Active Cultures is a public arts nonprofit in los angeles that explores the intersection of art, food, and ecologies through artist-led projects and programs.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
69¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 12 volunteers and 4 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
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $14K a year · 5% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
69%
of spending
Fine: 69% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$91K
to officers and key staff · 31% of spending
Concern: pay to officers and key staff is 31% of spending; over 30%.
Pt VII · Sec A
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.7 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $50K
Looks good: 5 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$8K
7% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 7% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 6 of 6 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$348K
+39% vs prior year
Spent
$295K
To programs
69%
Net assets
$104K
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$348K
FY2025▲ +39%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$218K
FY2022$314K
FY2023$319K
FY2024$250K
FY2025$348K
Expenses
$295K
FY2025▲ +21%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$187K
FY2022$351K
FY2023$305K
FY2024$243K
FY2025$295K
Net assets
$104K
FY2025▲ +107%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$76K
FY2022$39K
FY2023$53K
FY2024$50K
FY2025$104K

From the FY2025 Form 990 · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 2019.

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

Where the money goes

69 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 69% · $203K Management & general 10% · $31K Fundraising 21% · $61K

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

7 people listed on the 990; $91K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$90,750Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Laura Fried’s $91K as Executive Director is at the 83rd 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 · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Laura Fried$90,750$74,250$96,076$91,108$47,250

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 Active Cultures executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

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

Offers food programs and cultural events, bringing people together through art and contemporary culture.

Questions for Active Cultures

Tap to ask. Active Cultures sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Active Cultures answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

1 program · $203K · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Fiscal year 2025 was the first full year of implementing active cultures' FY2024-2027 strategic plan, a year devoted to grounding the organization's values in practice. Active cultures deepened its artist collaborations, expanded free public programming, and strengthened the organizational infrastructure required to sustain and grow its…

$203Kprogram 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
See all 5 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$348K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$340K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$7K
Investment incomeLn 3$925
Money outPt IX
$295K
Ln 25
Programscol B$203K
Managementcol C$31K
Fundraisingcol D$61K
Owns and owesPt X
$104K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$92K
Total assetsLn 16$111K
LiabilitiesLn 26$8K
PeoplePt VI, VII
7
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$340K
Government grantsLn 1e$11K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$7K
Investment incomeLn 3$925
Other incomeLn 4–11$615
Total revenueLn 12$348K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$8K
SavingsLn 2$84K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$92K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$5K
Total assetsLn 16$111K
LiabilitiesLn 26$8K
Net assetsLn 32$104K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 54
VolunteersI 612
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$7K$92K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2K$0
Total assetsLn 16$64K$111K
LiabilitiesLn 26$14K$8K
Net assetsLn 32$50K$104K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$84K$34K$17K$34K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$106K$106K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$4K$3K$551$1K
Payroll taxesLn 10$11K$7K$1K$3K
Legal feesLn 11b$499$499
Accounting feesLn 11c$8K$8K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$25K$24K$289$578
Office expensesLn 13$158$158
Information technologyLn 14$10K$7K$905$2K
OccupancyLn 16$5K$3K$607$1K
TravelLn 17$4K$4K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$20K$20K
InterestLn 20$602$602
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$2K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$1K$1K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$14K$14K
Total functional expensesLn 25$295K$203K$31K$61K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $348K$295K$53K$104K 990 PDF
FY2024 $250K$243K$7K$50K 990 PDF
FY2023 $319K$305K$14K$53K 990 PDF
FY2022 $314K$351K−$37K$39K 990 PDF
FY2021 $218K$187K$32K$76K 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

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 $348,405 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $247,294$339,977
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,400$6,888
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,150$925
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$615
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $249,844$348,405
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $137,166$205,096
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $105,977$89,840
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $243,143$294,936
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $6,701$53,469
Part VI · Governance 6 of 6 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members6
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $348,405 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$38,851
VIII-1e Government grants$11,400
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$289,726
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$339,977
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $6,888$6,888
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $925$925
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $615$615
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $6,888 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,540$348,405
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $294,936 across 16 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $33,600 · Management $16,800 · Fundraising $33,600$84,000
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $106,150$106,150
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $2,675 · Management $551 · Fundraising $1,101$4,327
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $6,564 · Management $1,352 · Fundraising $2,703$10,619
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $499$499
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $7,527$7,527
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $23,662 · Management $289 · Fundraising $578$24,529
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $158$158
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $7,359 · Management $905 · Fundraising $1,976$10,240
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $2,949 · Management $607 · Fundraising $1,214$4,770
IX-17 TravelPrograms $4,117$4,117
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsFundraising $19,850$19,850
IX-20 InterestManagement $602$602
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $2,442$2,442
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $1,456$1,456
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $13,650$13,650
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $203,168 · Management $30,746 · Fundraising $61,022$294,936
Part X · Balance sheet $111,295 assets, 10 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $7,462$7,679
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$84,266
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $53,808$13,922
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $2,442$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $645$5,428
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $64,357$111,295
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $7,142$7,690
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $14,286$7,690
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $50,071$103,605
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $64,357$111,295
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $103,605 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$348,405
XI-2 Total expenses$294,936
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$53,469
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$50,071
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$65
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$103,605

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

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.