The mission of Penn Center is to promote and preserve Penn's true history and culture through it's commitment to education, community development and social justice.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
46¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX

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FY2020 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $238K a year · 12% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
46%
of spending
Concern: 46% of spending went to programs; under 50%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.7 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $767K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$952K
21% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 21% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
12
of 12 voting members
Looks good: 12 of 12 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$813K
Spent
$1.2M
To programs
46%
Net assets
$3.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$813K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$813K
FY2021$3.4M
FY2022$1.4M
FY2023$2.2M
FY2024$1.9M
Expenses
$1.2M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.2M
FY2021$1.6M
FY2022$1.9M
FY2023$2.2M
FY2024$1.7M
Net assets
$3.6M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$3.6M
FY2021$5.4M
FY2022$4.9M
FY2023$5.0M
FY2024$5.1M

From the FY2020 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

990 PDF Claim
You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

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.

Program services 46% · $553K Management & general 54% · $645K Fundraising 0% · $882

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

15 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Dir.
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2023FY2022
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.

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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 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.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $533K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

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.

$377Kprogram expense
02

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.

$91Kprogram expense
03

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.

$66Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$767K

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$813K
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$427K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$356K
Other incomeLn 4–11$31K
Money outPt IX
$1.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$553K
Managementcol C$645K
Fundraisingcol D$882
Owns and owesPt X
$3.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$471K
Total assetsLn 16$4.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$952K
PeoplePt VI, VII
15
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a12
IndependentVI 1b12
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$356K
Government grantsLn 1e$123K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$124K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$427K
Other incomeLn 4–11$31K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$813K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$471K
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$471K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$24K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.9M
Other assetsLn 15$34K
Total assetsLn 16$4.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$952K
Net assetsLn 32$3.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 515
VolunteersI 625
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14No
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$124K
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
LineFY20FY19FY18FY17FY16
End of yearLn 1g$24K$19K$124K$136K$212K
SpentLn 1d–1f$106K$11K$76K$25K
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$101K$471K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$19K$24K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4.1M$3.9M
Total assetsLn 16$4.3M$4.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$357K$952K
Net assetsLn 32$3.9M$3.6M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
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$393K$227K$166K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$25K$18K$7K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$17K$17K
Accounting feesLn 11c$23K$23K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$146K$85K$61K$802
Advertising and promotionLn 12$90$90
Office expensesLn 13$0
Information technologyLn 14$8K$2K$5K$80
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$0
TravelLn 17$9K$1K$8K
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$257K$11K$246K
InsuranceLn 23$53K$26K$26K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$238K$167K$71K
All other expensesLn 24e$24K$16K$8K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.2M$553K$645K$882

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 LatestFiled 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
FY2020 ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 13, 2021 $813K$1.2M−$386K$3.6M 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 M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $813,174 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $319,238$355,868
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $694,566$426,712
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $205,550$30,594
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,219,354$813,174
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $467,181$418,432
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,140,401$780,691
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,607,582$1,199,123
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$388,228−$385,949
Part VI · Governance 12 of 12 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body12
VI-1b Independent voting members12
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $813,174 across 12 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$123,050
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$232,818
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$123,895
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$355,868
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $426,712$426,712
VIII-3 Investment income$0
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $30,594$30,594
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $457,306$813,174
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,199,123 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staff$0
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $226,512 · Management $166,426$392,938
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefits$0
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $18,381 · Management $7,113$25,494
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $17,033$17,033
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $22,800$22,800
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $84,527 · Management $61,073 · Fundraising $802$146,402
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $90$90
IX-13 Office expenses$0
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $2,200 · Management $5,363 · Fundraising $80$7,643
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 Occupancy$0
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,034 · Management $7,937$8,971
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 InterestManagement $6,180$6,180
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $11,187 · Management $245,779$256,966
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $26,382 · Management $26,455$52,837
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $166,892 · Management $70,860$237,752
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $15,728 · Management $8,289$24,017
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $552,843 · Management $645,398 · Fundraising $882$1,199,123
Part X · Balance sheet $4,523,204 assets, 21 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $101,260$471,329
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $4,218$11,046
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $6,574$6,972
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $22,883$101,441
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $4,123,772$3,874,498
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $18,826$24,018
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assets$33,900
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,277,533$4,523,204
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $137,282$122,948
X-19 Deferred revenue$416,962
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $192,653$133,539
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $357,365$951,550
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $3,920,168$3,154,992
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictions$416,662
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,920,168$3,571,654
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,277,533$4,523,204
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $3,571,654 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$813,174
XI-2 Total expenses$1,199,123
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$385,949
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,920,168
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$37,435
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$3,571,654

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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