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Philosophical Research Society Inc

EIN 95-2158732 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceFair69 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 46% of its spending went to programs.

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

What it says it does

TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION AND INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS IN THE AREAS OF PHILOSOPHY, COMPARATIVE RELIGIONS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
46%
Reserves
8 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 38%
Employees
20
Volunteers
8

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

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    46% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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)
  1. $541,139 spent. 1) PUBLIC EVENTS: PRS PRESENTS A DIVERSE RANGE OF PUBLIC CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAMS INCLUDING FILM SCREENINGS, LIVE MUSIC CONCERTS, SPECIAL LECTURES AND AUTHOR TALKS, PERFORMANCE ART AND THEATRE EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, MAGIC LANTERN SHOWS, SPECIAL CLASSES (BUTOH DANCE, SOMATIC MOVEMENT, SOUND BATHS) AND MORE. THE EMPHASIS OF THIS PROGRAMMING IS THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN THE CREATIVE ARTS AND METAPHYSICS, MYTHOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY AND MYSTICISM, AND THE EVENTS DRAW ON A VERY WIDE RANGE OF LOS ANGELES AREA ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, AUTHORS, FILMMAKERS, PERFORMERS, HISTORIANS AND LECTURERS AND MORE, DISCUSSING AND CELEBRATING ON AN EQUALLY WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS AND COMMUNITIES (LGBTQ+ STUDIES, LATINO, JEWISH-AMERICAN, ASIAN-AMERICAN, CARRIBEAN AMERICAN). 2) ART GALLERY EXHIBITS EXHIBITIONS ARE PRESENTED IN ITS HANSELL ART GALLERY BY ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING ARTISTS IN A NUMBER OF DISCIPLINES INCLUDING PAINTING, SCULPTURE, VIDEO ART, INSTALLATION ART AND MORE. 3) PUBLIC LIBRARY HOURS THE PRS LIBRARY HOLDS OVER 30,000 RARE BOOKS ON AN INCREDIBLE VARIETY OF SUBJECTS INCLUDING MYTHOLOGY, ARCHAEOLOGY, ANTHROPOLOGY, MYSTICISM, PHILOSOPHY, L.A. CULTURAL HISTORY AND MUCH MORE. THE LIBRARY IS OPEN ON THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS FOR PUBLIC RESEARCH AND STUDY FROM 12 NOON 6:00 PM. 4) OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES PRS ALSO OFFERS ONLINE CLASSES ON SUBJECTS INCLUDING NORSE MYTHOLOGY, ALCHEMY, CHINESE COSMOLOGY AND MEDICINE, ASTROLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY OF SCENT, AND SYMBOLISM. 1) PUBLIC EVENTS: PRS PRESENTS A DIVERSE RANGE OF PUBLIC CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAMS INCLUDING FILM SCREENINGS, LIVE MUSIC CONCERTS, SPECIAL LECTURES AND AUTHOR TALKS, PERFORMANCE ART AND THEATRE EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, MAGIC LANTERN SHOWS, SPECIAL CLASSES (BUTOH DANCE, SOMATIC MOVEMENT, SOUND BATHS) AND MORE. THE EMPHASIS OF THIS PROGRAMMING IS THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN THE CREATIVE ARTS AND METAPHYSICS, MYTHOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY AND MYSTICISM, AND THE EVENTS DRAW ON A VERY WIDE RANGE OF LOS ANGELES AREA ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, AUTHORS, FILMMAKERS, PERFORMERS, HISTORIANS AND LECTURERS AND MORE, DISCUSSING AND CELEBRATING ON AN EQUALLY WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS AND COMMUNITIES (LGBTQ+ STUDIES, LATINO, JEWISH-AMERICAN, ASIAN-AMERICAN, CARRIBEAN AMERICAN). 2) ART GALLERY EXHIBITS EXHIBITIONS ARE PRESENTED IN ITS HANSELL ART GALLERY BY ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING ARTISTS IN A NUMBER OF DISCIPLINES INCLUDING PAINTING, SCULPTURE, VIDEO ART, INSTALLATION ART AND MORE. 3) PUBLIC LIBRARY HOURS THE PRS LIBRARY HOLDS OVER 30,000 RARE BOOKS ON AN INCREDIBLE VARIETY OF SUBJECTS INCLUDING MYTHOLOGY, ARCHAEOLOGY, ANTHROPOLOGY, MYSTICISM, PHILOSOPHY, L.A. CULTURAL HISTORY AND MUCH MORE. THE LIBRARY IS OPEN ON THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS FOR PUBLIC RESEARCH AND STUDY FROM 12 NOON 6:00 PM. 4) OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES PRS ALSO OFFERS ONLINE CLASSES ON SUBJECTS INCLUDING NORSE MYTHOLOGY, ALCHEMY, CHINESE COSMOLOGY AND MEDICINE, ASTROLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY OF SCENT, AND SYMBOLISM.

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

  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 2024.

    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 August 1945.

    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.