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Elegba Folklore Society Incorporated

EIN 54-1633907 · Richmond, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceWeak31 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDES CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES INCLUDING FESTIVALS, HISTORY TOURS, VISUAL ARTS AND PERFORMANCES.

Income
$191,693
Spending
$240,334
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
0

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: 63 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep 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 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 (4)
  1. $105,012 spent. ELEGBA FOLKLORE SOCIETYS ARRAY OF ANNUAL FESTIVALS THAT WORK TO FURTHER ITS MISSIONS AND ENRICH THE COMMUNITY, VIA FAMILY ENGAGEMENT. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DISTINCTIVE IN THEIR VARYING PURPOSES TO HIGHLIGHT LITERARY ARTS, ENGAGE IN HISTORICAL COMMEMORATION, FOLKLIFE EXPLORATION AND CULTURAL AFFINITY, RESPECTIVELY. THROUGH THESE OPPORTUNITEES FOR LEARNING AND ENTERTAINMENT, EDUTAINMENT, FAMILIES GROW IN EXPOSURE AND PRIDE IN CULTURAL HERITAGE.
  2. $93,913 spent. ELEGBA FOLKLORE SOCIETYS CULTURAL CENTER SHOWCASES VISUAL ARTS, ARTIFACTS AND FORMS OF MATERIAL CULTURE WHERE ALL THE PIECES HAVE AN ORIGIN STORY. VISITORS CAN SEE AND COLLECT OBJECTS AND SYMBOLS THAT PROVIDE A CULTURAL CONNECTION AND A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EXPOSURE. ELEGBA FOLKLORE SOCIETYS CULTURAL CENTER IS A COMMUNITY HUB WHERE PEOPLE EXPECT TO FIND ENRICHING EXPERIENCES FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. VISITORS WERE BOTH RESIDENTS AND NON-RESIDENTS. THE SOCIETYS CULTURAL CENTER HAS MAINTAINED ITS LOCATION IN THE CENTER OF THE CITY AND IN THE DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT FOR 28 YEARS. THE SOCIETY INVITES THE PUBLIC TO PROGRAMS SUCH AS DOCUMENTARIES, POETRY READINGS, MUSICAL PROGRAMS AND DISCUSSION GROUPS WHILE STUDENTS OFTEN VISIT TO ENGAGE IN GALLERY TOURS AND TALKS OR ART MAKING WORKSHOPS. THESE ENGAGEMENTS ALIGN WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS MISSION. THE CENTER IS THE ORGANIZATIONS ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS.
  3. $25,418 spent. THE SOCIETYS PERFORMING COMPANY OF DANCERS, DRUMMERS, SINGERS, SPOKEN WORD ARTISTS AND MASQUERADES APPEARS AT COLLEGES, SCHOOLS, THEATERS, FESTIVALS, CONFERENCES, MUSEUMS, LIBRARIES AND CHURCHES TO PRESENT FROM ITS REPERTOIRE OF CONCERTS, DANCE THEATRE, PERFORMANCE LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS. AUDIENCES AND STUDENTS ARE IMMERSED IN HIGH QUALITY ARTS ENGAGEMENT AND A UNIVERSAL APPEAL THROUGH THE COMPANYS ORIGINAL WORK. THE PERFORMANCES ARE INTERACTIVE AND UNIFYING.
  4. $15,991 spent. ELEGBA FOLKLORE SOCIETYS CULTURAL HISTORY TOUR PROGRAM OFFERS A MENU OF IMMERSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR GROUPS BY RESERVAEON ALONG WITH MONTHLY EXCURSIONS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DURING THE SEASONAL MONTHS. GROUPS FROM A MULTI-STATE AREA RESERVE PERSONALIZED PROGRAMS. COUPLES, SMALL FAMILIES AND FRIENDS CHOSE AN OPEN-TO-THE-PUBLIC EXCURSION AVAILABLE ONCE EACH MONTH. PARECIPANTS EXPERIENCE HIDDEN HISTORY BY WALKING TO SITES OF THE PAST AND ALSO VISITING PLACES OF MEMORY FROM THE BUS WINDOW. TOURS CAN INCLUDE COLLABORATIONS WITH MUSEUMS, HISTORICAL SITES OR NEIGHBORHOODS AND CHURCHES WHERE PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPAND THEIR UNDERSTANDING WITH DOCENTS INSIDE.

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 October 1995.

    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.