Nonprofit · EIN 57-1131878
AUNTIE KAREN FOUNDATION
Tax-exempt · COLUMBIA, SC 29202
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $1,102,726 | $1,132,365 | -$29,639 | $317,959 | $170,144 | $147,815 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $1,266,769 | $1,227,934 | $38,835 | $177,954 | $500 | $177,454 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $948,168 | $942,667 | $5,501 | $138,569 | $0 | $138,569 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $88,043
- Program service revenue
- $1,013,137
- Investment income
- $1,546
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $100,015
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $100,015
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $5,139
- Accounting fees
- $7,372
- Occupancy
- $18,360
- Travel
- $6,363
- Depreciation
- $1,823
- Program services (functional)
- $1,040,649
- Management and general (functional)
- $91,716
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $177,954
- Total assets, end of year
- $317,959
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $170,144
- Net assets, end of year
- $147,815
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $165,725
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $147,815
- Gross receipts
- $1,102,726
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 100
- Year formed
- 2001
- State of legal domicile
- SC
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karen Alexander-Banks | President Officer | 40 | $100,015 |
| Deborah Breedlove | Treasurer Officer | 0 | $0 |
| Toshia Addison | Vice President Officer | 0 | $0 |
| Mildred Branch | Vice President Officer | 0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 4 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karen Alexander-Banks | President Officer | 40 | $95,234 |
| Deborah Breedlove | Treasurer Officer | 0 | $0 |
| Toshia Addison | Vice President Officer | 0 | $0 |
| Mildred Branch | Vice President Officer | 0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 5 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karen Alexander-Banks | President Officer | 40 | $83,146 |
| Deborah Breedlove | Treasurer Officer | 0 | $0 |
| Toshia Addison | Vice President Officer | 0 | $0 |
| Mildred Branch | Vice President Officer | 0 | $0 |
| Linda Paige | Secretary Officer | 0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- PO BOX 602, COLUMBIA, SC 29202-0602
- In care of
- % KAREN ALEXANDER
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- Karen Alexander
- Signed the 990
- Karen Alexander, President
- Phone
- (803) 319-8862
- Website
- www.auntiekaren.org
- Return prepared by
- NOR CPA Services
Mission
Founded in 2001, The Auntie Karen Foundation empowers, enlightens, and educates through the arts. For nearly 25 years, the Foundation has created innovative educational experiences that strengthen academic achievement, inspire creativity, develop future leaders, and expand economic opportunity. Through strategic partnerships with schools, colleges, government agencies, businesses, artists, and nonprofit organizations, the Foundation serves children, youth, educators, artists, and families throughout South Carolina, with a special emphasis on rural and historically underserved communities.
Program accomplishments
- Artpreneur: Arts in Education - Throughout 2025, the Foundation continued its longstanding partnerships with public school districts throughout South Carolina to provide Arts in Education and STEAM programming, with a special emphasis on rural and underserved communities. Programs continued in school districts including Williamsburg County School District, Marion County School District, and Colleton County School District, where professional teaching artists collaborated with educators to integrate the arts into classroom instruction. Students participated in visual arts, music, dance, theatre, creative writing, entrepreneurship, and arts integration experiences that increased student engagement, strengthened academic achievement, encouraged creativity, and supported social and emotional learning. The Foundation also continued providing professional development that equips educators with innovative arts integration strategies to enhance teaching and learning across multiple subject areas. The Foundation continued its longstanding partnerships with public school districts, colleges and universities, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, artists, businesses, and community leaders throughout South Carolina. These collaborations expanded educational opportunities, strengthened communities, and increased access to high-quality arts education, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and creative learning experiences. A significant milestone during 2025 was the purchase of the Foundation's first permanent office building. This investment established a long-term headquarters that will support expanded educational programming, curriculum development, artist services, educator training, community engagement, and organizational sustainability for generations to come. As The Auntie Karen Foundation approaches its 25th Anniversary, it remains committed to empowering, enlightening, and educating through the arts. By combining arts education, entrepreneurship, career readiness, emerging technology, and strategic partnerships, the Foundation continues to prepare children, educators, artists, and communities for success while creating lasting opportunities that strengthen South Carolina and inspire future generations. Since its founding in 2001, The Auntie Karen Foundation has remained committed to its belief that creativity is a pathway to educational excellence, economic opportunity, and stronger communities. Through innovative programming, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to serving all learners, the Foundation continues to transform lives by empowering individuals to discover their gifts, develop their talents, and build a legacy of leadership and service.Expenses $836,684 · revenue $840,140
