International Folk Art Alliance Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CREATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR AND WITH FOLK ARTISTS WORLDWIDE WHO CELEBRATE AND PRESERVE FOLK ART TRADITIONS. WE ENVISION A WORLD THAT VALUES THE DIGNITY AND HUMANITY OF THE HANDMADE, HONORS TIMELESS CULTURAL TRADITIONS, AND SUPPORTS THE WORK OF FOLK ARTISTS SERVING AS ENTREPRENEURS AND CATALYSTS FOR POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE. TO AUGMENT THIS PURSUIT, THE ORGANIZATION MOVED TO A LARGER HEADQUARTERS, INVESTING IN TENANT IMPROVEMENTS AS THE FIRST PHASE OF A CAMPAIGN TO OWN THE BUILDING OUTRIGHT.
- Income
- $3.0 million
- Spending
- $2.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 12.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 50%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 1,400
- Highest pay
- $180,966, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2528 of 28 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 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 (3)
- $2.2 million spent. INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART MARKET: PRODUCING INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART MARKET AS A PROGRAMMATIC OUTCOME OF HIGHLY CURATED ARTIST SELECTION AND ENTREPRENEURISM EDUCATION. IN 2023, IFAA WAS ABLE TO RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATIONS, WITH VERY FEW HEALTH ORDER DRIVEN MODIFICATIONS. THE ORGANIZATION WAS STILL IN A FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL REBUILDING PHASE THOUGH. THE ORGANIZATION MOVED THE EVENT TO A NEW VENUE: RAILYARD PARK, A MORE CENTRALLY LOCATED VENUE.
- $18,270 spent. MENTOR TO MARKET (M2M): TRAINING PROGRAM THAT TEACHES ARTISTS CRITICAL MARKETING AND BUSINESS SKILLS TO HELP THEM IMPROVE THEIR SALES, THUS SUSTAINING THEIR TRADITIONS AND CREATING STRONGER ECONOMY FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. IN 2021, THESE TRAINING PROGRAMS CONTINUED ONLINE BUT RETURNED TO IN-PERSON TRAINING IN 2022. IN 2023, A NEW PILOT CURRICULUM WAS DEVELOPED AND TESTED WITH A SMALL NUMBER OF ARTISTS WITH A PLAN FOR A BROADER IMPLEMENTATION IN 2024/2025.
- $4,192 spent. FOLK ART MATTERS LECTURES: PROMOTING CULTURAL EXCHANGE BY PROVIDING THE GENERAL PUBLIC OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART AS A TRANSMISSION OF METHODS, MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES PASSED ON THROUGH GENERATIONS. IFAA RETURNED TO A MORE ROBUST SCHEDULE OF LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS IN 2023. LECTURES WERE FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND A SMALL MATERIALS FEE WAS CHARGED FOR WORKSHOPS.
Source: Form 990 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 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 December 2024.
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 November 2007.
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.