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| IRS990/Desc | 0 | 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. |
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| IRS990/ProgSrvcAccomActy2Grp/Desc | 0 | 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. |
| IRS990/ProgSrvcAccomActy3Grp/Desc | 0 | 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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| IRS990/ReceivablesFromOfficersEtcGrp/EOYAmt | 0 | 0 |
| IRS990/ReconcilationRevenueExpnssAmt | 0 | 1415465 |
| IRS990/RegularMonitoringEnfrcInd | 0 | true |
| IRS990/RelatedEntityInd | 0 | false |
| IRS990/RelatedOrganizationCtrlEntInd | 0 | false |
| IRS990/ReportInvestmentsOtherSecInd | 0 | false |
| IRS990/ReportLandBuildingEquipmentInd | 0 | true |
| IRS990/ReportOtherAssetsInd | 0 | true |
| IRS990/ReportOtherLiabilitiesInd | 0 | true |
| IRS990/ReportProgramRelatedInvstInd | 0 | false |
| IRS990/RevenueAmt | 0 | 268895 |
| IRS990/RoyaltiesGrp/TotalAmt | 0 | 0 |
| IRS990/RoyaltiesRevenueGrp/TotalRevenueColumnAmt | 0 | 0 |
| IRS990/SavingsAndTempCashInvstGrp/EOYAmt | 0 | 0 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/FactsAndCircumstancesTestTxt | 0 | Current Year Facts and Circumstances: As a nonprofit organization, Letterform Archive must be able to demonstrate that it "normally" receives at least 33 1/3% of its support from the general public. In calculating this support test, Form 990 Schedule A reflects a support percentage of approximately 21% for the year ended December 31, 2021. Letterform Archive believes that other factors provide sufficient evidence that the organization is a valid publicly supported nonprofit charity. The other test is a facts and circumstances test. Under this test, the organization is treated as publicly supported if it normally receives a substantial part of its support from governmental units, from direct or indirect contributions from the general public, and if it is organized and operated to attract new and additional public or governmental support on a continuous basis [Reg. Section 1.170A-9(e)(3)]. The organization will be treated as normally receiving substantial public support if at least 10 percent of the total support normally received by the organization is governmental or public support [Reg. Section 1.170A-9(e)(3)(i)]. An organization meets the requirement of attracting new and additional public or governmental support if it maintains a continuous and bona fide program for soliciting funds from the general public or it carries on activities designed to attract support from governmental units, churches, educational organizations, or other publicly supported charitable or cultural organizations [Reg. Section 1.170A-9(e)(3)(ii)].Letterform Archive has an active ongoing campaign to secure funds from a variety of third-party sources. Various staff members work diligently to solicit funds from foundations and corporate entities. Prior contributors are added to the organization's donor database and follow up contact is made through a combination of mailings and e-mails. Letterform Archive has a diverse Board of Directors, with representatives from a variety of backgrounds providing guidance, support and foresight.For these reasons, Letterform Archive has demonstrated that it satisfies Internal Revenue Service regulations to be classified as a publicly supported exempt organization. Prior Year Facts and Circumstances: As a nonprofit organization, Letterform Archive must be able to demonstrate that it "normally" receives at least 33 1/3% of its support from the general public. In calculating this support test, Form 990 Schedule A reflects a support percentage of approximately 25% for the year ended December 31, 2020. Letterform Archive believes that other factors provide sufficient evidence that the organization is a valid publicly supported nonprofit charity. The other test is a facts and circumstances test. Under this test, the organization is treated as publicly supported if it normally receives a substantial part of its support from governmental units, from direct or indirect contributions from the general public, and if it is organized and operated to attract new and additional public or governmental support on a continuous basis [Reg. Section 1.170A-9(e)(3)]. The organization will be treated as normally receiving substantial public support if at least 10 percent of the total support normally received by the organization is governmental or public support [Reg. Section 1.170A-9(e)(3)(i)]. An organization meets the requirement of attracting new and additional public or governmental support if it maintains a continuous and bona fide program for soliciting funds from the general public or it carries on activities designed to attract support from governmental units, churches, educational organizations, or other publicly supported charitable or cultural organizations [Reg. Section 1.170A-9(e)(3)(ii)].Letterform Archive has an active ongoing campaign to secure funds from a variety of third-party sources. Various staff members work diligently to solicit funds from foundations and corporate entities. Prior contributors are added to the organiz |
