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Kamoinge Incorporated

EIN 13-3985397 · New York, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceGood74 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

KAMOINGE (THE ORGANIZATION) IS THE LONGEST-STANDING COLLECTIVE OF PHOTOGRAPHERS OF AFRICAN DESCENT IN AMERICA. FOR OVER SIXTY YEARS, OUR MISSION HAS BEEN TO HONOR, DOCUMENT, AND PRESERVE THE HISTORY, CREATIVITY, AND LIVED EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY. FOUNDED IN 1963 AS A CLUB FOR OFTEN-UNSEEN PHOTOGRAPHERS, KAMOINGE HAS EVOLVED INTO A VIBRANT, INCLUSIVE COLLECTIVE THAT FOSTERS ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE, MENTORSHIP, AND CRITICAL EXCHANGE. WE WELCOME ANY PHOTOGRAPHER OF AFRICAN DESCENT WHO SHARES OUR DESIRE TO SUPPORT AND ELEVATE ONE ANOTHER, REFLECTING THE DIVERSITY OF CONTEMPORARY EXPRESSION THROUGH THE WORK OF WOMEN, NON-BINARY ARTISTS, FILMMAKERS, SCULPTORS, AND AUTHORS. OUR STRENGTH LIES IN A RIGOROUS, INTERGENERATIONAL PEDAGOGY ROOTED IN CRITIQUE AND COLLABORATION, PRODUCING WORK THAT CHALLENGES NARRATIVES AND CELEBRATES THE HUMANITY OF BLACK LIFE. OUR MEMBERS ARE CURRENTLY EXHIBITED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND WE MAINTAIN PARTNERSHIPS WITH INSTITUTIONS SUCH

Income
$339,315
Spending
$302,928
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 76% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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)
  1. $261,297 spent. ORGANIZATION FULFILLED ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER ITS FIRST PHASE MELLON FOUNDATION AWARD WHICH BUILT ITS PHOTOGRAPHY ARCHIVES FURTHERING THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION AND PURPOSE, AND FULFILLED A PORTION OF ITS DUTIES UNDER THE SECOND PHASE MELLON FOUNDATION AWARD, WITH THE REMAINDER TO BE FULFILLED IN 2026.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1999.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.