Photo Start
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE FOUNDATION IS ORGANIZED EXCLUSIVELY FOR EDUCATION PURPOSES. THE FOUNDATION ENGAGES IN TEACHING THE ART AND VOCATION OF PHOTOGRAPHY TO STUDENTS 12 AND OLDER AND TEACHING PRACTICAL, MARKETABLE LIFE SKILLS, AND NURTURING THE CREATIVE ENERGY OF THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE.THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPOSURE AS WELL AS SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNAVAILABLE TO THESE PEOPLE. THE FOUNDATION WILL BE TEACHING PHOTOGRAPH, BUSINESS/ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND LEADERSHIP TO STUDENTS.
- Income
- $116,565
- Spending
- $33,944
- Spent on programs
- 37%
- Reserves
- -89.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $12, founding director
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
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).
Independent board
5 of 251 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.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
- $5,189 spent. PHOTO START IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEVELOPED TO FOSTER CREATIVITY AND TEACH MARKETABLE SKILLS TO DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE IN DEPRESSED AREAS. THE FOUNDATION IS ORGANIZED EXCLUSIVELY FOR EDUCATION PURPOSES. PHOTOSTART ENGAGES IN TEACHING THE ART AND VOCATION OF PHOTOGRAPHY TO STUDENTS 12 AND OLDER AND TEACHING PRACTICAL, MARKETABLE LIFE SKILLS, AND NURTURING THE CREATIVE ENERGY OF THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE.IN 2025, PHOTO START CONTINUED DELIVERING PHOTOGRAPHY, VISUAL STORYTELLING, AND DIGITAL LITERACY EDUCATION TO UNDERSERVED YOUTH THROUGH ITS INTERNATIONAL PARTNER-BASED PROGRAM MODEL. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED STUDENTS WITH ACCESS TO CAMERAS, STRUCTURED INSTRUCTION, MENTORSHIP, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD PRACTICAL, CREATIVE AND TECHNICAL SKILLS. ACROSS ITS GLOBAL PROGRAM HISTORY, PHOTO START HAS TRAINED MORE THAN 2,380 STUDENTS, DELIVERED OVER 150,000 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION, AND DEVELOPED MORE THAN 125 GRADUATE PEER INSTRUCTORS. THE 2025 PROGRAM YEAR FURTHER ADVANCED PHOTO START'S MISSIO OF USING PHOTOGRAPHY AS AN ACCESSIBLE ENTRY POINT TO CONFIDENCE, DIGITAL LITERACY, CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITY.
- $6,161 spent. PHOTO START GRADUATES WILL BE CAPABLE OF USING DIGITAL CAMERAS, MANIPULATING LIGHTS, UNDERSTAND BEST PRACTICES REGARDING DIGITAL WORKFLOW, DIGITAL PRODUCTION, AND DIGITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT. PLANNING AND PATIENCE, TWO PRIZED ASSETS OF THE PREPARED PHOTOGRAPHER, ARE ALSO VALUED HIGHLY BY BUSINESSES AND HIRING MANAGERS IN A MULTITUDE OF FIELDS. OUR STUDENTS ALSO IMPROVE SELF-ESTEEM, SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND SELF-RELIANCE. THESE LEADERSHIP TRAITS ARE HIGHLY TRANLATABLE AND EXTREMELY MARKETABLE, PARTICULARLY IN DEVELOPING REGIONS. BY TEACHING VULNERABLE STUDENTS PHOTOGRAPHY AS AN ART, AND A BUSINESS, WE HOPE TO BRING ABOUT MUCH NEEDED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS TO INTRODUCE THE WORLD TO A NEW GENERATION OF ARTISTS. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THE TEACHING, CREATING A SELF-PERPETUATING CYCLE OF INSTRUCTION. ADVANCING STUDENTS AND GRADUATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE TRAINING AND BECOME CERTIFIED TRAINERS IN THE PHOTO START PROGRAM. THIS WAY, WE ENABLE SELF-HELP AND ESTABLISH INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATIONS ON THE GROUND.IN 2025, PHOTOSTART EXPANDED AND STRENGHTENED ITS BOLIVIA PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING WORK IN EL ALTO, BY SUPPORTING LOCALLY LED PHOTOGRAPHY EDUCATION FOR YOUTH. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED STUDENTS WITH CAMERA ACCESS, INTRODUCTORY PHOTOGRAPHY TRAINING, AND VISUAL STORYTELLING INSTRUCTION, WHILE ALSO DEMONSTRATING THE LONG-TERM VALUE OF PHOTO START'S INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT MODE. NOEMI DANIELA GONZALEZ CABRERA, A PHOTO START ALUMNA AND INSTRUCTOR, CONTINUED TO SERVE AS A LOCAL LEADER FOR NEW STUDENT COHORTS AND RECEIVED MAJOR REGIONAL RECOGNITION AS A PICTURES OF THE YEAR LATIN AMERICA 2025 WINNER. THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT REFLECTED PHOTO START'S CORE PROGRAM MODEL: STUDENTS GAINING SKILLS, ADVANCING CREATIVELY, AND RETURNING AS MENTORS AND INSTRUCTORS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
- $1,354 spent. IN 2025, PHOTO START CONTINUED DEVELOPING ITS SOUTH AFRICA PROGRAMMING WITH AN EMPHASIS ON LOCAL LEADERSHIP, INSTRUCTOR CAPACITY AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY. THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED A STRUCTURE IN WHICH LOCAL INSTRUCTORS COULD HELP DELIVER PROGRAMMING, EARN PAID COMMISSIONS, AND PARTICIPATE IN A MORE SELF-SUSTAINING CREATIVE EDUCATION MODEL. THIS WORK INCLUDED PREPARING AND SUPPORTING NEW PROGRAM ACTIVITY, MAINTAINING INSTRUCTOR AND PARTNER INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ADVANCING A LOCALLY-ROOTED MODEL FOR YOUTH PHOTOGRAPHY EDUCATION. THE SOUTH AFRICA PROGRAM REPRESENTED AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD PHOTO START'S GOAL OF BUILDING DURABLE, COMMUNITY-LED PROGRAMS THAT EXTEND BEYOND A SINGLE CLASS CYCLE AND CREATE ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND INSTRUCTORS.
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? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
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 August 2016.
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.