Is it real?
Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Feb 1942.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
46 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
19 people listed on the 990.
Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 2 named individuals · Part VII
| Name | FY2023 | FY2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Adams Ed | $76,154 | — |
| Bernie Wright | $44,280 | $74,880 |
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 Penn Center 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 and promotes Gullah Geechee history and culture through education and community development.
Questions for Penn Center INC
Your first name shows with your question. Penn Center INC answers here, for everyone.
The Conference Center program provides food, lodging and conference center facilities for visitors to the Penn Center and for program participants studying Penn Center history, purpose and mission.
The History and Culture Program collects, documents, preserves and disseminates information related to the cultural heritage of the Sea Island and Lowcountry African-American culture. To meet these needs, the program operates the York W. Bailey Museum and Gift Shop and maintains the Laura M. Towne Archives and Library.
The PACE program provides programs assisting Beaufort County Youth with academic achievement, homework assistance and curriculum centered on the Sea Islands Heritage. It also provides Child Care services for children aged 6 months-5 years, and After School and Summer Camp programs for youth aged 6-18 Years.
Funders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
By the numbers
The FY2024 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | FY24 | FY23 | FY22 | FY21 | FY20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| End of yearLn 1g | $1.4M | $2.4M | $3.2M | $1.2M | $24K |
| Given inLn 1b | $1.9M | $1.2M | |||
| SpentLn 1d–1f | $1.1M | $740K |
| Line | Start FY24 | End FY24 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $250K | $35K |
| InvestmentsLn 11–13 | $2.4M | $1.4M |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $4.1M | $4.2M |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $7.0M | $5.8M |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $2.0M | $710K |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $5.0M | $5.1M |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1 | $0 | |||
| Grants to domestic individualsLn 2 | $0 | |||
| Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3 | $0 | |||
| Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4 | $0 | |||
| Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5 | $0 | |||
| Pay of disqualified personsLn 6 | $0 | |||
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $383K | $157K | $226K | |
| Pension plan contributionsLn 8 | $0 | |||
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $0 | |||
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $31K | $13K | $18K | |
| Management feesLn 11a | $0 | |||
| Legal feesLn 11b | $22K | $22K | ||
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $26K | $26K | ||
| Lobbying feesLn 11d | $0 | |||
| Professional fundraising feesLn 11e | $0 | |||
| Investment management feesLn 11f | $0 | |||
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $34K | $9K | $23K | $2K |
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $150 | $150 | ||
| Office expensesLn 13 | $0 | |||
| Information technologyLn 14 | $7K | $4K | $4K | |
| RoyaltiesLn 15 | $0 | |||
| OccupancyLn 16 | $0 | |||
| TravelLn 17 | $13K | $1K | $12K | |
| Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18 | $0 | |||
| Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19 | $0 | |||
| InterestLn 20 | $6K | $6K | ||
| Payments to affiliatesLn 21 | $0 | |||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22 | $233K | $233K | ||
| InsuranceLn 23 | $87K | $63K | $24K | $35 |
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $696K | $318K | $209K | $170K |
| All other expensesLn 24e | $198K | $239K | −$44K | $3K |
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $1.7M | $804K | $757K | $174K |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 11, 2025 | $1.9M | $1.7M | $176K | $5.1M | 990 PDF |
| FY2023Filed with the IRS Nov 13, 2024 | $2.2M | $2.2M | $73K | $5.0M | 990 PDF |
| FY2022Filed with the IRS Nov 12, 2023 | $1.4M | $1.9M | −$503K | $4.9M | 990 PDF |
| FY2021Filed with the IRS Nov 9, 2022 | $3.4M | $1.6M | $1.8M | $5.4M | 990 PDF |
| FY2020Filed with the IRS Nov 13, 2021 | $813K | $1.2M | −$386K | $3.6M | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,910,667 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 12 of 12 board members independent, 1 to look at
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,910,667 across 11 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,734,547 across 31 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $5,766,450 assets, 22 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $5,056,429 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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