I Was Here Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
I Was Here creates a transformational force in public spaces bringing the voice of community into public space. The Mission of I Was Here is manifold. We enhance our community's cultural landscape through collaboration with artists, civic organizations, and community stakeholders to create transformative installations and exhibitions that reflect the unique character and spirit of Lexington.
- Income
- $261,912
- Spending
- $163,010
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 21.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 62%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 21.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 38% of income.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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, 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 (1)
- $118,433 spent. The I Was Here Project produces large-scale public art installations called Ancestor Spirit Portraits, designed to acknowledge the unrecognized Nation Builders whose labor helped build the United States. These installations transform public spaces into sites of historical reflection and civic dialogue. The program activates civic environments including museums, downtown districts, universities, and cultural institutions through large-scale printed installations, projection mapping, and immersive technology. Installations have appeared in locations such as Lexington, Kentucky; Washington, D.C.; New York City; and Broward County, Florida. Notable installations include a large-scale digital projection at One World Trade Center, presented with NYCxDesign and MadLabs Studios, where the portraits rose over 200 feet on the building facade overlooking Lower Manhattan. The program has created a growing network of installation sites and public spaces dedicated to acknowledging the contributions of Nation Builders. The installations restore visibility to historically overlooked contributors to American history while activating public dialogue about ancestry, identity, and civic belonging. I Was Here also runs the Nation Builder Workshops which are immersive educational programs that invite participants to explore ancestry, identity, and civic leadership through storytelling and creative reflection. Participants are guided through a structured process in which they examine the concept of Nation Builders and develop personal narratives about their own relationship to history, identity, and community. These workshops address what the project identifies as Narrative Debt-the absence of historically accurate representation in public memory-and encourage participants to see themselves as contributors to civic life. Workshops are conducted with youth, universities, and community organizations including Operation Be You and educational institutions across Kentucky and Florida. Participants develop personal narratives centered on ancestry and civic identity, building confidence, literacy skills, and civic engagement. Public presentations of these narratives often accompany installations and community ceremonies. The I Was Here Project hosts public events, exhibitions, and community dialogues designed to engage residents, scholars, artists, and civic leaders in discussions about history, ancestry, and shared identity. These programs include: community exhibition openings, civic presentations, public storytelling events, and cultural dialogues tied to installations. Events have been hosted in collaboration with partners including LexArts, VisitLEX, and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. These programs foster community dialogue about historical memory while building connections between residents, cultural institutions, and civic leadership. I Was Here Nationwide is the project's expanding framework designed to bring the program's public art, educational workshops, and immersive technologies to cities across the United States. Through partnerships with artists, cultural institutions, and technology collaborators such as MadLabs Studios, the initiative integrates: large-scale portrait installations, immersive projection environments, holographic storytelling technology, and youth-led narrative workshops, This framework allows cities and institutions to adopt the model as cultural infrastructure, transforming public spaces into living archives of community memory and civic dialogue. The program creates new cultural assets for cities while encouraging civic literacy, cross-cultural dialogue, and community engagement around shared history. Across its programs, the I Was Here Project combines public art, immersive technology, and community storytelling to address gaps in public historical representation. By acknowledging the contributions of Nation Builders and inviting communities to explore ancestry and civic identity, the organization strengthens cultural memory and public dialogue. In 2025, I was Here has had 247 workshop participants, and 456 individuals served in Fayette County workshops, including 412 youth through programs delivered in schools, community centers, and cultural institutions. There were 88 installation sites created, 1,094,213 audience views over installations across multiple cities and cultural institutions and international public art recognition including a CODAworx award.
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 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 October 13, 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 2025.
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 May 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 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.