FRIENDS OF THE ORPHAN SIGNS

Financials

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-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

708 1ST ST NW, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87102-2308

In care of

% LINDSEY FROMM

Mailing address (990-N for 2023)

708 1st Street NW, Albuquerque NM 87112

Principal officer (990-N for 2023)

Lindsey Fromm, 10601 San Jacinto Ave NE, Albuquerque NM 87112

Signed the 990-EZ

Lindsey Fromm, Executive Director

Mission

Friends of the Orphan Signs is a collaborative public art and educational initiative that revitalizes abandoned road signs along historic Route 66. FOS facilitates collaborations with local communities with the aim of designing new imagery to install in the signs as public art pieces that explore neighborhood identity. In 2025 we developed 10 artworks with 10 artists and developed relationships with 6 unique community groups and organizations. We installed 6 unique artworks on signs throughout the city of Albuquerque and two permanent signs.

Program accomplishments

• International District Park Art Project: This ongoing project brings together four artists with four distinct communities in Albuquerques International District to co-create a permanent public artwork inspired by roadside signs. Services Provided: Facilitated a structured community-engaged design process where each artist was paired with a different cultural or geographic community to develop concept proposals. Beneficiaries: Engaged over 200 residents through in-person workshops interviews and outreach activities. The final installation expected in 2025 will serve an estimated 5,000+ park users annually. Relevant Outcomes: Co-developed culturally resonant design proposals rooted in the lived experiences of the IDs diverse populations. Built a collaborative model for public art creation grounded in community participation. Advanced a long-term vision for signage as both infrastructure and cultural monument.
  Expenses $33,945 · grants $25,000
• Its A Sign! Mobile Application: A digital cultural preservation and public education initiative being developed by Friends of the Orphan Signs to document map interpret and promote Albuquerques historic and contemporary roadside signage. The mobile application will map signage across Albuquerque past and present highlighting historic signs surviving commercial landmarks contemporary sign-based artworks and the citys evolving visual landscape. The application will initially focus on Route 66 and 4th Street corridors with planned expansion into additional corridors including Menaul Lomas 2nd Street and Broadway. The project is intended to function as a long-term cultural asset and public archive. Services Provided: Developing a mobile application featuring cultural mapping historical interpretation and public art documentation related to Albuquerques signage history and contemporary sign culture; creating digital educational content focused on roadside infrastructure design and cultural preservation; planning for long-term app maintenance content updates and technical support; implementing public outreach and visibility strategies through social media promotion and community engagement; and expanding organizational communications capacity. Beneficiaries: Albuquerque residents; local artists and sign makers; Route 66 visitors and tourists; educators and students; small businesses connected to historic corridors; and members of the public interested in Albuquerque history architecture design and cultural preservation. Relevant Outcomes: The project will increase public access to Albuquerques signage history and cultural resources through an interactive digital platform designed for long-term public use. The application will preserve and interpret the citys evolving sign landscape support cultural tourism connected to Route 66 strengthen awareness of historic roadside infrastructure and public art initiatives and create a scalable framework for documenting additional neighborhoods and sign corridors over time. The project has and will continue to contribute to the citys tourism initiatives and expand organizational outreach capacity through coordinated digital engagement strategies supporting public participation during the Route 66 Centennial and beyond.
  Expenses $25,000 · grants $25,000
• Wemfer Art Fueled Road Trip Collaboration: A series of large-scale public art installations created by Nazario Sandoval as part of the Route 66 Remixed initiative in Albuquerque New Mexico. The project transformed existing roadside sign structures along historic Route 66 into permanent cultural landmarks celebrating mobility arrival local identity and the visual history of the American roadway. Installations included The Mother Road at the former Jones Surplus sign and Keep Sixty-Six Rolling at 6808 Central Ave SE incorporating salvaged New Mexico license plates hubcaps sourced in Albuquerque mural painting and fabricated steel elements to adaptively reuse commercial sign infrastructure as public art. Services Provided: Managed artist collaboration project coordination fabrication oversight installation logistics and public art stewardship through Friends of the Orphan Signs; coordinated with the City of Albuquerque Department of Arts & Culture property owners and community partners; facilitated adaptive reuse of existing roadside sign structures; sourced and incorporated