Nonprofit · EIN 25-1393426
POISE FOUNDATION
Tax-exempt · PITTSBURGH, PA 15222
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $3,897,929 | $3,988,582 | -$90,653 | $14,522,018 | $1,197,149 | $13,324,869 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $5,688,735 | $8,898,352 | -$3,209,617 | $14,434,642 | $2,023,865 | $12,410,777 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $11,325,031 | $8,668,528 | $2,656,503 | $17,244,018 | $2,061,107 | $15,182,911 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $3,313,521
- of which government grants
- $288,424
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $584,408
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $193,605
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $1,340,816
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $340,915
- Other salaries and wages
- $456,363
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,006,213
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $27,540
- Occupancy
- $51,443
- Depreciation
- $399
- Program services (functional)
- $3,183,700
- Management and general (functional)
- $683,143
- Fundraising (functional)
- $121,739
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $14,434,642
- Total assets, end of year
- $14,522,018
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $1,197,149
- Net assets, end of year
- $13,324,869
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $1,800
- Publicly traded securities
- $11,914,706
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $2,014,334
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $11,310,535
- Gross receipts
- $4,982,396
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 13
- Year formed
- 1980
- State of legal domicile
- PA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARK LEWIS | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer | 50 | $157,325 | $35,856 |
| KARRIS JACKSON | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer | 45 | $142,325 | $5,408 |
| SHEMARIAH LITTLE | MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BLACK EQUITY COALITION Highest-paid employee | 45 | $130,000 | $14,999 |
| DARRELL E SMALLEY | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RON LAWRENCE | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SAMANTHA CLANCY | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL CRAWFORD | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LUCILLE DABNEY | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ANNETTE GILLCRESE | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RHONDA FISCHER | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| REV CORNELL JONES | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MORTON STANFIELD | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 11 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARK LEWIS | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer | 50 | $157,325 | $35,856 |
| KARRIS JACKSON | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer | 45 | $138,108 | $5,284 |
| GREGORY R SPENCER | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RON LAWRENCE | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DALE C PERDUE | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DARRELL E SMALLEY | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LUCILLE DABNEY | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ANNETTE GILLCRESE | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RHONDA FISCHER | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| REV CORNELL JONES | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SAMANTHA CLANCY | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 12 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARK LEWIS | PRESIDENT Officer | 50 | $145,000 | $31,373 |
| KARRIS JACKSON | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer | 45 | $123,375 | $4,829 |
| MARYUM LEE | DIRECTOR BEC Highest-paid employee | 40 | $110,927 | $13,718 |
| GREGORY R SPENCER | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RON LAWRENCE | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DALE C PERDUE | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DARRELL E SMALLEY | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LUCILLE DABNEY | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ANNETTE GILLCRESE | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RHONDA FISCHER | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| REV CORNELL JONES | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SAMANTHA CLANCY | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- TWO GATEWAY CENTER 603 STANWIX ST, PITTSBURGH, PA 15222-0000
- In care of
- % KARRIS M JACKSON
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- MARK LEWIS
- Signed the 990
- MARK LEWIS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
- Phone
- (412) 281-4967
- Website
- POISEFOUNDATION.ORG
- Return prepared by
- MAHER DUESSEL CPA'S
Mission
POISE AMPLIFIES THE POWER OF BLACK COMMUNITIES TO FUEL TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE AND UPLIFT PATHWAYS TO SELF-DETERMINATION AND SHARED SUCCESS.
Program accomplishments
- PROVIDED GRANTS AND PROGRAM SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN EDUCATIONAL, ECONOMIC OR CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES GRANTS TO NONPROFIT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS THAT EXECUTE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN LINE WITH THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION. THIS ALSO INCLUDES PROVIDING GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES FOR THIRD PARTY ORGANIZATIONS DUE TO FOUNDATION'S GRANTS ADMINISTRATION EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE AND RELATIONSHIP TO THE COMMUNITY SERVED.Expenses $453,990 · grants $439,204
- POISE ACTS AS A FISCAL SPONSOR FOR VARIOUS PROGRAMS, PROJECTS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE NOT DEFINED AS CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS BASED ON THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OR QUALIFIED ORGANIZATIONS SEEKING TO INCREASE THEIR CAPACITY THROUGH FISCAL SPONSORSHIP.Expenses $1,998,773 · grants $259,154
- EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT TAX CREDIT. PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO FAMILIES ATTENDING PRIVATE SCHOOLS FOR PRE KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE. THIS PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY CORPORATE AND OTHER QUALIFYING DONATIONS WHICH PROVIDE THE DONORS A TAX CREDIT TOWARDS THEIR PENNSYLVANIA TAX LIABILITY.Expenses $238,068 · grants $215,602
- POISE FOUNDATION PROVIDES GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING AND STRENGTHENING THE BLACK COMMUNITY. FUNDING SUPPORTS SPECIFIC INTERESTS OF DONORS AS WELL AS TARGETED INITIATIVES ACROSS KEY IMPACT AREAS, INCLUDING ARTS & CULTURE, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITIES, STRENGTHENING BLACK FAMILIES, WOMEN AND GIRLS, AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION AWARDS POST-SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES.Expenses $492,869 · grants $426,856
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 25-1393426
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1981
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking foundations (T300)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $14,522,018
- Income (IRS master file)
- $4,982,396
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $3,897,929 | $3,988,582 | $14,522,018 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $5,688,735 | $8,898,352 | $14,434,642 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $11,325,031 | $8,668,528 | $17,244,018 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $9,083,941 | $12,593,865 | $13,933,027 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 25-1393426).
Questions about POISE FOUNDATION
- What is the EIN of POISE FOUNDATION?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of POISE FOUNDATION is 25-1393426.
- Is POISE FOUNDATION tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1981.
- Are donations to POISE FOUNDATION tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does POISE FOUNDATION file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of POISE FOUNDATION due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did POISE FOUNDATION last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of POISE FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names MARK LEWIS.
- Who are the officers and directors of POISE FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 12 people; 3 received compensation from the organization, the highest $157,325 (MARK LEWIS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER).
- How much revenue does POISE FOUNDATION have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $3,897,929, expenses of $3,988,582 and total assets of $14,522,018 at year end.
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