NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE

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 October 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

305 HARRISON ST, SEATTLE, WA 98109-4623

In care of

% JUDITH A TERREBERRY

Principal officer (990 for 2024)

MARISSA A TANIMURA, 305 HARRISON ST, SEATTLE, WA 98109

Signed the 990

MARISSA A TANIMURA, MANAGING DIRECTOR

Phone

(206) 684-7300

Website

NWFOLKLIFE.ORG

Return prepared by

THE MYERS ASSOCIATES PC

Mission

NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL TO CELEBRATE, SHARE, AND PARTICIPATE IN THE EVOLVING CULTURAL TRADITIONS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.

Program accomplishments

• NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE IS A WASHINGTON-BASED 501(C)(3) ARTS AND HERITAGE ORGANIZATION THAT CELEBRATES THE DIVERSE TAPESTRY OF ARTS, CULTURES, AND TRADITIONS REPRESENTED IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND CONNECTED TO COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD. SINCE 1971, NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE'S WORK HAS BEEN ROOTED IN THE SHARED HUMANITY OF CONNECTION AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND DRIVEN BY INTERGENERATIONAL AND INTERCULTURAL EXPERIENCES. AT ITS CORE, NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH HERITAGE, IDENTITY, CREATIVITY, AND COMMUNITY. THROUGH PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE ANNUAL NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL, ANNUAL CULTURAL FOCUS, CULTURAL & CREATIVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, OUR BIG NEIGHBORHOOD, AND COMMUNITY COORDINATOR PROGRAM, NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE USES CULTURAL MENTORSHIP AND CREATIVE PRACTICE TO ENCOURAGE EXPLORATION OF HERITAGE, BRIDGE COMMUNICATION AND UNDERSTANDING, AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPATION AND BELONGING.THIS WORK SPANS GENERATIONS, RACIAL AND ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND DIVERSE EXPRESSIONS OF IDENTITY. NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE CENTERS THE KNOWLEDGE AND LEADERSHIP OF ARTISTS, EDUCATORS, CULTURE BEARERS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, COLLABORATING WITH MORE THAN 100 COMMUNITY COORDINATORS FROM THROUGHOUT THE REGION TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY-POWERED PROGRAMMING. THE ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZES CULTURE AS LIVING, EVOLVING, AND SHAPED BY THE PEOPLE WHO PRACTICE AND SHARE IT. FROM EVERYDAY CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION TO FAMILY AND COMMUNITY CUSTOMS, FOLKLIFE IS PART OF ALL OUR LIVES-PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE. NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE'S MISSION IS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL TO CELEBRATE, SHARE, AND PARTICIPATE IN THE EVOLVING CULTURAL TRADITIONS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. ITS WORK REMAINS COMMUNITY POWERED THROUGH THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF DONORS, SPONSORS, VOLUNTEERS, ARTISTS, CULTURAL LEADERS, PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE MANY COMMUNITIES WHO HELP SHAPE ITS PROGRAMS.SINCE 1972, THE ANNUAL NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL HAS BEEN HELD DURING MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AT SEATTLE CENTER, THE HISTORIC SITE OF THE 1962 WORLD'S FAIR. WHAT BEGAN AS A REGIONAL GATHERING CELEBRATING TRADITIONAL, ETHNIC, AND FOLK ARTS HAS GROWN INTO ONE OF THE LARGEST CELEBRATIONS OF ITS KIND IN NORTH AMERICA. THE FOUR-DAY FESTIVAL BRINGS TOGETHER THOUSANDS OF PERFORMERS, ARTISTS, CULTURE BEARERS, MAKERS, EDUCATORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS NUMEROUS STAGES AND PROGRAM AREAS, WELCOMING AUDIENCES FROM SEATTLE, THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, AND AROUND THE WORLD. IN 2025, THE FESTIVAL WELCOMED APPROXIMATELY 225,000 ATTENDEES, UNDERSCORING ITS ROLE AS ONE OF THE REGION'S LARGEST AND MOST ACCESSIBLE CELEBRATIONS OF COMMUNITY, CULTURE, AND CREATIVITY. THE FESTIVAL REMAINS LOCALLY AND COMMUNITY DRIVEN, WITH ARTISTS AND CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS FROM COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE REGION AT THE CENTER OF ITS PROGRAMMING.A CORE VALUE OF NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE IS THAT COMMUNITIES SHOULD HAVE VOICE AND AGENCY IN THE REPRESENTATION OF THEIR CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS. THIS PRINCIPLE IS REFLECTED IN THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMUNITY-COORDINATED PROGRAMMING AND CULTURAL FOCUS MODEL, WHICH INVITES ARTISTS, EDUCATORS, CULTURE BEARERS, ACTIVISTS, AND CULTURAL LEADERS TO SHAPE PROGRAMMING THAT REFLECTS THE EXPERIENCES AND TRADITIONS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE CULTURAL FOCUS FUNCTIONS AS A "FESTIVAL WITHIN A FESTIVAL," PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEEPER ENGAGEMENT THROUGH PERFORMANCES, PANELS, WORKSHOPS, EXHIBITIONS, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.IN 2025, NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE PRESENTED THE FOURTH CHAPTER OF ITS FIVE-PART CULTURAL FOCUS SERIES, FOLLOWING METAMORPHOSIS IN 2022, LAGOM IN 2023, AND MERAKI IN 2024. THE 2025 THEME, IKIGAI, EXPLORED THE JAPANESE CONCEPT ASSOCIATED WITH PURPOSE, MEANING, AND THE THINGS THAT GIVE LIFE VALUE. AS PART OF THE ORGANIZATION'S BROADER "NEXT 50" FRAMEWORK, THE SERIES INVITES NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE AND ITS COMMUNITIES TO CONSIDER HOW CULTURAL TRADITIONS EVOLVE, HOW PEOPLE FIND BALANCE AND PURPOSE, AND HOW INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE JOURNEYS CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE CONNECTED AND VIBRANT REGION. THE SERIES WILL CULMINATE IN 2026 WITH UBUNTU; AN AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY