Nonprofit · EIN 46-5519311
LETTERFORM ARCHIVE
Tax-exempt · SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $4,381,456 | $3,881,300 | $500,156 | $8,081,976 | $2,084,466 | $5,997,510 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $3,514,630
- of which government grants
- $25,379
- Program service revenue
- $389,369
- Investment income
- $200
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $477,257
- Other revenue
- $477,257
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $22,393
- Other salaries and wages
- $2,067,758
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $2,377,242
- Professional fundraising fees
- $35,000
- Legal fees
- $7,015
- Accounting fees
- $56,019
- Occupancy
- $489,814
- Travel
- $29,015
- Program services (functional)
- $2,906,442
- Management and general (functional)
- $776,058
- Fundraising (functional)
- $198,800
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $7,922,848
- Total assets, end of year
- $8,081,976
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $2,084,466
- Net assets, end of year
- $5,997,510
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $855,218
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $5,956,438
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $41,072
- Gross receipts
- $4,489,069
- Employees
- 42
- Volunteers
- 8
- Year formed
- 2014
- State of legal domicile
- CA
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, 2024, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Romanosky | Deputy Director | 40 | $150,370 | $5,845 |
| Stephen Coles | Assoc Curator & Ed | 40 | $119,699 | $9,047 |
| Lucille Parker | Publisher | 40 | $115,357 | $6,747 |
| Alice Chau | Art Director | 40 | $105,420 | $7,252 |
| Rob Saunders | President & ED Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $0 | $17,005 |
| Christopher Slye | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $5,388 | $0 |
| Alejandro Chavetta | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Karl Hellman | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Louise Sandhaus | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jennifer Morla | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Leila Weefur | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Vera Maslova | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 2339 3RD ST STE 4R, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107-3137
- In care of
- % ROBERT C SAUNDERS MBR
- Mailing address (990-N for 2015)
- 1001 Mariposa Street, San Francisco CA 94107
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Rob Saunders, 2339 Third St Floor 4R, San Francisco, CA 94107
- Principal officer (990-N for 2015)
- Simran Thadani, 1001 Mariposa Street 307, San Francisco CA 94107
- Signed the 990
- Rob Saunders, President & E.D.
- Phone
- (415) 802-7485
- Website
- letterformarchive.org
- Return prepared by
- REGALIA BERGER & BERGER CPAS
Mission
We hold physical and digital artifacts in a variety of formats, including books, periodicals, posters, sketches, original art for reproduction, and related ephemera, as well as a robust reference library.
Program accomplishments
- Letterform Archive was founded by Rob Saunders, a collector of the letter arts for over 40 years, as a place to share his private collection with the public. We opened to visitors in February 2015 and now offer hands-on access to a curated collection of over 75,000 items related to lettering, typography, calligraphy, and graphic design, spanning thousands of years of history.So far, the Archive has welcomed over 10,000 visitors from 30 countries, including students, practitioners, and letterform admirers from every creative background. Some come with specific research ideas in mind, while others are simply looking for inspiration. Invariably, thanks to the breadth and accessibility of the collection, they stumble on something unexpected. Serendipity is key to the Archive experience.Expenses $2,906,442 · revenue $389,369
- In addition to hosting visits and public events, the Archive serves a global community through social media, state-of-the-art photography, and publications. We offer courses and workshops in type design, calligraphy, and typography. We also curate exhibitions of our holdings, organize lectures by visiting artists and designers, and host salons and receptions to showcase collections or celebrate out-of-town guests.The Archive is located on Ramaytush Ohlone land in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco.
- Letterform Archive holds physical and digital artifacts in a variety of formats, including books, periodicals, posters, sketches, original art for reproduction, and related ephemera, as well as a robust reference library. Together, these works chronicle the history of written communication, from the invention of writing and medieval manuscripts to modernism, the age of print to the present explosion of digital type.
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 | Not 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
- 46-5519311
- 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
- 2015
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B70)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $8,081,976
- Income (IRS master file)
- $4,489,069
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $5,151,522 | $3,799,950 | $7,922,848 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2022 | $3,772,905 | $3,153,899 | $6,771,906 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2017 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-N for 2015 Officer: Simran Thadani | December 31, 2015 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
990-N: the IRS publishes only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years appear here as 990.tax collects the monthly files. 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.
Questions about LETTERFORM ARCHIVE
- What is the EIN of LETTERFORM ARCHIVE?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of LETTERFORM ARCHIVE is 46-5519311.
- Is LETTERFORM ARCHIVE tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2015.
- Are donations to LETTERFORM ARCHIVE tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does LETTERFORM ARCHIVE 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 LETTERFORM ARCHIVE due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did LETTERFORM ARCHIVE last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
- Who is the principal officer of LETTERFORM ARCHIVE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names Rob Saunders.
- Who are the officers and directors of LETTERFORM ARCHIVE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 12 people; 5 received compensation from the organization, the highest $150,370 (Laura Romanosky, Deputy Director).
- How much revenue does LETTERFORM ARCHIVE have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $4,381,456, expenses of $3,881,300 and total assets of $8,081,976 at year end.
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