2026-09-15T20:19:11-05:00 2025-10-31 911123435 THE MYERS ASSOCIATES PC 520 PIKE ST STE 1040 SEATTLE WA 981012397 990 2024-11-01 911311548 NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE NORT 2066847300 305 HARRISON ST SEATTLE WA 98109 MARISSA A TANIMURA MANAGING DIRECTOR 2066847300 2026-09-15 1 0 MARK T LONG CPA P00047630 2066236116 2026-09-15 2024 MARISSA A TANIMURA 305 HARRISON ST SEATTLE WA 98109 1915866 0 X NWFOLKLIFE.ORG X 1984 WA NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL TO CELEBRATE, SHARE, AND PARTICIPATE IN THE EVOLVING CULTURAL TRADITIONS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. 14 14 158 221 0 0 872733 1374970 697438 540896 3638 0 0 0 1573809 1915866 0 0 0 0 1213819 990158 0 0 111167 834955 752542 2048774 1742700 -474965 173166 514045 513191 578696 766742 -64651 -253551 X NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL TO CELEBRATE, SHARE, AND PARTICIPATE IN THE EVOLVING CULTURAL TRADITIONS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. 0 0 1312719 540896 NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE IS A WASHINGTON-BASED 501(C)(3) ARTS AND HERITAGE ORGANIZATION THAT CELEBRATES THE DIVERSE TAPESTRY OF ARTS, CULTURES, AND TRADITIONS REPRESENTED IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND CONNECTED TO COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD. SINCE 1971, NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE'S WORK HAS BEEN ROOTED IN THE SHARED HUMANITY OF CONNECTION AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND DRIVEN BY INTERGENERATIONAL AND INTERCULTURAL EXPERIENCES. AT ITS CORE, NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH HERITAGE, IDENTITY, CREATIVITY, AND COMMUNITY. THROUGH PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE ANNUAL NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL, ANNUAL CULTURAL FOCUS, CULTURAL & CREATIVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, OUR BIG NEIGHBORHOOD, AND COMMUNITY COORDINATOR PROGRAM, NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE USES CULTURAL MENTORSHIP AND CREATIVE PRACTICE TO ENCOURAGE EXPLORATION OF HERITAGE, BRIDGE COMMUNICATION AND UNDERSTANDING, AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPATION AND BELONGING.THIS WORK SPANS GENERATIONS, RACIAL AND ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND DIVERSE EXPRESSIONS OF IDENTITY. NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE CENTERS THE KNOWLEDGE AND LEADERSHIP OF ARTISTS, EDUCATORS, CULTURE BEARERS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, COLLABORATING WITH MORE THAN 100 COMMUNITY COORDINATORS FROM THROUGHOUT THE REGION TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY-POWERED PROGRAMMING. THE ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZES CULTURE AS LIVING, EVOLVING, AND SHAPED BY THE PEOPLE WHO PRACTICE AND SHARE IT. FROM EVERYDAY CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION TO FAMILY AND COMMUNITY CUSTOMS, FOLKLIFE IS PART OF ALL OUR LIVES-PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE. NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE'S MISSION IS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL TO CELEBRATE, SHARE, AND PARTICIPATE IN THE EVOLVING CULTURAL TRADITIONS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. ITS WORK REMAINS COMMUNITY POWERED THROUGH THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF DONORS, SPONSORS, VOLUNTEERS, ARTISTS, CULTURAL LEADERS, PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE MANY COMMUNITIES WHO HELP SHAPE ITS PROGRAMS.SINCE 1972, THE ANNUAL NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL HAS BEEN HELD DURING MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AT SEATTLE CENTER, THE HISTORIC SITE OF THE 1962 WORLD'S FAIR. WHAT BEGAN AS A REGIONAL GATHERING CELEBRATING