- Legends of... Concert Series continued its tradition of bringing Grammy Award winning artists to South Carolina while celebrating excellence in music and preserving the rich legacy of African American culture. During 2025, the Foundation presented the 21st LEGENDS of... Concert Series featuring five time Grammy Award winner PJ Morton. More than a concert, the event served as a cultural and educational experience that supported cultural tourism, created paid performance opportunities for South Carolina musicians, vocalists, visual artists, and creative professionals, and strengthened the state's creative economy. As part of the LEGENDS experience, the Foundation hosted the LEGENDS Master Class, providing hundreds of students with direct access to Grammy Award winning artists and accomplished music industry professionals. Students participated in educational workshops, live demonstrations, and career discussions that encouraged artistic excellence while exposing them to careers in music, entertainment, and the creative industries.Expenses $191,787 · revenue $231,781
- Young Entrepreneurs - During 2025, the Foundation celebrated the 20th Annual Auntie Karen Young Entrepreneurs Conference, one of South Carolina's longest running youth entrepreneurship conferences. The 2025 conference theme, "Legacy Moves Forward: AI Ready," reflected the Foundation's commitment to preparing the next generation of leaders to thrive in an economy increasingly shaped by innovation and artificial intelligence. The conference equipped middle and high school students with entrepreneurship, leadership, financial literacy, business development, career readiness, and emerging technology skills through hands on learning experiences, business competitions, and interaction with successful entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community partners. A defining characteristic of the conference is its lasting impact. Former Young Entrepreneurs participants continue to return as successful business owners, professionals, speakers, judges, mentors, and volunteers, inspiring the next generation of student entrepreneurs while demonstrating the long-term value of investing in youth leadership and entrepreneurship. The conference serves as a multigenerational pipeline that develops future business owners, innovators, and community leaders.Expenses $7,695 · revenue $4,000
- Gordon Sales - During 2025, the Foundation established a new partnership with the South Carolina GEAR UP program to expand career readiness, entrepreneurship, leadership, and artificial intelligence education for students across the state. Planning and curriculum development began during the year, laying the foundation for program implementation in 2026 through the Foundation's Coach Al Career Readiness initiative. The Foundation also continued developing original educational intellectual property through children's books, curriculum, music, digital media, and online educational resources that extend learning beyond the classroom while encouraging literacy, creativity, character development, and lifelong learning.Expenses $4,483 · revenue $1,121
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
- 57-1131878
- 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
- 2003
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Youth development (O50)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $317,959
- Income (IRS master file)
- $1,102,726
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $1,102,726 | $1,132,365 | $317,959 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $1,266,769 | $1,227,934 | $177,954 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $948,168 | $942,667 | $138,569 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $677,941 | $676,980 | $133,068 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | 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 57-1131878).
Questions about AUNTIE KAREN FOUNDATION
- What is the EIN of AUNTIE KAREN FOUNDATION?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of AUNTIE KAREN FOUNDATION is 57-1131878.
- Is AUNTIE KAREN FOUNDATION tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2003.
- Are donations to AUNTIE KAREN FOUNDATION tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does AUNTIE KAREN 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 AUNTIE KAREN 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 AUNTIE KAREN 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 AUNTIE KAREN FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Karen Alexander.
- Who are the officers and directors of AUNTIE KAREN FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 4 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $100,015 (Karen Alexander-Banks, President).
- How much revenue does AUNTIE KAREN FOUNDATION have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,102,726, expenses of $1,132,365 and total assets of $317,959 at year end.
Other nonprofits in COLUMBIA
- SOUTH CAROLINA NETWORK OF CHILDRENS ADVOCACY CENTERS EIN 86-1158952 · last filed 990 for 2025
- THE THERAPY PLACE INC EIN 26-2197304 · last filed 990 for 2025
- BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA EIN 57-0314440 · last filed 990 for 2024
- CHILD EVANGELISM FELLOWSHIP INC EIN 57-0567186 · last filed 990 for 2025
- BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF KERSHAW COUNTY EIN 82-4818594 · last filed 990 for 2025
- FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA AND ITS STATE ASSOCIATIONS & LOCAL CHAPTER EIN 57-6029435 · last filed 990 for 2025
- CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER RBC EIN 75-2994380 · last filed 990 for 2025
- YOUTH CORPS EIN 33-1111258 · last filed 990-EZ for 2025
All nonprofits in COLUMBIA · South Carolina · Youth development