Nonprofit · EIN 93-2794699
PAPER WHALE ARTS
Also known as PAPER WHALE
Tax-exempt · BELLINGHAM, WA 98225
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $873,043 | $711,284 | $161,759 | $297,479 | $33,765 | $263,714 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $268,446 | $189,290 | $79,156 | $117,814 | $15,859 | $101,955 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $46,445
- Program service revenue
- $826,534
- Investment income
- $64
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $40,190
- Other salaries and wages
- $36,074
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $83,666
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $875
- Accounting fees
- $17,154
- Occupancy
- $39,090
- Travel
- $2,057
- Depreciation
- $2,414
- Program services (functional)
- $496,125
- Management and general (functional)
- $214,840
- Fundraising (functional)
- $319
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $117,814
- Total assets, end of year
- $297,479
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $33,765
- Net assets, end of year
- $263,714
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $19,722
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $263,714
- Gross receipts
- $873,043
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 300
- Year formed
- 2023
- State of legal domicile
- WA
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NICHOLAS HARTRICH | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Key employee | 40 | $40,190 |
| AARON STRAIGHT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| FREE BORSEY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| CHELSEA JEPSON | CHAIR Officer | 10 | $0 |
| BRONSON LAMB | SECRETARY Officer | 4 | $0 |
| HARRY ROBERTS | TREASURER Officer | 4 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 7 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AARON STRAIGHT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| FREE BORSEY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| CHELSEA JEPSON | TREASURER Officer | 4 | $0 |
| BRONSON LAMB | SECRETARY Officer | 4 | $0 |
| TICKER BA-AYE | VICE CHAIR Officer | 4 | $0 |
| SCOTT PELTON | CHAIRMAN Officer | 4 | $0 |
| NICHOLAS HARTRICH | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Key employee | 40 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1118 FRANKLIN ST, BELLINGHAM, WA 98225-5207
- In care of
- % NICHOLAS HARTRICH
- Mailing address (990-N for 2023)
- 1118 FRANKLIN STREET, BELLINGHAM WA 98225
- Principal officer (990-N for 2023)
- NICHOLAS HARTRICH, 1118 FRANKLIN STREET, BELLINGHAM WA 98225
- Signed the 990
- NICHOLAS HARTRICH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (360) 927-2565
- Website
- PAPER-WHALE.COM
- Return prepared by
- Avlon Finance Inc PS
Mission
CULTIVATE COMMUNITY IN AN EVOLVING PROGRAM OF MULTI-SENSORY EVENTS TO INSPIRE AND CREATIVELY ACTIVATE PLACEMAKING.
Program accomplishments
- ACTIVATION: CURATING A WIDE VARIETY OF MURALS AND INSTALLATIONS TO SUPPORT THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE DOWNTOWN CITYSCAPE.Expenses $213,865 · revenue $315,000
- FIRE & STORY: A FAMILY-FRIENDLY WINTER FESTIVAL BRIMMING WITH ILLUMINATED ART INSTALLATIONS, ROARING FIRE PITS, AND CAPTIVATING PERFORMANCES WHICH INCLUDE MUSIC, STORYTELLING, FIRE DANCING, LIVE METALSMITHING, SAUNAS AND SO MUCH MORE. THIS OUTDOOR EVENT CELEBRATES THE SPIRIT OF WINTER WHILE EMBRACING THE WEATHER.Expenses $169,467 · revenue $284,893
- NOISY WATERS MURAL FEST: WORLD-RENOWNED MURALISTS GATHER IN BELLINGHAM, WA FOR A WEEKEND OF MURAL PAINTING, DEMOS, MUSIC, PARTIES, EDUCATION AND INSPIRATION. THIS FESTIVAL IS A FRIENDLY ART CONTEST, IN WHICH ARTISTS WILL HAVE THREE DAYS TO PAINT 8X8 PORTABLE WALLS ON PUBLIC DISPLAY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ENJOY. ATTENDEES WILL VOTE FOR THEIR FAVORITES AND THE TOP THREE WINNERS WILL RECEIVE CASH CONTRACTS TO PAINT LARGE MURALS IN BELLINGHAM.Expenses $101,218 · revenue $193,247
- PAPER WHALE HOSTS GATHERINGS TO PLATFORM CREATIVITY AND DISCUSSION AROUND COMMUNITY BEAUTIFICATION. THE PORT OF BELLINGHAM CONTINUES TO BE A STAGE AND TESTING GROUND FOR INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO GATHERING COMMUNITY.Expenses $11,575 · revenue $33,394
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-N on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 93-2794699
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2024
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Arts, culture and humanities (A20)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $297,479
- Income (IRS master file)
- $873,043
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $873,043 | $711,284 | $297,479 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $268,446 | $189,290 | $117,814 | XML |
| 990-N for 2023 Officer: NICHOLAS HARTRICH | December 31, 2023 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
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 93-2794699).
Questions about PAPER WHALE ARTS
- What is the EIN of PAPER WHALE ARTS?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of PAPER WHALE ARTS is 93-2794699.
- Is PAPER WHALE ARTS tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2024.
- Are donations to PAPER WHALE ARTS tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does PAPER WHALE ARTS 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 PAPER WHALE ARTS 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 PAPER WHALE ARTS 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 PAPER WHALE ARTS?
- The 990-N for 2023 names NICHOLAS HARTRICH.
- Who are the officers and directors of PAPER WHALE ARTS?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 6 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $40,190 (NICHOLAS HARTRICH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does PAPER WHALE ARTS have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $873,043, expenses of $711,284 and total assets of $297,479 at year end.
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