Keysmith Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ENRICH LIFE THROUGH STORY. IN PARTICULAR, WE SEEK WAYS TO SHARE STORIES AND APPROACHES TO STORYTELLING THAT REFLECT "BLACK PEOPLE'S FULL HUMANITY."
- Income
- $224,216
- Spending
- $89,561
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 17.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 7
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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.7 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 38% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 60% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2252% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a 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.
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, 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 (1)
- $85,953 spent. OUR INITIAL FOCUS IS SPACES, PROGRAMMING, AND MATERIALS TO HELP PRESERVE AND ACTIVATE THE LEGACY OF THE SELF-PROCLAIMED "UNUSUAL ARTIST" MS. L.V. HULL FROM KOSCIUSKO, MISSISSIPPI. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDE WORKING WITH OTHER CHARITABLE PARTNERS TO DEVELOP THE FIRST PUBLIC ARTS COMPLEX IN KOSCIUSKO, MS: THE L.V. HULL LEGACY CENTER; PRESERVING HER HOME AS BOTH A HISTORIC SITE AND A SPACE FOR FUTURE PROGRAMMING; CREATING AND OFFERING EXHIBITIONS ABOUT MS. HULL; HOSTING TALKS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND OTHER PROGRAMMING RELATED TO HER ART, LIFE, AND LEGACY; AND PROVIDING COMMUNITY SCREENINGS OF DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT BOTH MS. HULL AND OTHER SELF-TAUGHT ARTISTS AND ENVIRONMENT CREATORS.
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
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.