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Blac Inc

EIN 85-4258202 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BRING MORE YOUNG BLACK PEOPLE INTO ADVERTISING, ENSURING THEY CAN FULLY EXPRESS THEMSELVES, FIND COMMUNITY, AND ULTIMATELY LEAD.

Income
$356,509
Spending
$417,585
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 100%
Employees
1

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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $159,343 spent. BLAC IS A TWELVE-WEEK, PAID INTERNSHIP FOR CREATIVE THINKERS THAT TAKES PLACE AT AD AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. INTERNS PARTICIPATE IN SHARED EXPERIENCES WITH SHARED RESOURCES AND PROJECTS, AND UPON COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM BECOME PART OF A NETWORK OF PEERS AND AGENCY LEADERS WHO WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THEIR CAREERS. WE ARE A CHAMPION FOR THE MORE DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY OF THE FUTURE AND SEEK TO INSPIRE AND BE INSPIRED BY A NEW GENERATION OF BLACK TALENT. BLAC IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING SAFE AND COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE ALL VOICES ARE RESPECTED AND HEARD.
  2. $258,242 spent. IN 2022 BLAC HIRED ITS FIRST FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBER, WELCOMING AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO LEAD THE ORGANIZATION. ADDITIONALLY, PART-TIME TEMPORARY CONSULTANTS WERE BROUGHT IN TO SUPPORT PROJECT-BASED EFFORTS AND THE EXPANSION OF THE SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. BLAC'S SIGNATURE PROGRAM, THE BLAC INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, DOUBLED IN SIZE AND REACH IN 2022, EXPANDING FROM 11 HOST AGENCIES SUPPORTING 32 INTERNS, TO 22 HOST AGENCIES NATIONWIDE SUPPORTING 59 PROGRAM INTERNS. THE PROGRAM EXPANDED TO 12 WEEKS THIS YEAR, FROM 8 WEEKS IN 2021, AND WAS ABLE TO EDUCATE, COMPENSATE, TRAIN, AND PROVIDE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES TO INTERNS THROUGH THE IMMERSIVE PROGRAM PREPPING PARTICIPANTS FOR ROLES IN ADVERTISING AGENCIES.
  3. IN 2022 BLAC HIRED ITS FIRST FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBER, WELCOMING AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO LEAD THE ORGANIZATION. ADDITIONALLY, PART-TIME TEMPORARY CONSULTANTS WERE BROUGHT IN TO SUPPORT PROJECT-BASED EFFORTS AND THE EXPANSION OF THE SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. BLAC'S SIGNATURE PROGRAM, THE BLAC INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, DOUBLED IN SIZE AND REACH IN 2022, EXPANDING FROM 11 HOST AGENCIES SUPPORTING 32 INTERNS, TO 22 HOST AGENCIES NATIONWIDE SUPPORTING 59 PROGRAM INTERNS. THE PROGRAM EXPANDED TO 12 WEEKS THIS YEAR, FROM 8 WEEKS IN 2021, AND WAS ABLE TO EDUCATE, COMPENSATE, TRAIN, AND PROVIDE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES TO INTERNS THROUGH THE IMMERSIVE PROGRAM PREPPING PARTICIPANTS FOR ROLES IN ADVERTISING AGENCIES.

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 October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2023 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2023.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 2024.

    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 April 2024.

    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 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.