Letterform Archive

Organization Overview

Letterform Archive is located in San Francisco, CA. The organization was established in 2015. According to its NTEE Classification (B70) the organization is classified as: Libraries, under the broad grouping of Education and related organizations. As of 12/2022, Letterform Archive employed 37 individuals. This organization is an independent organization and not affiliated with a larger national or regional group of organizations. Letterform Archive is a 501(c)(3) and as such, is described as a "Charitable or Religous organization or a private foundation" by the IRS.

For the year ending 12/2022, Letterform Archive generated $3.8m in total revenue. This organization has experienced exceptional growth, as over the past 7 years, it has increased revenue by an average of 10.6% each year . All expenses for the organization totaled $3.2m during the year ending 12/2022. You can explore the organizations financials more deeply in the financial statements section below.

Mission & Program ActivityExcerpts From the 990 Filing

TAX YEAR

2022

Describe the Organization's Mission:

Part 3 - Line 1

TO INSPIRE AND EDUCATE DESIGNERS, STUDENTS AND ADMIRERS OF GRAPHIC DESIGN, LETTERS, TYPOGRAPHY, AND CALLIGRAPHY.

Describe the Organization's Program Activity:

Part 3 - Line 4a

LETTERFORM ARCHIVE WAS FOUNDED BY ROB SAUNDERS, A COLLECTOR OF THE LETTER ARTS FOR OVER 40 YEARS, AS A PLACE TO SHARE HIS PRIVATE COLLECTION WITH THE PUBLIC. WE OPENED TO VISITORS IN FEBRUARY 2015 AND NOW OFFER HANDS-ON ACCESS TO A CURATED COLLECTION OF OVER 75,000 ITEMS RELATED TO LETTERING, TYPOGRAPHY, CALLIGRAPHY, AND GRAPHIC DESIGN, SPANNING THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF HISTORY.SO FAR, THE ARCHIVE HAS WELCOMED OVER 10,000 VISITORS FROM 30 COUNTRIES, INCLUDING STUDENTS, PRACTITIONERS, AND LETTERFORM ADMIRERS FROM EVERY CREATIVE BACKGROUND. SOME COME WITH SPECIFIC RESEARCH IDEAS IN MIND, WHILE OTHERS ARE SIMPLY LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION. INVARIABLY, THANKS TO THE BREADTH AND ACCESSIBILITY OF THE COLLECTION, THEY STUMBLE ON SOMETHING UNEXPECTED. SERENDIPITY IS KEY TO THE ARCHIVE EXPERIENCE.


IN ADDITION TO HOSTING VISITS AND PUBLIC EVENTS, THE ARCHIVE SERVES A GLOBAL COMMUNITY THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, STATE-OF-THE-ART PHOTOGRAPHY, AND PUBLICATIONS. WE OFFER COURSES AND WORKSHOPS IN TYPE DESIGN, CALLIGRAPHY, AND TYPOGRAPHY. WE ALSO CURATE EXHIBITIONS OF OUR HOLDINGS, ORGANIZE LECTURES BY VISITING ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS, AND HOST SALONS AND RECEPTIONS TO SHOWCASE COLLECTIONS OR CELEBRATE OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS.THE ARCHIVE IS LOCATED ON RAMAYTUSH OHLONE LAND IN THE DOGPATCH NEIGHBORHOOD OF SAN FRANCISCO.


LETTERFORM ARCHIVE HOLDS PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL ARTIFACTS IN A VARIETY OF FORMATS, INCLUDING BOOKS, PERIODICALS, POSTERS, SKETCHES, ORIGINAL ART FOR REPRODUCTION, AND RELATED EPHEMERA, AS WELL AS A ROBUST REFERENCE LIBRARY. TOGETHER, THESE WORKS CHRONICLE THE HISTORY OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATION, FROM THE INVENTION OF WRITING AND MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPTS TO MODERNISM, THE AGE OF PRINT TO THE PRESENT EXPLOSION OF DIGITAL TYPE.


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Board, Officers & Key Employees

Name (title)Compensation
Johnny Avots-Smith
CFO
$158,283
Rob Saunders
President & Ed
$0
Alejandro Chavetta
Secretary
$0
Karl Hellman
Chairman
$0
Jennifer Morla
Director
$0
Louise Sandhaus
Director
$0

Financial Statements

Statement of Revenue
Federated campaigns$0
Membership dues$0
Fundraising events$0
Related organizations$0
Government grants $0
All other contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts not included above$3,321,572
Noncash contributions included in lines 1a–1f $2,271,233
Total Revenue from Contributions, Gifts, Grants & Similar$3,321,572
Total Program Service Revenue$299,374
Investment income $82
Tax Exempt Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Net Rental Income $0
Net Gain/Loss on Asset Sales $0
Net Income from Fundraising Events $0
Net Income from Gaming Activities $0
Net Income from Sales of Inventory $151,877
Miscellaneous Revenue$0
Total Revenue $3,772,905

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$3,772,905
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