TRADITIONAL, ETHNIC, AND FOLK ARTS HAS GROWN INTO ONE OF THE LARGEST CELEBRATIONS OF ITS KIND IN NORTH AMERICA. THE FOUR-DAY FESTIVAL BRINGS TOGETHER THOUSANDS OF PERFORMERS, ARTISTS, CULTURE BEARERS, MAKERS, EDUCATORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS NUMEROUS STAGES AND PROGRAM AREAS, WELCOMING AUDIENCES FROM SEATTLE, THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, AND AROUND THE WORLD. IN 2025, THE FESTIVAL WELCOMED APPROXIMATELY 225,000 ATTENDEES, UNDERSCORING ITS ROLE AS ONE OF THE REGION'S LARGEST AND MOST ACCESSIBLE CELEBRATIONS OF COMMUNITY, CULTURE, AND CREATIVITY. THE FESTIVAL REMAINS LOCALLY AND COMMUNITY DRIVEN, WITH ARTISTS AND CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS FROM COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE REGION AT THE CENTER OF ITS PROGRAMMING.A CORE VALUE OF NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE IS THAT COMMUNITIES SHOULD HAVE VOICE AND AGENCY IN THE REPRESENTATION OF THEIR CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS. THIS PRINCIPLE IS REFLECTED IN THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMUNITY-COORDINATED PROGRAMMING AND CULTURAL FOCUS MODEL, WHICH INVITES ARTISTS, EDUCATORS, CULTURE BEARERS, ACTIVISTS, AND CULTURAL LEADERS TO SHAPE PROGRAMMING THAT REFLECTS THE EXPERIENCES AND TRADITIONS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE CULTURAL FOCUS FUNCTIONS AS A "FESTIVAL WITHIN A FESTIVAL," PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEEPER ENGAGEMENT THROUGH PERFORMANCES, PANELS, WORKSHOPS, EXHIBITIONS, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.IN 2025, NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE PRESENTED THE FOURTH CHAPTER OF ITS FIVE-PART CULTURAL FOCUS SERIES, FOLLOWING METAMORPHOSIS IN 2022, LAGOM IN 2023, AND MERAKI IN 2024. THE 2025 THEME, IKIGAI, EXPLORED THE JAPANESE CONCEPT ASSOCIATED WITH PURPOSE, MEANING, AND THE THINGS THAT GIVE LIFE VALUE. AS PART OF THE ORGANIZATION'S BROADER "NEXT 50" FRAMEWORK, THE SERIES INVITES NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE AND ITS COMMUNITIES TO CONSIDER HOW CULTURAL TRADITIONS EVOLVE, HOW PEOPLE FIND BALANCE AND PURPOSE, AND HOW INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE JOURNEYS CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE CONNECTED AND VIBRANT REGION. THE SERIES WILL CULMINATE IN 2026 WITH UBUNTU; AN AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY CENTERED ON INTERCONNECTEDNESS AND THE IDEA THAT OUR HUMANITY IS BOUND TOGETHER THROUGH OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER.THE 2025 FESTIVAL CONTINUED TO EXPAND THE WAYS FOLKLIFE IS REPRESENTED AND EXPERIENCED. IN ADDITION TO MUSIC, DANCE, STORYTELLING, AND CULTURAL DEMONSTRATIONS, PROGRAMMING INCLUDED VISUAL ART, FASHION AND WEARABLES, FOODWAYS, FOOD JUSTICE AND SOVEREIGNTY, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, CRAFT, AND PARTICIPATORY ARTS. INITIATIVES SUCH AS THREADS OF THE PEOPLE, KULEANA, MAKERS PROGRAMMING, AND THE COMMUNITY QUILT REFLECT NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE'S UNDERSTANDING OF FOLK CULTURE AS SOMETHING PEOPLE ACTIVELY CREATE, ADAPT, AND SHARE RATHER THAN SOMETHING FIXED IN THE PAST. THE COMMUNITY QUILT, FOR EXAMPLE, INVITED COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CONTRIBUTE INDIVIDUAL QUILT BLOCKS THAT WERE ASSEMBLED INTO A COLLECTIVE WORK OF ART, CREATING A TANGIBLE REPRESENTATION OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND SHARED EXPRESSION.NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE'S YEAR-ROUND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMMING EXTENDS THIS WORK BEYOND THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL. OUR BIG NEIGHBORHOOD CREATES YEAR-ROUND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS TO PERFORM AND PRESENT