| IRS990ScheduleA/GiftsGrantsContriRcvd170Grp/CurrentTaxYearAmt | 0 | 3703756 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/GiftsGrantsContriRcvd170Grp/CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt | 0 | 2361829 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/GiftsGrantsContriRcvd170Grp/CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt | 0 | 1773797 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/GiftsGrantsContriRcvd170Grp/CurrentTaxYearMinus3YearsAmt | 0 | 1230656 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/GiftsGrantsContriRcvd170Grp/CurrentTaxYearMinus4YearsAmt | 0 | 1277377 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/GiftsGrantsContriRcvd170Grp/TotalAmt | 0 | 10347415 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/GovtFurnSrvcFcltsVl170Grp/TotalAmt | 0 | 0 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/GrossInvestmentIncome170Grp/CurrentTaxYearAmt | 0 | 1393 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/GrossInvestmentIncome170Grp/CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt | 0 | 80 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/GrossInvestmentIncome170Grp/CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt | 0 | 1262 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/GrossInvestmentIncome170Grp/CurrentTaxYearMinus3YearsAmt | 0 | 1320 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/GrossInvestmentIncome170Grp/CurrentTaxYearMinus4YearsAmt | 0 | 166 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/GrossInvestmentIncome170Grp/TotalAmt | 0 | 4221 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/GrossReceiptsRltdActivitiesAmt | 0 | 897670 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/OtherIncome170Grp/TotalAmt | 0 | 0 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/PublicOrganization170Ind | 0 | X |
| IRS990ScheduleA/PublicSupportCY170Pct | 0 | 0.20640 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/PublicSupportPY170Pct | 0 | 0.24520 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/PublicSupportTotal170Amt | 0 | 2136900 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/SubstantialContributorsTotAmt | 0 | 8210515 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/TaxRevLeviedOrgnztnlBnft170Grp/TotalAmt | 0 | 0 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/TenPctFactsCrcmstncsTestCYInd | 0 | X |
| IRS990ScheduleA/TotalCalendarYear170Grp/CurrentTaxYearAmt | 0 | 3703756 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/TotalCalendarYear170Grp/CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt | 0 | 2361829 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/TotalCalendarYear170Grp/CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt | 0 | 1773797 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/TotalCalendarYear170Grp/CurrentTaxYearMinus3YearsAmt | 0 | 1230656 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/TotalCalendarYear170Grp/CurrentTaxYearMinus4YearsAmt | 0 | 1277377 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/TotalCalendarYear170Grp/TotalAmt | 0 | 10347415 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/TotalSupportAmt | 0 | 10351636 |
| IRS990ScheduleA/UnrelatedBusinessNetIncm170Grp/TotalAmt | 0 | 0 |
| IRS990ScheduleB/ContributorInformationGrp/ContributorBusinessName/BusinessNameLine1 | 0 | RESTRICTED |
| IRS990ScheduleB/ContributorInformationGrp/ContributorNum | 0 | RESTRICTED |
| IRS990ScheduleB/ContributorInformationGrp/ContributorUSAddress/AddressLine1 | 0 | RESTRICTED |
| IRS990ScheduleB/ContributorInformationGrp/ContributorUSAddress/AddressLine2 | 0 | RESTRICTED |
| IRS990ScheduleB/ContributorInformationGrp/ContributorUSAddress/City | 0 | RESTRICTED |
| IRS990ScheduleB/ContributorInformationGrp/ContributorUSAddress/State | 0 | RESTRICTED |
| IRS990ScheduleB/ContributorInformationGrp/ContributorUSAddress/ZIPCode | 0 | RESTRICTED |
| IRS990ScheduleB/ContributorInformationGrp/TotalContributionsAmt | 0 | RESTRICTED |
| IRS990/ScheduleBRequiredInd | 0 | true |
| IRS990ScheduleD/CollectionUsedPreservationInd | 0 | X |
| IRS990ScheduleD/CollectionUsedPubExhibitionInd | 0 | X |
| IRS990ScheduleD/EquipmentGrp/BookValueAmt | 0 | 41052 |
| IRS990ScheduleD/EquipmentGrp/DepreciationAmt | 0 | 179130 |