CENTERED ON INTERCONNECTEDNESS AND THE IDEA THAT OUR HUMANITY IS BOUND TOGETHER THROUGH OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER.THE 2025 FESTIVAL CONTINUED TO EXPAND THE WAYS FOLKLIFE IS REPRESENTED AND EXPERIENCED. IN ADDITION TO MUSIC, DANCE, STORYTELLING, AND CULTURAL DEMONSTRATIONS, PROGRAMMING INCLUDED VISUAL ART, FASHION AND WEARABLES, FOODWAYS, FOOD JUSTICE AND SOVEREIGNTY, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, CRAFT, AND PARTICIPATORY ARTS. INITIATIVES SUCH AS THREADS OF THE PEOPLE, KULEANA, MAKERS PROGRAMMING, AND THE COMMUNITY QUILT REFLECT NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE'S UNDERSTANDING OF FOLK CULTURE AS SOMETHING PEOPLE ACTIVELY CREATE, ADAPT, AND SHARE RATHER THAN SOMETHING FIXED IN THE PAST. THE COMMUNITY QUILT, FOR EXAMPLE, INVITED COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CONTRIBUTE INDIVIDUAL QUILT BLOCKS THAT WERE ASSEMBLED INTO A COLLECTIVE WORK OF ART, CREATING A TANGIBLE REPRESENTATION OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND SHARED EXPRESSION.NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE'S YEAR-ROUND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMMING EXTENDS THIS WORK BEYOND THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL. OUR BIG NEIGHBORHOOD CREATES YEAR-ROUND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS TO PERFORM AND PRESENT WORK, STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND WORKING TO AMPLIFY THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF ARTS-CENTERED BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE REGION. PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THE 'FOLKLIFE SESSIONS' AT MTIER BREWING COMPANY'S CHERRY STREET LOCATION, AND 'FOLKLIFE FRIDAYS' WITH OPEN SPACE VASHON, EXPANDED ARTISTIC CURATION AND COLLABORATION ON PERFORMANCES THAT SHOWCASE THE DIVERSE ARRAY OF ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING ARTISTS REPRESENTING THE DYNAMIC FACETS OF TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY "FOLK". THESE PROGRAMS STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS, BOLSTERING CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND CREATIVE COLLABORATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.SINCE 2020, NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE HAS PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE'S OFFICE OF ARTS & CULTURE AND OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE CULTURAL & CREATIVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (CCWD). THE PROGRAM PROVIDES PAID, CAREER-CONNECTED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG CREATIVES, TYPICALLY AGES 16-26, THROUGH INTERNSHIPS AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES ACROSS SEATTLE'S CULTURAL AND CREATIVE ECOSYSTEM. PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND NETWORKS WHILE RECEIVING MENTORSHIP GROUNDED IN COMMUNITY BUILDING, LIVED EXPERIENCE, AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PRACTICE. THE PROGRAM ENGAGES ARTISTS, CULTURE BEARERS, CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, SMALL BUSINESSES, ENTREPRENEURS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS TO SUPPORT GREATER ACCESS TO CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE CREATIVE ECONOMY.TOGETHER, THESE PROGRAMS REPRESENT NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE'S ONGOING COMMITMENT TO CULTURAL VITALITY, COMMUNITY AGENCY, AND CREATIVE OPPORTUNITY. NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE UNDERSTANDS "FOLK" AS A LIVING AND DYNAMIC EXPRESSION OF SHARED VALUES, EVOLVING TRADITIONS, COLLECTIVE TRANSFORMATION, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION. ITS WORK RECOGNIZES THAT CULTURE IS NOT SIMPLY SOMETHING WE INHERIT-IT IS SOMETHING WE PRACTICE, SHAPE, SHARE, AND CARRY FORWARD TOGETHER.
  Expenses $1,312,719 · revenue $540,896

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 October, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

91-1311548

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

1986

Accounting year ends

October

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Arts, culture and humanities (A200)

Assets (IRS master file)

$513,191

Income (IRS master file)

$1,915,866

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 91-1311548).

Questions about NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE

What is the EIN of NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE?

The employer identification number (EIN) of NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE is 91-1311548.

Is NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1986.

Are donations to NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE tax-deductible?

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

Which annual return does NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE 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 NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE due?

The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending October 31, 2026) is due March 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended October 2025.

Who is the principal officer of NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE?

The 990 for the year ended October 31, 2025 names MARISSA A TANIMURA.

Who are the officers and directors of NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE?

The 990 for the year ended October 31, 2025 lists 18 people; 4 received compensation from the organization, the highest $73,920 (MARISSA TANIMURA, MANAGING DIRECTOR).

How much revenue does NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE have?

On its 990 for the year ended October 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,915,866, expenses of $1,742,700 and total assets of $513,191 at year end.

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