reclaimed materials including hundreds of New Mexico license plates and locally collected hubcaps; supported the creation and installation of permanent public artworks as part of the Route 66 Centennial celebration. Beneficiaries: Local artists; Albuquerque residents; Route 66 visitors and tourists; nearby businesses and property owners; and the broader public engaging with public art installations along Central Avenue and the International District corridor. Relevant Outcomes: The project preserved and reactivated historic roadside sign infrastructure through highly visible public art installations that celebrate Albuquerques Route 66 identity and cultural landscape. The artworks contributed to the City of Albuquerques Art-Fueled Road Trip initiative commemorating the Route 66 Centennial increased opportunities for local artists working at a monumental scale strengthened partnerships between artists government agencies businesses and property owners and demonstrated innovative approaches to creative placemaking and infrastructure reuse. The installations transformed underutilized commercial sign structures into permanent civic landmarks experienced by thousands of residents and visitors annually.
  Expenses $15,000 · grants $15,000
• Symbiosis: A public art residency program in Albuquerques International District that fostered mutually beneficial relationships between artists and surrounding communities through socially engaged public art. Four artists participated in four-month residencies developing temporary artworks for installation on the sign at 6720 Central Ave. Artists collaborated directly with local organizations and community members using engagement and relationship-building to inform their creative work. One residency focused on documenting and publicly exhibiting portraits and stories of Asian American business owners in the International District highlighting the cultural and economic contributions of immigrant-owned businesses. Services Provided: Supported four artist residencies; provided stipends public art exhibition opportunities and community engagement support; facilitated collaborations with community organizations including Albuquerque Mutual Aid Art Street Off Center Arts and United Voices for Newcomers Rights; coordinated temporary public art installations; supported resource distribution and participatory art-making activities with community members; and facilitated documentary-style portrait and storytelling projects with local business owners. Beneficiaries: Participating artists; residents of Albuquerques International District; immigrant communities; Asian American business owners; unsheltered individuals; community arts participants; and the broader public encountering the installations. Approximately 900 individuals participated directly in residency activities while an estimated 100,000 individuals viewed the installations annually through site visibility and pedestrian traffic. Relevant Outcomes: Artists developed community-centered artworks shaped through direct engagement and collaboration with underserved populations and local organizations. The project elevated underrepresented voices and highlighted the experiences of immigrant and Asian American business communities through public portraiture and storytelling. The project expanded organizational relationships with communities not previously engaged through programming demonstrated the value of artist-led community process models and informed future organizational approaches to socially engaged public art. Residency activities included distribution of over 700 resource flyers food distribution efforts in partnership with mutual aid networks and the public exhibition of more than 50 community-created artworks.
  Expenses $9,320 · grants $7,930

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.

IRS record

EIN

27-1674294

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

2012

Accounting year ends

December

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking foundations (T30)

Assets (IRS master file)

$34,907

Income (IRS master file)

$97,329

Filing history

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 27-1674294).

Questions about FRIENDS OF THE ORPHAN SIGNS

What is the EIN of FRIENDS OF THE ORPHAN SIGNS?

The employer identification number (EIN) of FRIENDS OF THE ORPHAN SIGNS is 27-1674294.

Is FRIENDS OF THE ORPHAN SIGNS tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2012.

Are donations to FRIENDS OF THE ORPHAN SIGNS tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does FRIENDS OF THE ORPHAN SIGNS 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 FRIENDS OF THE ORPHAN SIGNS 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 FRIENDS OF THE ORPHAN SIGNS last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990-EZ for the year ended December 2025.

Who is the principal officer of FRIENDS OF THE ORPHAN SIGNS?

The 990-N for 2023 names Lindsey Fromm.

Who are the officers and directors of FRIENDS OF THE ORPHAN SIGNS?

The 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 4 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $16,300 (Lindsey Fromm, Executive Director).

How much revenue does FRIENDS OF THE ORPHAN SIGNS have?

On its 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $97,329, expenses of $85,035 and total assets of $34,907 at year end.

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