Willamette Light Brigade

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Enriching the city with art and Light with an annual festival and year around bridge lighting.

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2025. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 93-1061954) · Dispute this line
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
87¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 160 volunteers and 1 employee.
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
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $73K a year · 15% of revenue · last 5 filings
A surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
87%
of spending
87% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$82K
to officers and key staff · 11% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 11% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
7.6 mo
of spending, in cash
7.6 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $130K
5 funders name it on their filings.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$66K
13% of total assets
Liabilities are 13% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
10
of 10 voting members
10 of 10 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$900K
+36% vs prior year
Spent
$747K
To programs
87%
Net assets
$440K
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$900K
FY2025▲ +36%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$146K
FY2022$325K
FY2023$404K
FY2024$662K
FY2025$900K
Expenses
$747K
FY2025▲ +34%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$107K
FY2022$280K
FY2023$381K
FY2024$557K
FY2025$747K
Net assets
$440K
FY2025▲ +53%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$114K
FY2022$160K
FY2023$183K
FY2024$288K
FY2025$440K

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

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in May 2000.

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

Where the money goes

87 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 87% · $652K Management & general 6% · $42K Fundraising 7% · $53K

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

12 people listed on the 990; $82K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Dir.
$81,969Pt VII · Sec A
Board Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Past Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Alisha Sullivan’s $82K as Executive Dir. is at the 58th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1709 $100K–1M community development 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
Alisha Sullivan$81,969$72,040$66,005$57,005$45,000

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 Willamette Light Brigade 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

Illuminates the city with art and light through an annual festival and year-round bridge lighting.

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2 programs · $652K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Light Festival Program

Conducting the annual portland winter light festival.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 93-1061954) · Dispute this line
$624Kprogram expense
02

Bridge Lighting Program

Lighting the public willamette river bridges in portland.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 93-1061954) · Dispute this line
$28Kprogram 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
Travel PortlandFY2024$50K
Total grants receivedfrom 5 funders$130K
See all 5 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$900K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$737K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$102K
Other incomeLn 4–11$54K
Money outPt IX
$747K
Ln 25
Programscol B$652K
Managementcol C$42K
Fundraisingcol D$53K
Owns and owesPt X
$440K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$472K
Total assetsLn 16$506K
LiabilitiesLn 26$66K
PeoplePt VI, VII
12
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a10
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$737K
Government grantsLn 1e$151K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$44K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$102K
Investment incomeLn 3$6K
Other incomeLn 4–11$54K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$900K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$132K
SavingsLn 2$340K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$472K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$2K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$33K
Total assetsLn 16$506K
LiabilitiesLn 26$66K
Net assetsLn 32$440K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 51
VolunteersI 6160
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$44K
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$248K$472K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$34K$33K
Total assetsLn 16$305K$506K
LiabilitiesLn 26$18K$66K
Net assetsLn 32$288K$440K
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 officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$82K$39K$20K$23K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$0
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$8K$4K$2K$2K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$228K$206K$12K$10K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$1K$1K$424
Office expensesLn 13$53K$37K$1K$16K
Information technologyLn 14$8K$5K$2K$796
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$3K$3K$300
TravelLn 17$5K$3K$2K$46
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$6K$6K$324
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1K$1K
InsuranceLn 23$10K$7K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$341K$340K$2K
All other expensesLn 24e$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$747K$652K$42K$53K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 14, 2025 $900K$747K$152K$440K 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Nov 26, 2024 $662K$557K$105K$288K 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Oct 24, 2023 $404K$381K$23K$183K 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Nov 17, 2022 $325K$280K$45K$160K 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Nov 3, 2021 $146K$107K$39K$114K 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support I · Grants M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990
Part I · Summary $899,660 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $519,890$737,447
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $78,036$101,863
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,225$6,425
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $61,920$53,925
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $662,071$899,660
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $79,413$90,021
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $477,933$657,395
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $557,346$747,416
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $104,725$152,244
Part VI · Governance 10 of 10 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body10
VI-1b Independent voting members10
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
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-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $899,660 across 12 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $48,846 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$151,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$586,447
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$43,807
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$737,447
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $101,863$101,863
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $6,425$6,425
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 $5,079$5,079
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $155,788 · Excluded from tax $6,425$899,660
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $747,416 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 officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $39,345 · Management $19,673 · Fundraising $22,951$81,969
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wages$0
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefits$0
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $3,883 · Management $1,904 · Fundraising $2,265$8,052
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting fees$0
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $205,933 · Management $12,098 · Fundraising $9,881$227,912
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,051 · Management $424$1,475
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $36,520 · Management $1,183 · Fundraising $15,640$53,343
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $5,167 · Management $2,094 · Fundraising $796$8,057
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $3,003 · Management $300$3,303
IX-17 TravelPrograms $2,657 · Management $2,366 · Fundraising $46$5,069
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $5,760 · Fundraising $324$6,084
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,061$1,061
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $7,477 · Management $2,377$9,854
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $339,734 · Fundraising $1,503$341,237
IX-24e All other expenses$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $651,591 · Management $42,419 · Fundraising $53,406$747,416
Part X · Balance sheet $506,399 assets, 23 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $80,297$132,313
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $168,167$339,592
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $22,200$0
X-4 Accounts receivable$0
X-5 Loans to officers and key people$0
X-6 Loans to other insiders$0
X-7 Notes and loans receivable$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $920$1,794
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $33,761$32,700
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assets$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $305,345$506,399
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $14,536$8,246
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $3,000$58,100
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $17,536$66,346
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $271,859$374,103
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $15,950$65,950
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $287,809$440,053
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $305,345$506,399
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $440,053 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$899,660
XI-2 Total expenses$747,416
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$152,244
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$287,809
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$440,053

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

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