Afro Charities cares for the historic Afro american newspapers' archive and creates meaningful opportunities for our community to engage with this indispensible set of resources.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
84¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 25 volunteers and 9 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 3
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.9M a year · 69% of revenue · last 3 filings
Fine: a surplus in 2 of the last 3 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 3 filings
Spent on programs
84%
of spending
Looks good: 84% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$144K
to officers and key staff · 13% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 13% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
14 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 14.1 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $19K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$7.8M
51% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 51% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
7
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 7 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$4.0M
+2% vs prior year
Spent
$1.1M
To programs
84%
Net assets
$7.5M
By yearFY2019–FY2025
Revenue
$4.0M
FY2025▲ +2%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2019$2K
FY2020$45K
FY2021$51K
FY2023$390K
FY2024$3.9M
FY2025$4.0M
Expenses
$1.1M
FY2025▲ +15%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2019Not on file
FY2020Not on file
FY2021Not on file
FY2023$446K
FY2024$967K
FY2025$1.1M
Net assets
$7.5M
FY2025▲ +9%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2019$42K
FY2020$54K
FY2021$70K
FY2023$3.7M
FY2024$6.9M
FY2025$7.5M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Dec 1992.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

84 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 84% · $934K Management & general 10% · $115K Fundraising 6% · $66K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

10 people listed on the 990; $144K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$144,268Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023
Savannah Wood$144,268$114,835$80,000

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 Afro Charities INC executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Preserves and shares historic African American newspaper archives, creating public engagement opportunities.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $788K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

The development of the historic Upton Mansion includes the restoration of the historic mansion and carriage house, the construction of an annex at the rear of the property, and extensive site work on the grounds.

$423Kprogram expense
02

The AFRO Archives have historically been an internal reference archive for AFRO editors and reporters. Afro Charities has taken on the labor- intensive work of converting these materials into a public-facing research archive.

$335Kprogram expense
03

Afro Charities hosts a biennial artist commissioning project, inviting contemporary artists to explore the AFRO Archives, and supporting their research and artistic production. Artists work is ultimately shown in a public exhibition.

$30Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$19K
Grants paid · 2 grants · $14K · 2022–2023
Afro American Newspaper CoFY2023$5,500
The Afro American Newspaper CompanyFY2022$9,000

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.9M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$67K
Investment incomeLn 3$18K
Money outPt IX
$1.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$934K
Managementcol C$115K
Fundraisingcol D$66K
Owns and owesPt X
$7.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.3M
Total assetsLn 16$15.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$7.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b7
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.9M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.3M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$13K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$26K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$67K
Investment incomeLn 3$18K
Other incomeLn 4–11$685
Total revenueLn 12$4.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$498K
SavingsLn 2$810K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.3M
Total assetsLn 16$15.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$7.8M
Net assetsLn 32$7.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 59
VolunteersI 625
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$13K
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.4M$1.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.0M$1.3M
Total assetsLn 16$4.9M$15.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$210K$7.8M
Net assetsLn 32$4.7M$7.5M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$144K$36K$72K$36K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$345K$345K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$11K$8K$2K$1K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$17K$12K$3K$2K
Payroll taxesLn 10$36K$25K$7K$4K
Accounting feesLn 11c$18K$12K$7K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2K$2K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$16K$11K$3K$2K
Office expensesLn 13$12K$3K$8K$1K
OccupancyLn 16$25K$17K$5K$2K
TravelLn 17$6K$3K$3K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$1K$681$681
InterestLn 20$185K$185K
InsuranceLn 23$8K$7K$1K$100
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$245K$245K
All other expensesLn 24e$44K$25K$199$18K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.1M$934K$115K$66K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $4.0M$1.1M$2.8M$7.5M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Apr 25, 2025 $3.9M$967K$2.9M$6.9M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Dec 21, 2023 $390K$446K−$56K$3.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 Not on file
FY2021Filed with the IRS Nov 18, 2021 $51K$70K 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Feb 6, 2021 $45K$54K 990 PDF
FY2019Filed with the IRS May 26, 2021 $2K$42K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,950,136 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $3,870,531$3,864,393
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $18,848$66,598
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,871$18,460
I-11 Other revenue$685
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,891,250$3,950,136
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $5,500$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $418,861$553,093
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $30,000$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $512,219$561,975
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $966,580$1,115,068
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $2,924,670$2,835,068
Part VI · Governance 7 of 9 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members7
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $3,950,136 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$25,548
VIII-1e Government grants$2,298,825
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,540,020
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$12,900
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,864,393
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $66,598$66,598
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $18,460$18,460
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $685$685
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $85,743 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$3,950,136
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,115,068 across 16 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $36,067 · Management $72,135 · Fundraising $36,067$144,269
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $344,713$344,713
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $7,933 · Management $2,267 · Fundraising $1,133$11,333
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $11,714 · Management $3,347 · Fundraising $1,673$16,734
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $25,231 · Management $7,209 · Fundraising $3,604$36,044
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $11,563 · Management $6,563$18,126
IX-11g Other fees for servicesManagement $2,390$2,390
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $11,441 · Management $3,269 · Fundraising $1,634$16,344
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $2,714 · Management $7,794 · Fundraising $1,320$11,828
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $17,220 · Management $4,920 · Fundraising $2,460$24,600
IX-17 TravelPrograms $2,996 · Management $2,996$5,992
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $681 · Management $681$1,362
IX-20 InterestPrograms $185,230$185,230
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $6,726 · Management $1,048 · Fundraising $100$7,874
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $244,701$244,701
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $25,346 · Management $199 · Fundraising $17,983$43,528
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $934,276 · Management $114,818 · Fundraising $65,974$1,115,068
Part X · Balance sheet $15,359,540 assets, 12 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $8,740,000; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,132,471$498,084
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $292,104$809,985
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,461,204$3,985,529
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,030,529$1,325,942
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,916,308$15,359,540
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $204,150$3,154
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $5,654$6,759
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $209,804$7,817,968
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,815,847$2,470,483
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,890,657$5,071,089
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $4,706,504$7,541,572
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,916,308$15,359,540
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $7,541,572 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,950,136
XI-2 Total expenses$1,115,068
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,835,068
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$4,706,504
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$7,541,572

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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