ACTIVE CULTURES

Financials

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.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

1370 N ST ANDREWS PL, LOS ANGELES, CA 90028-8529

Principal officer (990 for 2025)

LAURA FRIED, 1370 N ST ANDREWS PLACE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90028

Signed the 990

LAURA FRIED, DIRECTOR

Phone

(917) 916-5432

Website

WWW.ACTIVE-CULTURES.ORG

Return prepared by

QUIGLEY & MIRON

California records

California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 82-5384806 or by the name ACTIVE CULTURES.

Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers

Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)

Secretary of State, bizfile Online

Corporation status, entity number, agent for service

Franchise Tax Board

Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)

Mission

ACTIVE CULTURES IS A PUBLIC ARTS NONPROFIT IN LOS ANGELES THAT EXPLORES THE INTERSECTION OF ART, FOOD, AND ECOLOGIES THROUGH ARTIST-LED PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS.

Program accomplishments

• FISCAL YEAR 2025 WAS THE FIRST FULL YEAR OF IMPLEMENTING ACTIVE CULTURES' FY2024-2027 STRATEGIC PLAN, A YEAR DEVOTED TO GROUNDING THE ORGANIZATION'S VALUES IN PRACTICE. ACTIVE CULTURES DEEPENED ITS ARTIST COLLABORATIONS, EXPANDED FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMMING, AND STRENGTHENED THE ORGANIZATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED TO SUSTAIN AND GROW ITS WORK. THE ORGANIZATION ONBOARDED ITS FIRST FULL-TIME CURATOR, NANETTE ORLY, EXTENDING CURATORIAL AND PROGRAMMATIC LEADERSHIP BEYOND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE ORGANIZATION'S HISTORY. ACTIVE CULTURES ALSO STABILIZED FULL-TIME SALARIES FOR ALL STAFF, INTRODUCED HEALTH BENEFITS, AND ESTABLISHED AN OPERATING RESERVE FUND (BENCHMARKS IDENTIFIED IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN AS FOUNDATIONAL TO LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY). THESE ORGANIZATIONAL INVESTMENTS DIRECTLY ENABLED AN EXPANDED SLATE OF FREE AND ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC PROGRAMS ACROSS LOS ANGELES.ARTIST-LED PROJECTSACTIVE CULTURES' CORE PROGRAMMING COMPRISES MULTI-SEASON ARTIST COLLABORATIONS DEVELOPED THROUGH SUSTAINED DIALOGUE, FIELD RESEARCH, AND DEEP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. IN FY2025, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED THE FOLLOWING ARTIST-LED PROJECTS:O LANGIT LUPA (HEAVEN AND EARTH). ACTIVE CULTURES CULMINATED THIS MULTI-SEASON COLLABORATION WITH ARTISTS AMI LIEN AND ENZO CAMACHO WITH THE PUBLICATION OF RECLAIMING THE LAND, A COLLECTION OF CONVERSATIONS WITH AGRARIAN REFORM LEADERS IN NEGROS, PHILIPPINES, FOREGROUNDING THE ONGOING STRUGGLE FOR LAND JUSTICE.O COLECTIVO AMASIJO: A CIRCULAR OFFERING. PRODUCED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BRICK AND ARTCENTER, THIS PERFORMANCE AND COMMUNAL MEAL GUIDED APPROXIMATELY 100 PARTICIPANTS THROUGH COLLECTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH INGREDIENTS FORAGED FROM THE MILPA AND THE HILLS OF PASADENA, CULMINATING IN AN OFFERING OF ENDEMIC FOODS HARVESTED BY THE ARTISTS DURING THEIR AGRICULTURAL JOURNEY IN THE YUCATAN.O FUNGAL TEACHINGS / MYCELIAL RESIDENCY. A MULTIYEAR COLLABORATION WITH ARTIST YASMINE OSTENDORF-RODRIGUEZ INVESTIGATING ECOLOGIES OF MUTUALISM THROUGH RESEARCH, FIELDWORK, AND PUBLIC GATHERINGS. IN FY2025, THE PROJECT CONTINUED BUILDING MYCELIAL NETWORKS AMONG ECOLOGICAL ART PRACTITIONERS IN LOS ANGELES AND BEYOND.O SUMMER SOLSTICE. ACTIVE CULTURES LAUNCHED ITS INAUGURAL ANNUAL SUMMER SOLSTICE EVENT AT THE AUDUBON CENTER AT DEBS PARK: A SEASONAL CONVERGENCE OF SOUND, FOOD, AND LAND-BASED RITUAL FEATURING ARTISTS AND CHEFS JIHEE KIM, EVA AGUILA, OLIVE KIMOTO, LIVING EARTH, AND HERB CLUB LA. THE EVENT ESTABLISHED A NEW ANNUAL PLATFORM FOR SEASONAL PUBLIC GATHERING ROOTED IN ECOLOGICAL CYCLES.ONGOING PUBLIC PROGRAMSUNDER CURATOR NANETTE ORLY'S LEADERSHIP, ACTIVE CULTURES LAUNCHED TWO NEW ONGOING PUBLIC SERIES IN FY2025, ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY-FACING PROGRAMS IN RESPONSE TO IMMEDIATE LOCAL NEED:O SEEDS: A FILM SERIES. LAUNCHED AT NOW INSTANT, THIS NEW SERIES OPENED WITH WILD RELATIVES BY JUMANA MANNA, ACCOMPANIED BY A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WITH