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Institute of Black Imagination

EIN 88-2344031 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak17 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IGNITE THE CURIOSITY, IMAGINATION, AND CREATIVE POTENTIAL OF BLACK AND BROWN VISIONARIES ACROSS THE WORLD.

Income
$100,838
Spending
$241,988
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Highest pay
$4,500, secretary

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 17 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 81% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 140% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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, 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 (4)
  1. $96,353 spent. SPACE 001 - OCULUS - IN FALL 2023, WE BEGAN THE BUILD OUT OF OUR PHYSICAL ECOSYSTEM STARTING WITH THE OPENING OF THE OCULUS AT WORLD TRADE CENTER. ALTHOUGH BASED WITHIN A RETAIL LANDSCAPE, THE SPACE IS DESIGNED WITH INTENTION TO DEPOSIT - RATHER THAN EXTRACT. THE IBI OCULUS WILL SERVE AS A REFERENCE LIBRARY HOLDING THE LIBRARY ARCHIVE, EXHIBITION SPACE AND PODCAST STUDIO, DESIGNED TO BRING BLACK IMAGINATION INTO SPACE AND TIME.
  2. $93,537 spent. GENERAL PROGRAMMING - GENERAL PROGRAMMING ALLOWS FOR THE CONTINUED BROADCAST OF BLACK IMAGINATION PODCAST EPISODES, THE APPRENTICESHIP/FELLOWSHIP/ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAMMING, THE ACQUISITION OF AN ADDITIONAL LIBRARY ARCHIVE, MORE CONTENT CURATED FOR THE WEBSITE, AND SUSTAINED BRAND AWARENESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
  3. $11,416 spent. PODCAST - THE PODCAST PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE INSTITUTE OF BLACK IMAGINATION'S AUDIO CONTENT, INCLUDING INTERVIEWS WITH ARTISTS, DESIGNERS, AND CULTURAL LEADERS.
  4. $5,370 spent. OTHER: ARCHIVING, DIGITAL, DEVELOPMENT AND TALLEY ARCHIVE

Source: Form 990EZ 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 May 2022.

    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.