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San Francisco African American Historical and Cultural Society

EIN 94-1721596 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To educate African Americans and the public at large about the history and culture of San Francisco's African American community.

Income
$15,421
Spending
$52,517
Reserves
18 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%

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

Good: 79 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 241% 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. $25,510 spent. Activities and Exhibits: The Book Club, sponsored jointly with the African American Center at the San Francisco Public Library, Main Branch, continued every other month. Black History Month Kick-off at City Hall, February 7, 2025 with John Templeton keynote speaker and theme of ?African Americans and Labor.? The exhibit, ?Sargent Claude Johnson: A Mid-Twentieth Century California African American Artist,? was launched in June 2025 and extended into late 2025 in a new exhibit, ?Black Creativity, featuring 5 creative figures, including Johnson, Montford Cardwell, Mary Ellen Pleasant and Carlos Martinez. An information table was available at the SFPL, Main Branch, second annual Genealogy conference. The Society held a Jonestown Remembrance Anniversary, featuring Captain Yulanda Williams, survivor.
  2. $1,334 spent. Library and Archive: Portions of the 1970s Monograph, ?Blacks in the West,? and other essays acquired by the Society (either speeches given to the Society or essays prepared by Society members) have been word processed and will be made available in pdf versions in 2026. In response to an inquiry from the City?s Grants for the Arts? Office regarding the Society?s activities while it was located at Ft. Mason, a partial list of activities, including programs, poetry workshops and exhibits was developed from records found in the archive. (Events and Exhibits 1994 ? present.) A list of Carlton Goodlett archival documents and artifacts was sent to Rob Reiter, of the City?s Real Estate Department.
  3. $12,709 spent. Outreach and Education: Praisesinger newsletter developed and sent to membership and friends and posted to website: November ? December 2025, Summer 2025, Amos Brown Special Edition, April 2025

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 October 1962.

    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.