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Lunar Foundation

EIN 93-4154707 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

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

What it says it does

BUILD ECONOMIC PATHWAYS FOR ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, AND PACIFIC ISLANDER (AANHPI) ARTISTS IN CENTRAL TEXAS THROUGH PAID SHOWCASES, SKILL-BUILDING PROGRAMS, AND CULTURAL EVENTS THAT GENERATE DIRECT ARTIST REVENUE.

Income
$187,169
Spending
$170,467
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%

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: 30 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 98% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% 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 (3)
  1. $153,842 spent. NIGHTMARKET.FUN IS THE LUNAR FOUNDATION'S FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, AN ANNUAL AANHPI CULTURAL CELEBRATION CO-PRODUCED WITH THE GREATER AUSTIN ASIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (GAACC). THE 2025 FLAGSHIP EVENT TOOK PLACE AT LAKELINE PARK IN CEDAR PARK, TX, DRAWING APPROXIMATELY 2,700 ATTENDEES. THE EVENT FEATURED OVER 100 AANHPI ARTISTS, PERFORMERS, FOOD VENDORS, AND CULTURAL ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS NINE ACRES OF OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING SPACE. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED MULTIDISCIPLINARY PERFORMANCES ON MULTIPLE STAGES, INTERACTIVE INSTALLATIONS, CURATED FOOD EXPERIENCES, FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES, AND THEMATIC ZONES HIGHLIGHTING AANHPI HERITAGE. THE PROGRAM CREATED PAID OPPORTUNITIES FOR AANHPI ARTISTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES WHILE FOSTERING CROSS-CULTURAL CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
  2. $1,800 spent. THE LUNAR FOUNDATION DEVELOPED AND DELIVERED EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING RELATED TO AANHPI PUBLIC ART IN AUSTIN. IN FY2025, THIS INCLUDED A COMMUNITY RECEPTION CELEBRATING THE COMPLETION OF A PUBLIC MURAL SERIES HONORING AANHPI HISTORICAL FIGURES AND A PUBLIC DEDICATION CEREMONY FOR THE 442ND COMBAT TEAM MURAL. TLF'S EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES ENCOMPASSED COMMUNITY RECEPTIONS AND DEDICATION CEREMONIES. MURAL PRODUCTION WAS LED BY A SEPARATE FOR-PROFIT ENTITY; ONLY EXPENSES DIRECTLY INCURRED BY TLF FOR ITS EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES ARE REFLECTED HERE.
  3. $480 spent. THE ILLUMINATE SPEAKER SERIES PROVIDES CAREER DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS AND MODERATED TALKS BY ESTABLISHED PROFESSIONALS TO SUPPORT AANHPI ARTISTS IN BUILDING SUSTAINABLE CREATIVE CAREERS. IN FY2025, TLF HOSTED A FREE FINANCIAL LITERACY WORKSHOP FOR ARTISTS LED BY CPA LISA SRETENOVIC, HELD AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

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 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 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 November 2023.

    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.