Nonprofit · EIN 62-1247459
BESSIE SMITH CULTURAL CENTER AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM &
Tax-exempt · CHATTANOOGA, TN 37403
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $659,763 | $671,326 | -$11,563 | $788,905 | $7,896 | $781,009 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $752,329 | $613,397 | $138,932 | $798,396 | $5,824 | $792,572 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $728,503 | $726,467 | $2,036 | $663,349 | $13,325 | $650,024 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $372,853
- of which government grants
- $359,984
- Program service revenue
- $203,091
- Investment income
- $143
- Net rental income
- $83,676
- Other revenue
- $83,676
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $89,578
- Other salaries and wages
- $185,169
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $315,268
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $36,770
- Occupancy
- $1,656
- Travel
- $2,850
- Depreciation
- $11,965
- Program services (functional)
- $414,576
- Management and general (functional)
- $256,750
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $798,396
- Total assets, end of year
- $788,905
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $7,896
- Net assets, end of year
- $781,009
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $70,767
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $781,009
- Gross receipts
- $659,763
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 150
- Year formed
- 1977
- State of legal domicile
- TN
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 June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paula Wilkes | Executive Dir. Officer | 40 | $89,578 |
| Yusuf Hakeem | Chairman Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Avery Smith | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| James W Cole | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Dr Jeff Rector | Chair Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Elizabeth Appling | Secretary Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Ariel Anthony | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Bob Culkeen | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| John Franklin Jr | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Brent Goldberg | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Maurice Lewis | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Tara Mathis | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Chris Palmer | Treasurer Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Varion Walton | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Bernard Harris | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
3 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yolonda Hayslett | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Mara-Lynne Payne | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Wayne Johnson | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 18 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yusuf Hakeem | Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Avery Smith | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BOB CULKEEN | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Dr Jeff Rector | Vice-Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Elizabeth Appling | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Paula Wilkes | Executive Dir. Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $0 |
| Ariel Anthony | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DUKE FRANKLIN | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BRENT GOLBERG | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| J W COLE | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Maurice Lewis | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Tara Mathis | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Chris Palmer | Treasurer Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Varion Walton | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Bernard Harris | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| WAYNE JOHNSON | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Mara-Lynne Payne | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| YOLANDA HAYSLETT | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 12 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paula Wilkes | Executive Dir. Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $102,188 |
| Yusuf Hakeem | Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Avery Smith | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Dr Jeff Rector | Vice-Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Elizabeth Appling | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Ariel Anthony | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Maurice Lewis | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Tara Mathis | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Chris Palmer | Treasurer Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Varion Walton | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Bernard Harris | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Mara-Lynne Payne | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 200 E MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD, CHATTANOOGA, TN 37403-4100
- Signed the 990
- Paula Wilkes, Executive Dir.
- Phone
- (423) 266-8658
- Website
- WWW.BESSIESMITH.ORG
- Return prepared by
- Hoskins & Company PC
Mission
TO BE THE PREMIER INTERDISCIPLINARY CULTURAL CENTER THAT PROMOTES EDUCATION AND ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE.
Program accomplishments
- PROVIDED HISTORICAL AND TECHNICAL RESOURCE MATERIAL FOR ALL SCHOOLS IN THE CHATTANOOGA/HAMILTON COUNTY, TN AREA. MAINTAINED A COMPREHENSIVE LIBRARY AND DISPLAYED EXHIBIT MATERIALS.Expenses $414,576
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 June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 62-1247459
- 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
- 1988
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Arts, culture and humanities (A500)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $788,905
- Income (IRS master file)
- $659,763
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $659,763 | $671,326 | $788,905 | XML |
| 990 | June 2024 | $752,329 | $613,397 | $798,396 | XML |
| 990 | June 2023 | $728,503 | $726,467 | $663,349 | XML |
| 990 | June 2022 | $800,408 | $769,640 | $658,145 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 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 62-1247459).
Questions about BESSIE SMITH CULTURAL CENTER AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM &
- What is the EIN of BESSIE SMITH CULTURAL CENTER AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM &?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of BESSIE SMITH CULTURAL CENTER AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM & is 62-1247459.
- Is BESSIE SMITH CULTURAL CENTER AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM & tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1988.
- Are donations to BESSIE SMITH CULTURAL CENTER AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM & tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does BESSIE SMITH CULTURAL CENTER AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM & 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 BESSIE SMITH CULTURAL CENTER AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM & due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did BESSIE SMITH CULTURAL CENTER AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM & last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who are the officers and directors of BESSIE SMITH CULTURAL CENTER AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM &?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 18 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $89,578 (Paula Wilkes, Executive Dir.).
- How much revenue does BESSIE SMITH CULTURAL CENTER AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM & have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $659,763, expenses of $671,326 and total assets of $788,905 at year end.
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