Is it real?
Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Feb 2019.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
93 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
5 people listed on the 990; $82K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).
Ebony Arunga’s $111K as Executive Director is at the 92nd 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 | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ebony Arunga | $110,833 | $33,333 | — | — | — |
| Timothy Lennon | — | — | $88,750 | $82,000 | $82,000 |
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 Langston 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
Promotes Black arts and culture to strengthen and advance the community.
Questions for Langston
Your first name shows with your question. Langston answers here, for everyone.
Seattle Artists Relief Fund
In response to the pandemic and the hardships it caused for the entire creative community LANGSTON joined with local Black artists to create and administer this relief fund for artists who lost work due to pandemic closures and cancellations. It was the largest single source of aid for individual artists in the state of Washington
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 81-2515412) · Dispute this lineGeneral Programs
expenses for all programs as a whole as well which include 2 smaller programs such as We Out Here and Producing Original Theatre. We Out Here - This 4-day mid-June series of workshops, exhibits and performances is centered on health, wellness, business best practices, and creation & performance for Black artists of multiple disciplines…
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 81-2515412) · Dispute this lineSeattle Black Film Festival
Now in it's 17th year SBFF is our largest annual event. The festival presents over 30 films representing a huge diversity of perspectives and stories from across the Black diaspora. We also host workshops and panels for filmmakers and audiences alike to dive deeper into the themes presented and explore Black Brilliance in a variety of…
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 81-2515412) · 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 FY2020 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | Start FY20 | End FY20 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $732K | $1.2M |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $12K | $9K |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $750K | $1.2M |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | −$201 | $97 |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $750K | $1.2M |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants to domestic individualsLn 2 | $1.3M | $1.3M | ||
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $137K | $130K | $7K | |
| Pension plan contributionsLn 8 | $0 | |||
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $10K | $5K | $3K | $3K |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $15K | $12K | $3K | |
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $23K | $2K | $21K | |
| Investment management feesLn 11f | $0 | |||
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $215K | $150K | $31K | $34K |
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $1K | $1K | ||
| Office expensesLn 13 | $31K | $22K | $9K | |
| OccupancyLn 16 | $500 | $500 | ||
| TravelLn 17 | $677 | $521 | $156 | |
| Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22 | $4K | $4K | ||
| InsuranceLn 23 | $2K | $2K | ||
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $1.8M | $1.6M | $80K | $36K |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 LatestFiled with the IRS Nov 13, 2025 | $767K | $858K | −$91K | $1.9M | 990 PDF |
| FY2023Filed with the IRS Jun 13, 2024 | $824K | $716K | $108K | $2.0M | 990 PDF |
| FY2022Filed with the IRS Jul 25, 2023 | $802K | $555K | $247K | $1.9M | 990 PDF |
| FY2021Filed with the IRS Oct 4, 2022 | $942K | $509K | $433K | $1.7M | 990 PDF |
| FY2020 ViewingFiled with the IRS Aug 13, 2021 | $2.2M | $1.8M | $472K | $1.2M | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2020 990
Part I · Summary $2,230,832 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 3 of 3 board members independent, 3 to look at
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,230,832 across 10 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,759,025 across 14 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $1,221,922 assets, 10 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,221,825 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file FY2020 from the IRS (about our sources) · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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