Ink People Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SINCE 1979, THE INK PEOPLE IS A COMMUNITY BASED ARTS AND CULTURAL ARTS AGENCY WITH AN ADMINISTRATIVE HUB IN EUREKA AND SERVICING THE GREATER NORTH COAST REGION. THE INK PEOPLE CHANGES LIVES BY CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY WITH RESOURCES FOR CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT. WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO EXERCISE THEIR HUMANITY, BUILD CIVIC DISCOURSE, AND ENGAGE THEIR CREATIVE POTENTIAL. WE ARE ORGANIZED ON COMMUNITY ACCESS PRINCIPLES AND THE BELIEF THAT ART, IN ALL ITS FORMS, IS ESSENTIAL TO THE HUMAN SPIRIT AND WELL BEING.
- Income
- $3.1 million
- Spending
- $2.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 42%
- Employees
- 52
- Volunteers
- 1,066
- Highest pay
- $75,283, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 55% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 31% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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)
- $1.7 million spent. THE DREAMMAKER PROGRAM IS THE LARGEST PROGRAM OF THE INK PEOPLE, WHERE THE INK PEOPLE SERVES AS FISCAL SPONSOR FOR ARTS AND CULTURE PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT THE NORTH COAST REGION AND BEYOND. THESE PROJECTS OFTEN CENTER LEADERSHIP FROM HISTORICALLY UNDER-RESOURCED PEOPLES, ADDRESS UNIQUE COMMUNITY NEEDS, ESTABLISH PLACEMAKING/PLACEKEEPING PRACTICES, AND/OR ARE SOURCES OF INNOVATION. DREAMMAKER PROJECTS CONTINUED TO GROW IN NUMBER AND IN CAPACITY OVER THE 24/25 FISCAL YEAR. INK PEOPLE OFFERED ANOTHER SERIES OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS IN GRANT WRITING AND PROGRAM PLANNING AND CREATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR DREAMMAKER LEADERS TO CONNECT TO ONE ANOTHER THROUGH MIXERS. WE CONTINUED THE DREAMMAKER REPRESENTATIVE ON THE INK PEOPLE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. WE ENACTED OUR SECOND ANNUAL REPORT FOR DREAMMAKER PROJECTS AND ARE STARTING TO TRACK DATA FOR THE PROJECTS. WE HIRED A MARKETING DIRECTOR WHO IS SUPPORTING DREAMMAKERS MARKETING THEIR ACTIVITIES. INK PEOPLE STAFF MET WITH DREAMMAKER LEADERS ON A DAILY BASIS, OFFERING CRITICAL ONE ON ONE SUPPORT.
- $417,964 spent. IN 2024/2025, THE INK PEOPLE SUPPORTED COMMUNITY AND PLACE BY CULTIVATING PARTNERSHIPS IN THE EUREKA CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICT AND THE HUMBOLDT CREATIVE ALLIANCE WHILE ALSO EXPANDING ITS EFFORTS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ARTISTS, CULTURE KEEPERS, ARTS/CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THE INK PEOPLE IMPLEMENTED THE SPEAKING SOULATLUK PROGRAM, AND BROUGHT WIYOT LANGUAGE INTO THE PUBLIC SPACE THROUGH SIGNS ON BUSES (THIS PROJECT HAS CONTINUED INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR). THE INK PEOPLE SERVED AS THE CONVENER FOR THE EUREKA CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICT (ECAD) DURING THIS PERIOD, AND THE ECAD EMBARKED ON GRANTMAKING FOR PROJECTS IN THE DISTRICT. THE INK PEOPLE ALSO FACILITATED THE DRAFTING OF GOVERNANCE DOCUMENTS FOR THE ECAD. ADDITIONALLY, THE INK PEOPLE CONTINUED TO BE A CORE MEMBER OF THE HUMBOLDT CREATIVE ALLIANCE, WORKING TO SECURE FUNDING FROM HUMBOLDT COUNTY'S TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX TO BE REGRANTED TO ARTS AND CULTURE ENDEAVORS IN THE COUNTY. THE INK PEOPLE MANAGED A GRANTING PROCESS AND DISTRIBUTED FUNDS TO PROJECTS THAT PROMOTED ART, CULTURE, AND TOURISM WITH A FOCUS ON OUTDOOR EVENTS. THE INK PEOPLE CONTINUES TO BE THE LOCAL ARTS PARTNER FOR THE CITY OF EUREKA, OFFERING SUPPORT FOR THE EUREKA ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION AND CONSULTING WITH CITY STAFF ON PROJECTS THAT ENHANCE PUBLIC SPACES.
- $81,896 spent. THE INK PEOPLE CONTINUED TO SUPPORT ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES TO BENEFIT YOUTH THROUGH THE MEDIA ARTS RESOURCE ZONE (MARZ) PROGRAM AND THE JUMPSTARTS PROGRAM. MARZ YOUTH MENTORS OFFERED FREE YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMMING FOR TEENS AND TRANSITION AGE YOUTH, AGES 12-26. THIS PROGRAMMING OFFERED YOUTH A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT WHILE FACILITATING CAREER PATH LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE DIGITAL AND RECORDING ARTS WITH CAREER AND TECHNICAL CERTIFIED YOUTH MENTORS. THE JUMPSTARTS PROGRAM OFFERED SIMILAR YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMMING AS THE MARZ PROGRAMMING IN JUVENILE HALL, SERVING AT-RISK YOUTH WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. ADDITIONALLY, THE INK PEOPLE OFFERED ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS AND SUPPORT FOR QUEER YOUTH.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 March 2025.
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 July 1981.
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 November 4, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: People Inc (Williamsville, NY), EIN 16-0975538. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.