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Mizna

EIN 41-1913423 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MIZNA IS A CRITICAL PLATFORM FOR CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE, ART, FILM, AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMING CENTERING THE WORK OF SOUTHWEST ASIAN AND NORTH AFRICAN ARTISTS. FOR TWENTY YEARS, WE HAVE SOUGHT TO REFLECT THE DEPTH AND MULTIPLICITY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO BEING A SPACE FOR ARAB, MUSLIM, AND OTHER ARTISTS FROM THE REGION TO RECLAIM OUR NARRATIVES AND ENGAGE AUDIENCES IN MEANINGFUL AND ARTISTICALLY EXCELLENT ART.

Income
$322,960
Spending
$563,844
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
3.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 46%
Employees
11
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$83,270, 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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 75% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • 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, 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)
  1. $245,695 spent. JOURNAL:Mizna: SWANA Lit + Art is an acclaimed biannual print publication with a history of connecting established and emerging authors with an international readership. In 2024, Mizna published the forty-sixth and forty-seventh issues of the literary journal "Mizna: SWANA Literature + Art," featuring 62 contributors. In 2024, the journal reached more than 4000 readers through subscriptions, sales, and library checkouts. In publication since 1999, Mizna remains a rare journal of Arab and Southwest Asian/North African literature. Mizna is a critical space for authors, both emerging and established, in which they have the creative freedom to explore themes and ideas that are real and relevant to them, outside of the cultural assumptions made by the broader American landscape. In 2024, Mizna also continued the online literary platform "Mizna Online." Featuring commissioned poetry, prose, criticism, reviews, and experimental multidisciplinary work, Mizna Online complements our biannual print publication with regular content that is free to read. Work on Mizna Online reflects on the urgent and current realities of the SWANA region and beyond. In 2024, thirty urgent pieces were published on Mizna Online, reaching more than 25,000 readers.
  2. $99,738 spent. FILM PROGRAMS Established in 2003, the Twin Cities Arab Film Festival debuts independent films from more than fifteen Arabic-speaking countries and their diasporas. In 2024, we presented our 18th annual Twin Cities Arab Film Festival with special screenings and programming across the Twin Cities. The weekend included a post-screening discussions with actors and filmmakers and a free outdoor screening under the Third Avenue Bridge. The 2024 festival featured 35 films, more than two-thirds of which were directed by women. An offshoot of the festival, Mizna's Tulsa Arab Film Fest, continued for its fourth year. The Mizna Film Series is a quarterly selection of programs marking our first venture into year-round curated film programming. Our 2024 Mizna Film Series highlighted archival works directed by women.
  3. $49,550 spent. EVENTS:Mizna had a robust presence at the AWP 2024 conference and bookfair in Kansas City, Kansas. Mizna presented and copresented readings across the US, including Los Angeles, New York, and St. Paul and had a presence at book fairs around the country.

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

  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 2024.

    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 2005.

    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.