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Baltimore Science Fiction Society Incorporated

EIN 52-1098281 · Bel Air, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Baltimore Science Fiction Society exists to promote the creation and appreciation of science fiction and fantasy cultural arts, primarily through literary art forms, but also embracing the many related graphical, musical, and theatrical creations inspired by speculative fiction.

Income
$109,733
Spending
$112,488
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
10.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 48%
Employees
0
Volunteers
125

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 86 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 (6)
  1. $79,235 spent. THE ANNUAL BALTICON CONVENTION PROVIDES MEMBERS WITH PANELS, SPEAKERS AND SPECIAL EXHIBITS AS WELL AS MOVIES, VIDEOS, BOOK SELLERS, ASSOCIATED GAMING, ASSOCIATED ART AND OTHER RELATED ITEMS. BSFS RESUMED HOLDING A LIVE CONVENTION AFTER TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS AS A VIRTUAL CONVENTION. FOR THE FIRST TIME, ATTENDANCE BOTH IN PERSON AND ELECTRONICALLY WERE AVAILABLE.
  2. $2,353 spent. SUPPORT AND PROMOTE BASIC LITERACY IN GENERAL AND SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY IN PARTICULAR THROUGH THE ANNUAL COMPTON CROOK AWARD THE BEST FIRST NOVEL IN SCIENCE FICTION DURING THE PRECEDING YEAR, THE ANNUAL YOUNG WRITERS CONTEST, THE ANNUAL POETRY CONTEST AND SUPPORT OF LOCAL LIBRARIES THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL BOOK AND ART FESTIVALS.
  3. HOSTED A SEMI-MONTHLY WORKSHOP FOR WRITERS ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH THURSDAYS OF EACH MONTH IN WHICH WRITERS REVIEWED WORKS IN PROGRESS. THE GROUP HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL ON HAVING WORKS BY PARTICIPANTS PUBLISHED. AFTER MARCH 2020, THESE SESSIONS WERE HELD ONLINE USING A CONFERENCING PLATFORM.
  4. $1,874 spent. BSFS maintains a Little Free Library in front of its building. During FY24, 755 books were distributed to the community. Books for children were 65% of the total and of these 24% were in Spanish. Donated books totaled 1105.
  5. $2,353 spent. The Bobby Gear Memorial Charity Auction at Balticon commemorates Bobby's decades as a school teacher and BSFS volunteer by raising funds for BSFS Books for Kids to "to put books in the hands of children." BSFS Books for Kids will gift funds raised to the PTA, or program at the school administered by the Maryland Book Bank, at selected school for the purchase of books ordered by students for personal recreational reading. Funds also are used to purchase Spanish language children's books to put in the BSFS Little Free Library.
  6. $95 spent. AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2024, BSFS HAD OVER 18,000 CATALOGED ITEMS IN A LIBRARY OF BOOKS, MAGAZINES AND RECORDINGS OF SPECULATIVE FICTION. THE LIBRARY COMMITTEE MET MONTHLY TO REVIEW BOXES OF DONATIONS, ADD NEW ITEMS TO THE COLLECTION, AND PACK UP DUPLICATES FOR DONATION TO THE HEINLEIN SOCIETY AND OTHER LITERACY GROUPS. VOLUNTEERS ON THE LIBRARY COMMITTEE LOGGED 342 HOURS DURING FY 2024. REVENUE FROM DE-ACCESSIONS AND SALE OF DUPLICATE VOLUMES IS RESTRICTED TO PRESERVATION OF THE COLLECTION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1978.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.