Photowork Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PhotoWork Foundation advances photography and supports the education of photographers working in the post-documentary tradition through events, digital media, and grantmaking.
- Income
- $186,070
- Spending
- $162,826
- Reserves
- 3.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Highest pay
- $54,996, executive director and board member
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (2)
- $44,885 spent. The PhotoWork Fellowship is a six-month mentoring program that pairs successful applicants with highly accomplished photographers who serve as mentors. Its aim is to support the development of individual artists and their work, and to build a cohort of Fellows whose reach will have a broad and cumulative impact on the photography community.
- $47,355 spent. THE PHOTOWORK PODCAST IS A BI-MONTHLY SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH INFLUENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS, CURATORS, COLLECTORS, AND PUBLISHERS THAT REVEALS VALUABLE INSIGHTS ON THEIR PROCESS AND PRACTICE TO OUR WORLDWIDE COMMUNITY OF LISTENERS.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2022.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.