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Historic Southside Incorporated

EIN 75-2123545 · Fort Worth, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Historic Southside, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the ongoing redevelopment of Fort Worth's Near Southside as a vibrant, urban, mixed-use neighborhood. This is accomplished through the production of public cultural events, and the implementation of targeted initiatives that invest in public spaces; promote the arts and historic preservation; expand housing choices; and initiate new community partnerships.

Income
$572,758
Spending
$578,598
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
0
Volunteers
292
Highest pay
$179,050, president

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.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% 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

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    44 of 44 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $358,393 spent. Community Events - Providing free, safe activities and promoting public spaces for the Near Southside community. HSI produces the annual ArtsGoggle festival, the Friday on the Green and Lost 'N Sound live music series, and Open Streets community events. ArtsGoggle began in 2002 as an indoor gallery night and has grown into a street festival that spans a mile of Near Southside's prominent Magnolia Avenue. Highlighting local artists, this family-friendly event hosts more than 1,000 visual artists, 50 musical performances, artistic displays of every kind, food, drink, and fun for everyone. ArtsGoggle attracts over 80,000 visitors to the Near Southside. Friday on the Green is a free, community concert series produced annually in the spring/fall at the Magnolia Green park. Open Streets is a 6-hour annual event that closes Magnolia Avenue to vehicles and opens the streets for cyclists, scooters, strollers, food trucks, dog walkers, skateboarders, yoga classes, face painters and free activities hosted by local businesses. Open Streets has grown to be one of the Near Southside's most beloved community events with attendance in the thousands and more than 150 community partners providing free activities for our patrons.
  2. $82,226 spent. Public Space Beautification - Creating special places for people is an essential component of the Near Southside's revitalization and continued community development. Public space projects in 2023 included continued renovation and improvement of the South Main MicroPark and the South Main Squeeze pedestrian plaza, two active social and leisure spaces for visitors to South Main Village. As a complement to these outdoor public space improvements, the organization also led a wide range of public art exhibitions and educational programs at The Pool, a community art gallery on 8th Avenue and a primary focus of our Art South initiative.
  3. $133,781 spent. Summer Swim Program - Each year HSI administers a grant from the Rainwater Charitable Foundation which provides funding for structured swimming lessons through the City of Fort Worth Parks and Recreation Department's Mobile Recreation Summer Day Camp. Historic Southside, Inc. receives a fee of 10% for its services administering the program. In 2023, several hundred swimmers participated in the program.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 November 1987.

    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.