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Imagine Awards

EIN 85-1129775 · Bohemia, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak23 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 1028 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE IMAGINE AWARDS, WHICH HOLDS ACADEMY AWARD TYPE EVENTS FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN BOTH LONG ISLAND (APRIL) AND NEW YORK CITY (OCTOBER), WAS CREATED FOR 3 PURPOSES: TO SHINE A LIGHT ON NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE IMPACTFUL, INNOVATIVE, POSSESS STRONG LEADERSHIP, AND UNDERSTAND THE NEED AND IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY. THE IMAGINE AWARDS HOLDS TWO EVENTS, LONG ISLAND AND NEW YORK CITY, WHICH BRING NONPROFITS TOGETHER TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE SECTOR, TO PROVIDE AN AVENUE FOR COLLABORATION WITHIN THE SECTOR, BRINGING LEADERSHIP OF NONPROFITS TOGETHER TO FOSTER WAYS THAT THEY CAN WORK TOGETHER, TO PROVIDE INSIGHT AND EDUCATION TO THE SECTOR THROUGH SHARING OF IDEAS AT THE AWARDS PROGRAMS AND THROUGH OTHER TRAINING THROUGH OUR LET'S IMAGINE PROGRAM WHERE THE IMAGINE AWARD WINNERS PROVIDE INSIDE THROUGH A PANEL DISCUSSION WITH OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

Income
$401,289
Spending
$416,949
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
-0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
35

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

Weak: 23 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 148% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1028 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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, 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)
  1. $392,647 spent. DURING 2025, THE IMAGINE AWARDS HELD EVENTS IN BOTH LONG ISLAND AND NEW YORK CITY WHERE 48 NONPROFITS WERE HIGHLIGHTED AND MORE THAN 700 PEOPLE CAME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THE NONPROFIT SECTOR. THE IMAGINE AWARDS PROVIDED GRANTS TO WINNERS, FREE TICKETS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND EACH OF THE 48 FINALISTS RECEIVED CUSTOM MADE, PROFESSIONALLY PRODUCED VIDEOS. THE IMAGINE AWARDS HELPS TO VALIDATE AND SHARE THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ARE PERFORMING IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THE IMAGINE AWARDS ARE THE ONLY AWARDS PROGRAM IN THE NEW YORK AREA THAT FOCUSES ON THE NONPROFIT SECTOR, A SECTOR THAT CHANGES LIVES ON A DAILY BASIS. THE IMAGINE AWARDS PROVIDES AN AVENUE TO COLLABORATE AND EXPLORE, IT PROVIDES EXPOSURE AND RECOGNITION TO THE FINALISTS AND THE SECTOR, AND IT PROVIDES A NIGHT WHERE WE SHINE A LIGHT ON THE SECTOR TO SPOTLIGHT ALL OF THE AMAZING THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY. IMAGINE AWARDS PARTICIPANTS HAVE DEVELOPED NEW PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS, HAVE MADE CORPORATE CONNECTIONS WHICH HAS RESULTED IN NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTIONS, HAVE GAINED STRATEGIC INSIGHT INTO WHAT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING, AND HAVE DEVELOPED NEW FRIENDSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT HAVE PROVEN ESSENTIAL TO THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR ORGANIZATIONS.

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

  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 November 6, 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 December 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 December 2020.

    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 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.