NINA RAJ OF THE ALTADENA SEED LIBRARY EXPLORING BIODIVERSITY AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION.O BOOK CLUB. A NEW BI-MONTHLY READING SERIES CONVENED IN PARKS AND GARDENS ACROSS LOS ANGELES, EXPLORING TEXTS ON THE AESTHETICS OF FOOD, CULINARY RESILIENCE AND KINSHIP, ALTERNATIVE FOODWAYS, LAND RIGHTS AND STEWARDSHIP, AND THE INTERSECTION OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY.O SEED SORTING NIGHT WITH ALTADENA SEED LIBRARY. A HANDS-ON VOLUNTEER WORKSHOP HOSTED BY NINA RAJ IN WHICH PARTICIPANTS CLEANED, SORTED, AND LABELED SEEDS FOR SEED BANKING AND COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTION.O COMMUNITY PRODUCE DRIVE AT THE HOLLYWOOD FARMERS' MARKET. A ONE-DAY COLLABORATION WITH FOOD FORWARD, FOOD ACCESS LA, AND CHEF MINH PHAN TO COLLECT AND DISTRIBUTE FRESH MARKET PRODUCE TO COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY SNAP CUTS.ORGANIZATIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTSFY2025 MARKED SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARD THE BENCHMARKS ESTABLISHED IN ACTIVE CULTURES' FY2024-2027 STRATEGIC PLAN:O STAFFING AND COMPENSATION. ACTIVE CULTURES GREW TO A THREE-PERSON, FULL-TIME LEADERSHIP TEAM--EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LAURA FRIED, CURATOR NANETTE ORLY, AND DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND OPERATIONS SONIA ALI--WITH STABILIZED SALARIES AND THE INTRODUCTION OF HEALTH BENEFITS FOR ALL FULL-TIME STAFF.O FINANCIAL RESILIENCE. THE ORGANIZATION GREW REVENUE 49% TO $366,865 WHILE MAINTAINING AN OPERATIONAL SURPLUS, ESTABLISHING A $76,467 RESERVE FUND. THIS FINANCIAL TRAJECTORY REFLECTS DELIBERATE GOVERNANCE INVESTMENTS INCLUDING 100% BOARD PARTICIPATION IN ANNUAL GIVING AND QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REVIEWS WITH THE BOARD TREASURER.O GOVERNANCE AND ADVISORY LEADERSHIP. ACTIVE CULTURES WELCOMED NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND LAUNCHED ITS ADVISORY BOARD-A COMMUNITY COUNCIL OF ARTISTS, CHEFS, AND CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS INCLUDING FRITZ HAEG, MINH PHAN, AND NORMA LISTMAN AND SAQIB KEVAL, WHO ADVISE MAJOR INITIATIVES INCLUDING THE FORTHCOMING ART AND FOOD BIENNIAL.O COALITION AND FIELD ENGAGEMENT. ACTIVE CULTURES CONTINUED ITS ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE LOS ANGELES VISUAL ARTS (LAVA) COALITION AND THE GREEN ART LAB ALLIANCE (GALA), CONTRIBUTING TO AN ARTS ECOSYSTEM ROOTED IN RECIPROCITY, ECOLOGICAL PRACTICE, AND SHARED STEWARDSHIP.ALL PROGRAMS WERE FREE OR OFFERED ON AN AFFORDABLE SLIDING SCALE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. ACTIVE CULTURES COMMISSIONED AND COMPENSATED ARTISTS EQUITABLY THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR.
  Expenses $203,168 · revenue $6,888

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.

IRS record

EIN

82-5384806

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

2019

Accounting year ends

December

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Arts, culture and humanities (A25)

Assets (IRS master file)

$111,295

Income (IRS master file)

$348,405

Filing history

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 82-5384806).

Questions about ACTIVE CULTURES

What is the EIN of ACTIVE CULTURES?

The employer identification number (EIN) of ACTIVE CULTURES is 82-5384806.

Is ACTIVE CULTURES tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2019.

Are donations to ACTIVE CULTURES tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does ACTIVE CULTURES 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 ACTIVE CULTURES 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 ACTIVE CULTURES 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 ACTIVE CULTURES?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names LAURA FRIED.

Who are the officers and directors of ACTIVE CULTURES?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 7 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $90,750 (LAURA FRIED, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).

How much revenue does ACTIVE CULTURES have?

On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $348,405, expenses of $294,936 and total assets of $111,295 at year end.

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