Vanguard Culture

EIN: 812870845 501(c)(3) Arts, Culture & Humanities

San Diego, CA

Total Revenue
$100,276
Total Expenses
$96,580
Total Assets
$29,410
Net Assets
$5,901
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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
2016
Legal Domicile
CA
Principal Officer
Susana Peredo Swap
Phone
6198297561
Tax Period
2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31

Vanguard Culture, founded in 2016, is a small nonprofit in the Arts, Culture & Humanities sector that reported $100K in total revenue in fiscal year 2025. Revenue fell 64% from the prior year — a significant decline worth monitoring. Expenses of $97K left a modest 4% surplus.

Mission

Vanguard Culture is a volunteer-powered, inclusive nonprofit dedicated to advancing San Diegos Creative Industries. We provide quality arts journalism, cutting edge events, professional development that create arts jobs, bring diverse communities together, inspire collaboration among the visual, performing, culinary arts. CONT SCHEDULE O

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $14,383 Revenue: $10,533

ARTS JOURNALISM Vanguard Culture produces a weekly newsletter, Vanguard Culture WEEKLY that features a curated selection of San Diegos best, most exciting, and unique cultural and culinary events for...

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ARTS JOURNALISM Vanguard Culture produces a weekly newsletter, Vanguard Culture WEEKLY that features a curated selection of San Diegos best, most exciting, and unique cultural and culinary events for our 22K subscribers. We also produce in-depth feature articles on art-related topics for a wide audience, and we maintain a dynamic website. Since 2018, we received 82 awards for Excellence in Arts Journalism from the San Diego Press Club, including Best Entertainment Website in San Diego. Our arts coverage is comprised of THE BUZZ, featuring artist interviews, show reviews, and insight into San Diego Arts Culture POETIC LICENSE, featuring beautiful photo essays of artist studio visits ART SEEN, highlighting behind-the-scenes creatives, and ART SHOP TALKS, a mini-documentary series on YouTube highlighting artists of our region. Quality arts journalism aligns with our mission to create arts jobs, bring diverse communities together, and inspire creative collaboration. Increased coverage of San Diegos vibrant arts and culture sector Continued on Schedule O.

Program 2
Expenses: $29,365 Revenue: $2,208

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT We provide multiple opportunities for San Diegos Creative Industry Professionals to increase their skills and broaden their horizons, such as a biennial creative industry...

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT We provide multiple opportunities for San Diegos Creative Industry Professionals to increase their skills and broaden their horizons, such as a biennial creative industry symposium and quarterly workshops that provide creatives the tools and resources needed to thrive in their industry. We also gather Executive Directors from the regions leading creative industries together for a yearly roundtable to discuss issues relevant to arts organizations in San Diego. Professional development in the form of industry mixers, lectures, panel discussions, and meaningful networking opportunities all in virtual and in-person formats are a key component of our programming. We believe in providing industry professionals with the tools, resources, and opportunities to become better at their craft and to make a living doing what they love.

Program 3
Expenses: $17,927 Revenue: $30,094

EVENTS Vanguard Culture produces immersive, multi-sensory and multi-cultural cutting-edge events that feature the visual, performing, and culinary arts in a creative collaboration. Our events appeal...

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EVENTS Vanguard Culture produces immersive, multi-sensory and multi-cultural cutting-edge events that feature the visual, performing, and culinary arts in a creative collaboration. Our events appeal to Creative Industry Professionals as well as to the public at large and provide opportunities for guests to connect in meaningful ways and leave feeling that theyve experienced something truly special that cannot be replicated. Our programmatic partners are some of the regions most notable cultural organizations including the San Diego Opera, Mainly Mozart, San Diego African American Museum of Fine Arts, The San Diego Museum of Art, Fashion Week San Diego, San Diego Museum Council, San Diego Italian Film Festival, Baja Wine Food, Malashock Dance Company, and many more. We maintain our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion DEI in all of our programming.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

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Financial Overview (2025)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $57,441
Program Service Revenue $42,835
Investment Income $0
Other Revenue $0
TOTAL REVENUE $100,276

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0
Salaries & Benefits $36,986
Fundraising Expenses $4,123
Program Expenses $61,675
Other Expenses $59,594
TOTAL EXPENSES $96,580

Year-over-Year Comparison

2025 2024 Change
Revenue $100,276 $278,782 -0.6%
Expenses $96,580 $316,483 -0.7%
Net Income $3,696 $-37,701 -1.1%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Governance

Voting Members
10
Independent Members
10
Employees
3
Volunteers
60

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
3
$0
Total Directors
14
$19,513
Key Employees
1
$19,513
Highest Compensated
1
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
Susana Peredo Swap Executive Director 028.00
Director Key Emp Highest
$19,513 $0 $19,513
Shaun Cassidy President 010.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
Keith Mautner Board Treasurer 010.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
Michele Lowenstein Board Secretary 005.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
Lisane Basquiat Member at Large 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Johnny Bear Contreras Member at Large 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Pilialoha Kilohana Estall Member at Large 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Heath Fox Member at Large 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Antonio Iannotta Member at Large 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Katty Ibarra Member at Large 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Jefferson Jay Member ar Large 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Diem Jones Member at Large 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Dr Brian Lesson Member at Large 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Adriana Martinez Member at Large 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2025 $100,276 $96,580 $29,410 $3,696
2024 $278,782 $316,483 $33,055 $-37,701
2023 $288,923 $302,660 $89,906 $-13,737
2022 $103,433 $68,084 $54,141 $35,349
2021 $86,829 $76,313 $18,294 $10,516
2020 $79,339 $66,785 $18,236 $12,554
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