Little Fish Comic Book Studio Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Little Fish Comic Book Studio prepares the next generation of comic creators through academic and artistic instruction and mentor-ship and we use the comic art medium to improve and empower communities.
- Income
- $184,291
- Spending
- $195,709
- Reserves
- 1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 100%
- Highest pay
- $53,300, ceo
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
Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 37% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% 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 (1)
- $132,988 spent. Our primary exemption purpose is to serve the community of young artists, fans of the comic art and the public in general. Classes and camps: Our classes, held four days a week, and our camps, held seasonally in Winter and Summer, work to build artistic skills in students while instilling in them confidence, a sense of community and collaboration and a professionalism to follow their artistic dreams however far it takes them. Former and current students have won awards and petitions from the San Diego County Fair, the California Center for the Arts, and the San Diego Reader. Workshops, demonstrations and community building events held in the studio and out: Little Fish works to build interest in the art form, confidence in young artist and community in connecting fans with students, artists and professionals at free workshops and community events; additionally we serve the community in conducting workshops at local preschool, elementary, middle and high schools. To this end we have been a Community Partner for two years with KPBS in their One Book One San Diego initiative. Students of all backgrounds, artistic abilities and socio-economic standings at Wilson Middle School worked to create comics this past fall. San Diego Comic Con Artist Intensive: Students at this specific event, occurring the week of San Diego Comic Con every year, create work with the guidance of a long-standing comic creator, and attend SDCC as a budding professional, working the booth' (selling prints of their work, standing as a young professional, talking about their process and art to passersby), networking with professionals and participating in a panel discussion about their experience. This program was featured on Fox 5 news and students' efforts in this program have led to interviews on BleedingCool.com, mentor-ships with professionals in the industry and concentrated growth as artists and individuals.
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 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 May 2017.
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.