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Alabama Folklife Association Inc

EIN 63-1039461 · Mobile, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To document preserve present and promote the folkways of Alabama through research education and programming.

Income
$142,479
Spending
$108,849
Reserves
17.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Highest pay
$55,000, executive director

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 September 30, 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 (7)
  1. $11,106 spent. Journal. 35 researchers writers photographers editors and designers contributed to publication of Tributaries: the sole journal dedicated to Alabama folklife published annually by the AFA. Vol. 19 features Black Belt quilting songs the Old Time Tennessee Muskmelon cotton mill culture Black landownership intentional communities Birmingham recording studios and three book reviews.
  2. $10,849 spent. Alabama Folk. Program to elevate cultures and traditions from across the state through interviews with traditional artists and makers the Alabama Folk podcast and hands-on community workshops. Engaged 33 artists makers researchers and reviewers who were paid for their work. Delivered 22 hands-on community workshops across Alabama in pine needle basketry Gees Bend quilting vine weaving and Africatown quilting. Produced Season 4 of the Alabama Folk podcast that elevated diverse cultures geographies and voices. Included 6 episodes on Sacred Harp singing horse clubs sock making dove hunting Da de los Muertos and spoonmaking. Podcast has 4,955 plays to date.
  3. $6,000 spent. Cauthen Fellowships. Awarded 6 Cauthen Fellowships $1,200 each to individuals community and academic to support original research on Alabama folk traditions. Topics included: Gulf Coast Caribbean Carnival in Mobile visual art of James Buddy Snipe Alabama cotton industry folkways Jewish Alabama cookbooks Alabama banjo and Muscogee Creek shell carving.
  4. $3,650 spent. Research and fieldwork
  5. $2,929 spent. Traditional Artist-in-Residency program
  6. $2,000 spent. Salt and Pepper Music Series
  7. $1,336 spent. 2 annual sacred harp singing events

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 September 2025.

    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 July 1991.

    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.