Photo Alliance
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
PHOTOALLIANCE IS A SAN FRANCISCO-BASED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING THE UNDERSTANDING, APPRECIATION, AND CREATION OF CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY. FOUNDED IN 2002, IT SERVES AS A COMMUNITY HUB FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ENTHUSIASTS, FOSTERING ARTISTIC EXPRESSION THROUGH PUBLIC LECTURES, WORKSHOPS, AND PORTFOLIO REVIEWS.THE PROGRAMS OUTLINED BELLOW SERVE OUR COMMUNITY BY CREATING A FORUM FOR PHYSICAL GATHERINGS, PRESENTATION OF NEW WORK, DISCOURSE BETWEEN ARTISTS, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE PERSONAL CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN PHOTOGRAPHY WITH OTHERS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. OUR PROGRAMS STRIVE TO CREATE IMMEDIATE POSITIVE IMPACT AND LEAVE A LASTING IMPRESSION ON OUR COMMUNITY, EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF PHOTOGRAPHY AS A TOOL FOR COMMUNICATION AND CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT IN OUR DAILY LIVES.
- Income
- $76,348
- Spending
- $91,995
- Reserves
- -1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 73%
- Highest pay
- $30,476, executive director
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 0 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 122% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $28,079 spent. PROGRAMMING: LECTURES: 6 LECTURES IN FY 24-25, 3 IN FALL AND 3 IN SPRING HTTPS://WWW.PHOTOALLIANCE.ORG/LECTURE-ARCHIVE-2024 HTTPS://WWW.PHOTOALLIANCE.ORG/LECTURE-ARCHIVE-2025 FEE STRUCTURE:1. VENUES THAT WERE FREE TO USE HAD NO CHARGE FOR ATTENDEES2. NO ZOOM LECTURES WERE HELD THIS FY3. LECTURE EVENTS THAT CHARGED FOR RENTAL WERE TICKETED AT $20 THROUGH EVENTBRITE GOAL: SELL 50% OF TICKETS AT VENUE TO BREAK EVEN ON RENTAL4. STUDENTS WITH STUDENT ID ATTEND FREEEACH EMCEED BY KRISTY HEADLEY, SUPPORTED BY LUCIEN LIU1. HTTPS://WWW.PHOTOALLIANCE.ORG/2025-SEPT-LEWIS-WATTS-AND-JONATHAN-MARK-JACKSON SUNDAY, SEPT 7TH, 5:00 PM PDT BAYFRONT THEATER (BATS IMPROV) AT FORT MASON FEE STRUCTURE: LECTURE EVENT2. HTTPS://WWW.PHOTOALLIANCE.ORG/2025-OCT-JOHN-DIVOLA-AND-AUSTIN-LEONG SUNDAY, OCT 12TH, 5:00 PM PDT BAYFRONT THEATER (BATS IMPROV) AT FORT MASON FEE STRUCTURE: LECTURE EVENT3. HTTPS://WWW.PHOTOALLIANCE.ORG/2025-NOV-LUKAS-FELZMANN-AND-YULIA-PINKUSEVICH SUNDAY, NOV 2ND, 5:00 PM PSTBAYFRONT THEATER (BATS IMPROV) AT FORT MASON FEE STRUCTURE: $204. HTTPS://WWW.PHOTOALLIANCE.ORG/2024-CHRIS-MCCAW-MARKING-TIME-ARTIST-TALK-AND-BOOK-LAUNCH SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 2024, 2PM PSTBAYFRONT THEATRE (BATS IMPROV) AT FORT MASON FEE STRUCTURE: FREE, PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HAINES GALLERY5. HTTPS://WWW.PHOTOALLIANCE.ORG/2024-MAR-CAROLYN-DRAKE-AND-EBTI SUNDAY, MARCH 3RD, 5:00 PM PSTBAYFRONT THEATER (BATS IMPROV) AT FORT MASON FEE STRUCTURE: $206. HTTPS://WWW.PHOTOALLIANCE.ORG/2024-MAY-FAZAL-SHEIKHSATURDAY, MAY 11TH, 11:00 AM PDTONLINE VIA ZOOM FEE STRUCTURE: $10 EXHIBITIONS: HELD APPROXIMATELY EVERY 2-4 YEARS.1.HTTPS://WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/PHOTOALLIANCE_SF/P/CVAETZTXVNW/ INSIGHT/INCITE 20/20 PORTFOLIO EXHIBITION LAUNCH AT HAINES GALLERY AUGUST 25, 2023, 5:00 PM PDT FEE STRUCTURE: FREE, PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HAINES GALLERY PORTFOLIO REVIEW: HELD APPROXIMATELY EVERY 2-4 YEARS. NO PORTFOLIO REVIEW IN FY 23-24. WORKSHOPS: 1 WORKSHOP HELD IN FY 23-24. GENERALLY 1-2 ANNUALLY.1. HTTPS://WWW.PHOTOALLIANCE.ORG/2024-BOOK-CONCEPTION-AND-DESIGN-WITH-LINDA-CONNOR-AND-SANGYON-JOOFEBRUARY 10 AND 11, 2024, 9:00 AM TO 5:30 PM LED BY LINDA CONNOR, FACILITATED BY LUCIEN LIU, SANGYON JOO, AND THE IMAGE FLOW THE IMAGE FLOW, 328 SIR FRANCIS DRAKE BLVD, SAN ANSELMO, CA 94960 $375 LIMITED TO 10 PARTICIPANTS FEE STRUCTURE: CLASSROOM RESERVATION $100/DAY PA HOURLY EMPLOYEE $30/HOUR AT 8 HOURS/DAY = $280 PA PROVIDED REFRESHMENTS $60/DAY $440 MINIMUM OPERATING COST, ASSUMING INSTRUCTOR TIME IS NOT COMPENSATED OTHER PROGRAMMING: EACH EMCEED BY RACHEL PHILLIPS AND LINDA CONNOR, SUPPORTED BY LUCIEN LIU1. HTTPS://WWW.PHOTOALLIANCE.ORG/2023-DATZ-PRESS-PHOTO-BOOK-EXHIBITION-AT-SFCB DATZ PRESS PHOTO BOOK EXHIBITIONFRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 2023, 6:00 . 8:00PM PDT FEE STRUCTURE: FREE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SAN FRANCISCO CENTER FOR THE BOOK2. HTTPS://WWW.PHOTOALLIANCE.ORG/2024-PHOTOALLIANCE-COMMUNITY-BENEFIT-DINNERPHOTOALLIANCE 2024 COMMUNITY BENEFIT DINNERTHURSDAY, JUNE 13, 6-9PMSUNNYSIDE CONSERVATORY, SAN FRANCISCO TIERED TICKETS, ATTENDEES RECEIVE SAME BENEFITS: SUPPORTER - $95 - 1 TICKET TO ATTEND, WITH DINNER PARTNER - $250 - 1 TICKET TO ATTEND, WITH DINNER, AND A $155 DONATION ALLY - $500 - 1 TICKET TO ATTEND, WITH DINNER, AND A $405 DONATION SPONSOR - $1,500 - 2 TICKETS TO ATTEND, WITH DINNER, AND A $1,310 DONATION$95 DINNER TICKET WAS AT-COST, TO REMAIN ACCESSIBLE. THE EVENT SOLD OUT. COLLECTOR PRINT, BOOK, AND PORTFOLIO SALES: PRINTS AND BOOKS ARE DONATED BY ARTISTS TO PHOTOALLIANCE1. COLLECTOR PRINTS AND BOOKS HTTPS://WWW.PHOTOALLIANCE.ORG/COLLECTOR-PRINT-CATALOG-1 HTTPS://WWW.PHOTOALLIANCE.ORG/COLLECTOR-BOOKS SALES ONGOING, YEAR-ROUND. CATALOG REFRESH IN DECEMBER AND JUNE. PRINTS AND BOOKS ARE DONATED TO PHOTOALLIANCE BY ARTISTS OR ORGANIZATIONS. THEY ARE SOLD TO BENEFIT THE ORGANIZATION, PRICED ON THE LOW END OF MARKET RATE. PA OCCASIONALLY HOLDS BACK RARE BOOKS AND PRINTS FOR STRATEGIC LATER RELEASE. HOLIDAY PROMO - 20% OFF SELECTED PRINTS IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBERHTTPS://WWW.PHOTOALLIANCE.ORG/GIFT-GUIDE-2023 BENEFIT PROMO - 20% OFF SELECTED PRINTS JUNE-JULYHTTPS://WWW.PHOTOALLIANCE.ORG/GIFT-GUIDE-2024-MID2. INSIGHT/INCITE 20/20 COLLECTOR PRINT PORTFOLIO HTTPS://WWW.PHOTOALLIANCE.ORG/2023-PHOTOALLIANCE-PORTFOLIO-INSIGHTINCITEPHOTOALLIANCEFS INSIGHT/INCITE 20/20 PORTFOLIO WAS IN DEVELOPMENT AND THEN LAUNCHED DURING THIS PERIOD. FUNDS WERE USED IN THE MAKING OF THIS PORTFOLIO AND MARKETING ON OUR WEBSITE AND MAILING LIST WERE UNDERWAY. THE PORTFOLIO (HANDPRINTED EDITION OF 20, FEATURING 20 PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTISTS) LAUNCHED AUGUST 2024. PORTFOLIO PRINTED PRIMARILY BY BOARD PRESIDENT ZACK SUMNER SCHOMP.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.