Pharos the International Photo Archives Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN A FREE DIGITAL RESEARCH PLATFORM ALLOWING FOR COMPREHENSIVE ACCESS TO ART HISTORICAL PHOTO ARCHIVE IMAGES AND THEIR SCHOLARLY DOCUMENTATION.
- Income
- $198,480
- Spending
- $200,793
- Reserves
- 3.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Highest pay
- $50,183, executive dir.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (2)
- $75,511 spent. MAINTENANCE OF THE ONLINE PLATFORM (NOT YET PUBLIC)FOR ACCESS TO MEMBERS' PHOTO ARCHIVE COLLECTIONS. THE GOAL IS TO CREATE AN ONLINE RESOURCE, SEARCHABLE BY ALL, THAT HOUSES THE PHOTO ARCHIVE COLLECTIONS OF MEMBER INSTITUTIONS AND THE WORK ON THIS ONLINE PLATFORM BEGAN IN 2023. EXPENSES INCLUDE WEB SERVICES AND SERVER FEES, FEES TO CONTRACTORS FOR SITE MAINTENANCE, TROUBLESHOOTING, AND FEES TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ASSOCIATION, WHO MANAGES AND OVERSEES ALL ACTIVITIES.
- $55,915 spent. Development of major aspects of the PHAROS database -- structure and performance. Programming in the following areas: data transformation, application management, front-end development.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 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 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 April 2022.
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.