Langston
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LANGSTON is a community-conceived and designed non-profit arts organization with a mission to strengthen and advance our community through Black arts and culture. Our vision is Cultivating Black Brilliance. We are led by our foundational values: sharing culture, promoting artistic expression, encouraging artistic excellence, facilitating cultural education and possibility, cultivating leaders, practicing radical inclusivity, and thriving as a self-determined community.
- Income
- $766,888
- Spending
- $857,890
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 26.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 59%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 243
- Highest pay
- $110,833, executive director
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
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 26.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $635,297 spent. Seattle Black Film Festival: The 22nd Seattle Black Film Festival (SBFF) celebrated its biggest year yet, spotlighting Black filmmakers from around the world and more local voices than ever before. We leaned into warmth, joy, and community, and this year's festival truly embodied that spirit. We welcomed home several of the festival's original founders and proudly showcased the beginning of our film festival's 22-year archive. SBFF remains one of our cornerstone programs celebrating Black brilliance on the big screen. Seattle Black Nerd Festival: In 2025 we launched the first-ever Seattle Black Nerd Festival, creating a joyful home for cosplay, comics, gaming, tech, and unapologetic Black nerd culture. The happiness in the building was palpable. Black nerds of all kinds showed up, clearly ready for a space to connect across genres, interests, and generations. The result was deeply empowering. We saw our community grow in love, joy, and belonging, and welcomed countless new faces who now see LANGSTON as a place where their passions and culture are celebrated. Create & Thrive: In 2025 we launched our second round of Create & Thrive, we supported more than 70 Black-owned businesses and artists across Washington state with over $400,000 in funding. This included a dynamic cohort of 26 Young Entrepreneurs, young Black creatives developing business ideas rooted in culture, expression, and legacy. This work reflects our ongoing commitment to investing in all generations of Black brilliance.
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
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.
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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2019.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.