Is it real?
Yes. Exemption reinstated (2017-05-15). Per the IRS revocation list. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 2018.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
78 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
9 people listed on the 990; $97K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).
Florangela Davila’s $85K as Executive Director is at the 80th 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 | FY2023 | FY2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florangela Davila | $85,417 | — | — |
| Michael McPhearson | $11,785 | $85,000 | $53,125 |
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 South Seattle Emerald 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 15aNo
Programs and updates
Amplifies authentic stories from South Seattle.
Questions for South Seattle Emerald
Your first name shows with your question. South Seattle Emerald answers here, for everyone.
2025 Report of Accomplishments A new executive director/executive editor joined the South Seattle Emerald (the Emerald) in February 2025. New leadership reorganized the production workflow, brought in new contributors, tested out new areas of journalism focus and helped financially stabilize the organization.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2025. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 47-3677408) · 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 | $276K | $250K |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $277K | $389K |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $0 | $3K |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $277K | $386K |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5 | $97K | $70K | $6K | $22K |
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $93K | $67K | $5K | $21K |
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $6K | $6K | ||
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $17K | $13K | $206 | $4K |
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $44K | $44K | ||
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $447K | $432K | $15K | $275 |
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $3K | $198 | $3K | |
| Office expensesLn 13 | $17K | $6K | $9K | $2K |
| Information technologyLn 14 | $22K | $2K | $14K | $6K |
| OccupancyLn 16 | $5K | $250 | $5K | |
| TravelLn 17 | $350 | $350 | ||
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $752K | $590K | $108K | $54K |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS May 5, 2026 | $863K | $752K | $111K | $386K | 990 PDF |
| FY2024Filed with the IRS Oct 9, 2025 | $821K | $1.0M | −$220K | $277K | 990 PDF |
| FY2023Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2024 | $890K | $798K | $92K | $493K | 990 PDF |
| FY2022Filed with the IRS Oct 25, 2023 | $870K | $717K | $154K | $406K | 990 PDF |
| FY2021Filed with the IRS Oct 11, 2022 | $836K | $648K | $188K | $253K | 990 PDF |
| FY2020Filed with the IRS Nov 11, 2021 | $339K | $294K | $45K | $64K | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2025 990
Part I · Summary $863,206 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 7 of 7 board members independent, 3 to look at
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $863,206 across 12 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $752,477 across 11 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $389,192 assets, 10 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $386,264 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file FY2025 from the IRS (about our sources) · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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