'S "SCIENCE FRIDAY", A NATIONALLY AIRED RADIO PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, I SOLD MULTIPLE PIECES OF ARTWORK AND RECEIVED GREAT FEEDBACK FROM THE ATTENDEES AT MY EXHIBITION AND PERFORMANCE. I ALSO CONNECTED WITH A NUMBER OF ARTISTS, CURATORS AND ART COLLECTORS." "I GAINED EXPOSURE TO A NEW AUDIENCE AND LOCALE, COURTESY OF MY INVOLVEMENT IN AN ARTISTIC AST COMMUNITY. THIS NOT ONLY HEIGHTENED MY VISIBILITY WITHIN MY PEER GROUP BUT ALSO PRESENTED A NOVEL EXPERIENCE OF CRAFTING CONTENT FOR INSTAGRAM POSTINGS. MY TIME INTERACTING AND PRESENTING AT THE MILLER SOUTH ART SCHOOL WAS PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT. DEVELOPING A NEW PRODUCTION WITH A SPECIFIC THEMATIC FOCUS ALLOWED ME TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON THE AUDIENCE, PROVIDING A PLATFORM TO SHARE BOTH MY ART AND THE INTENDED MESSAGE. THIS VENTURE PROVED IMMENSELY GRATIFYING FOR BOTH MYSELF AND MY ART FORM, BHARATANATYAM."

    Expenses $75,291 · Grants $15,500 · Revenue $6,100

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Nancy Brennan

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Glenn Gillespie

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Connie Hesske

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jill Bacon Madden

    VICE-PRESIDE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Francine Parr

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Elizabeth Robb

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Arnold Tunstall

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $138,128
    Expenses
    $176,741
    Contributions
    $122,676
    Grants paid
    $15,500
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $108,842
    Expenses
    $140,979
    Contributions
    $112,967
    Grants paid
    $13,500
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $114,992
    Expenses
    $121,224
    Contributions
    $111,697
    Grants paid
    $12,000

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $90,479
    Expenses
    $114,132
    Assets (EOY)
    $140,193

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $89,883
    Expenses
    $107,115
    Assets (EOY)
    $149,398

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $80,650
    Expenses
    $95,294
    Assets (EOY)
    $165,201

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $157,856
    Expenses
    $148,330
    Assets (EOY)
    $179,838

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $233,565
    Expenses
    $149,161
    Assets (EOY)
    $149,635

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $113,396
    Expenses
    $60,850
    Assets (EOY)
    $61,864

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 11 November 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 9 November 2026 and read 9 November 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.