The Southern Documentary Fund

Analysis

The Southern Documentary Fund is a registered charity in United States, based in Burlington, NC. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in July 2002, 24 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts, culture and humanities, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, The Southern Documentary Fund reported income of $1.4m and spending of $826k, leaving 42% of income unspent that year. Across the 3 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2023, income grew from $489k to $1.4m (+190%), an average of +70% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 91%. Over the whole period it spent 86% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, The Southern Documentary Fund sits at the 89th percentile: it is larger than about 89% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 83rd percentile, and in the 84th percentile within NC. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Couse Foundation ($1.4m), Ethos Inc ($1.4m) and Freefall Theatre Inc ($1.4m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 36% and program service revenue 64% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $796 (0.1% of expenses). At year end it held assets of $882k against liabilities of $106k, net assets of $776k. It reported 5 employees.