Is it real?
Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 2014.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
82 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.
Something off? Claim to add context
Who runs it and what they're paid
14 people listed on the 990; $90K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).
Lynne Avadenka’s $59K as Artistic Director (former) is at the 54th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2216 $100K–1M arts & culture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.
Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 2 named individuals · Part VII
| Name | FY2025 | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynne Avadenka | $59,423 | $72,422 | $62,788 | $50,550 | $48,845 | $48,000 |
| Sarah Ayers | $30,169 | — | — | — | — | — |
Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.
See Signal Return INC executive salaries →Questions the 990 asks
The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.
- Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
- Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes
Programs and updates
Preserves letterpress printing through community arts education in Detroit.
Questions for Signal Return INC
Your first name shows with your question. Signal Return INC answers here, for everyone.
The organization builds community by bringing people together in an open and collaborative arts space, by promoting the combined impact of word and image and the power of the democratic multiple, and by teaching an appreciation for creative expression combined with craftsmanship and technical expertise.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 45-2694042) · Dispute this lineFunders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
By the numbers
The FY2025 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | Start FY25 | End FY25 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $93K | $48K |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $383K | $354K |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $1.1M | $922K |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $195K | $147K |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $908K | $775K |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5 | $93K | $70K | $14K | $9K |
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $154K | $116K | $23K | $15K |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $20K | $15K | $3K | $2K |
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $20K | $15K | $3K | $2K |
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $4K | $3K | $664 | $443 |
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $60 | $60 | ||
| Office expensesLn 13 | $14K | $3K | $8K | $3K |
| OccupancyLn 16 | $75K | $75K | ||
| TravelLn 17 | $3K | $3K | ||
| Payments to affiliatesLn 21 | $29K | $29K | ||
| InsuranceLn 23 | $13K | $10K | $2K | $1K |
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $51K | $51K | ||
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $477K | $390K | $54K | $33K |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS May 13, 2026 | $344K | $477K | −$133K | $775K | 990 PDF |
| FY2024Filed with the IRS May 14, 2025 | $305K | $435K | −$130K | $772K | 990 PDF |
| FY2023Filed with the IRS Jun 6, 2024 | $801K | $264K | $538K | $903K | 990 PDF |
| FY2022Filed with the IRS May 14, 2023 | $305K | $260K | $45K | $365K | 990 PDF |
| FY2021Filed with the IRS Apr 27, 2022 | $262K | $169K | $93K | $320K | 990 PDF |
| FY2020Filed with the IRS May 12, 2021 | $300K | $205K | $96K | $227K | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2025 990
Part I · Summary $344,483 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 12 of 12 board members independent, 2 to look at
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $344,483 across 7 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $477,051 across 12 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $922,430 assets, 14 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $775,278 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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