WORK, STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND WORKING TO AMPLIFY THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF ARTS-CENTERED BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE REGION. PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THE 'FOLKLIFE SESSIONS' AT MTIER BREWING COMPANY'S CHERRY STREET LOCATION, AND 'FOLKLIFE FRIDAYS' WITH OPEN SPACE VASHON, EXPANDED ARTISTIC CURATION AND COLLABORATION ON PERFORMANCES THAT SHOWCASE THE DIVERSE ARRAY OF ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING ARTISTS REPRESENTING THE DYNAMIC FACETS OF TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY "FOLK". THESE PROGRAMS STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS, BOLSTERING CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND CREATIVE COLLABORATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.SINCE 2020, NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE HAS PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE'S OFFICE OF ARTS & CULTURE AND OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE CULTURAL & CREATIVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (CCWD). THE PROGRAM PROVIDES PAID, CAREER-CONNECTED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG CREATIVES, TYPICALLY AGES 16-26, THROUGH INTERNSHIPS AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES ACROSS SEATTLE'S CULTURAL AND CREATIVE ECOSYSTEM. PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND NETWORKS WHILE RECEIVING MENTORSHIP GROUNDED IN COMMUNITY BUILDING, LIVED EXPERIENCE, AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PRACTICE. THE PROGRAM ENGAGES ARTISTS, CULTURE BEARERS, CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, SMALL BUSINESSES, ENTREPRENEURS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS TO SUPPORT GREATER ACCESS TO CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE CREATIVE ECONOMY.TOGETHER, THESE PROGRAMS REPRESENT NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE'S ONGOING COMMITMENT TO CULTURAL VITALITY, COMMUNITY AGENCY, AND CREATIVE OPPORTUNITY. NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE UNDERSTANDS "FOLK" AS A LIVING AND DYNAMIC EXPRESSION OF SHARED VALUES, EVOLVING TRADITIONS, COLLECTIVE TRANSFORMATION, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION. ITS WORK RECOGNIZES THAT CULTURE IS NOT SIMPLY SOMETHING WE INHERIT-IT IS SOMETHING WE PRACTICE, SHAPE, SHARE, AND CARRY FORWARD TOGETHER. 1312719 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 26 0 158 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 14 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 WA X X THE ORGANIZATION 2066847300 305 HARRISON ST SEATTLE WA 98109 LEN ADAMS BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 LUTHER BLACK VICE-PRESIDENT (PART YEAR) 6.00 X X 0 0 0 MARI CANON BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 MICHELLE DEMERS SHAEVITZ PRESIDENT 4.00 X X 0 0 0 SHANNON DUDLEY BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 MICHAEL HERSCHENSOHN TREASURER 3.00 X X 0 0 0 CARRIE LANZA VICE-PRESIDENT (PART YEAR) 2.00 X X 0 0 0 HARVEY NIEBULSKI BOARD MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 MIKE RICHARDSON BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARY SANFORD BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 LATHA SAMBAMURTI BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 OTHO SANDWICK BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 DENNIS TEVLIN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 WILLIAM WATSON SECRETARY 2.00 X X 0 0 0 MARISSA TANIMURA MANAGING DIRECTOR 40.00 X 73920 0 1478 BENJAMIN N HUNTER ARTISTIC DIRECTOR 40.00 X 72000 0 1408 TONY ICASIANO FINANCIAL DIRECTOR (PART YEAR) 40.00 X 31810 0 3079 VALERIE EWERT FINANCIAL DIRECTOR (PART YEAR) 40.00 X 46458 0 5150 224188 0 11115 0 0 0 0 