Bay Area Lesbian Archives Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BALA is a grassroots, community-run archives dedicated to the preservation of the richly diverse lesbian history of the Bay Area.
- Income
- $116,363
- Spending
- $49,353
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 23.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 88%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 10
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
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
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, 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)
- $40,470 spent. In 2025, the Bay Area Lesbian Archives (BALA) expanded its role as a community-led cultural institution dedicated to preserving and sustaining lesbian feminist histories in the Bay Area. As a volunteer-run archive, BALA advanced its mission through archival stewardship, public programming, fundraising, and strategic partnerships. The organization continued processing and digitizing collections, supported oral history initiatives with elders and community members, and trained volunteers and emerging archivists in community-based practices. BALA also shifted its focus from collection accumulation to improving access, prioritizing cataloging, finding aids, digitization, and researcher accessibility to address a backlog and increase public engagement.BALA strengthened public engagement through cultural programming, exhibitions, and collaborative events. In 2025, the organization developed its major exhibition, Directory of Dreams: Bay Area Lesbian Economies and Radical Care, 19701995, in partnership with the GLBT Historical Society, marking a significant milestone in curatorial and research work for a 2026 exhibit. Additional programming included a Litquake co-presented marathon reading of Bastard Out of Carolina, film screenings such as Radical Harmonies, and community storytelling and educational events with partners including the Queer Arts Center and Eastside Arts Alliance. BALA also partnered with SF Cameraworks to showcase photography from its collection. These efforts expanded access to lesbian histories and positioned BALA as both an archival and cultural convening space.The organization expanded its grassroots funding from monthly donor programs, community memberships, and secured its first major foundation support, including a two-year general operating grant to expand staffing, digitization infrastructure, and public access initiatives. governance, and long-term sustainability. This included strengthening financial systems, expanding digital infrastructure through its archival database and server systems, developing volunteer coordination and onboarding processes, and initiating leadership transition planning. Strategic partnershipssuch as the 2025 Memorandum of Understanding with Artist As First Responder (AAFR)further positioned BALA to activate its collections through artist-led programming and community-based archival methodologies rooted in Black queer feminist practice.Collectively, these efforts reflect BALAs evolution from an early-stage, collection-focused archive to a mature institution centered on accessibility, activation, and long-term cultural impact. By balancing preservation with public engagement and grassroots funding with institutional support, BALA is building a sustainable model for community-based archiving that prioritizes memory justice, intergenerational knowledge sharing, and the continued visibility of lesbian histories.
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
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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2018 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2018.
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 December 2019.
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.