0 295230 1079740 31826 1374970 MERCHANT FEES 711300 281273 281273 MERCHANT COMMISSIONS 711300 186685 186685 COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING 711300 48420 48420 OTHER SALES 711300 24518 24518 540896 1915866 540896 0 0 X 235304 110260 94122 30922 608247 535724 64945 7578 3273 2242 723 308 42747 30828 10633 1286 100587 76468 19474 4645 11075 7753 1661 1661 238110 126613 60258 51239 15190 11130 592 3468 66047 42917 19036 4094 27202 20537 3333 3332 13616 11189 2427 38976 38976 39768 39768 26342 21074 2634 2634 PRODUCTION 244390 244390 DONATED ITEMS 31826 31826 1742700 1312719 318814 111167 211831 245634 1523 1523 6000 0 26465 12269 27939 47371 361363 154969 240287 206394 514045 513191 51574 33938 0 34 500000 487770 0 245000 27122 0 578696 766742 X -64651 -253551 -64651 -253551 514045 513191 173166 -362066 0 X X 0 0 0 X 926618 1708495 836386 1059659 1047914 5579072 219876 437703 651406 615852 540896 2465733 102202 922531 1112182 1112182 295230 3544327 1248696 3068729 2599974 2787693 1884040 11589132 80358 33433 104319 104319 327138 649567 0 80358 33433 104319 104319 327138 649567 10939565 53 5095 3638 4889 0 13675 53 5095 3638 4889 13675 1248749 3073824 2603612 2792582 1884040 11602807 0.94280 0.95260 0.00120 0.00120 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 361363 154969 206394 206394 X 4 204138 FMV ON DONATION DATE X EQUIP/SUPPLIES 23 31826 X MEDIA SPONSORSHIPS 0 0 AMOUNT UNAVAILABLE W 0 0 0 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE'S FULL BOARD REVIEWS THE FORM 990 PRIOR TO FILING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C BOARD MEMBERS UPDATE AND SIGN CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS ANNUALLY. _ FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 AUDITED / REVIEWED (ALTERNATING YEARS) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 11G OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FEES: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 109,537. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 56,443. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 47,672. TOTAL EXPENSES 213,652. COMPUTER SUPPORT: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 17,076. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 3,815. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 3,567. TOTAL EXPENSES 24,458. FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 25 BECAUSE MUCH OF NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE'S REVENUE AND EXPENSE REPRESENTS CONTRIBUTED LABOR AND FACILITIES (WHICH THE IRS DOES NOT INCLUDE IN REVENUE AND EXPENSE FOR THE FORM 990), THE PROGRAM RATIO FOR IRS PURPOSES IS MUCH LOWER THAN APPEARS ON THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C AUDIT OVERSIGHT: THE AUDIT IS OVERSEEN BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE. ANY UNUSUAL OR SIGNIFICANT ITEMS ARE DISCUSSED AND RESOLVED. 2024 FORM 990 WHEN THE 2023 FORM 990 WAS FILED, THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2024 WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. TO MEET THE FORM 990 FILING DEADLINE, THE DEFICIENCY IN NET ASSETS AS OF OCTOBER 31, 2024 WAS ESTIMATED AT $64,651. THE DEFICIENCY IN NET ASSETS AS OF OCTOBER 31, 2024 AS REPORTED IN A PRELIMINARY DRAFT AUDIT WAS $426,717. THE RESULTING DIFFERENCE OF $362,066 IS REPORTED IN PART XI, RECONCILIATION OF NET ASSETS, AS AN "OTHER CHANGE IN NET ASSETS." FORM 990, PART IV, LINE 12A & PART XII, LINE 2B BECAUSE NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE'S FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT FOR THE YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2025, HAS NOT YET BEEN FINALIZED, THE INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR SCHEDULE D, PART XI, IS NOT YET AVAILABLE AND THEREFORE HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED.