Nonprofit · EIN 52-1098281
BALTIMORE SCIENCE FICTION SOCIETY INCORPORATED
Tax-exempt · BEL AIR, MD 21014
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2025 | 990 | $106,410 | $137,433 | -$31,023 | $212,550 | $0 | $212,550 |
| September 30, 2024 | 990 | $109,733 | $112,488 | -$2,755 | $216,804 | $4,646 | $212,158 |
| September 30, 2023 | 990-EZ | $106,877 | $86,272 | $20,605 | $239,757 | $3,041 | $236,716 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $45,378
- of which government grants
- $6,901
- Membership dues
- $2,273
- Program service revenue
- $61,191
- Investment income
- $17
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$59
- Net income from sales of inventory
- -$366
- Other revenue
- -$176
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $2,624
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $0
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $0
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Occupancy
- $731
- Travel
- $12,249
- Depreciation
- $8,866
- Program services (functional)
- $109,115
- Management and general (functional)
- $28,318
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $216,804
- Total assets, end of year
- $212,550
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $0
- Net assets, end of year
- $212,550
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $127,726
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $212,550
- Gross receipts
- $115,958
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 180
- Year formed
- 1963
- State of legal domicile
- MD
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 for the year ended September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Megan Allen-Kingsland | Director-at-Large Trustee or director | 10 | $0 |
| Robert Markowitz | Balticon Vice Chair Trustee or director | 10 | $0 |
| Aurora Pierce | Director at Large Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| LEONA A THOMPSON | DIRECTOR AT LARGE Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| KELLY SHANNON PIERCE | SOCIAL MEDIA & PUBLIC RELATIONS COORD Trustee or director | 10 | $0 |
| THOMAS HORMAN | BALTICON CHAIR Trustee or director | 20 | $0 |
| JOSHUA PERKOFF | DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Dale Arnold | President Officer | 15 | $0 |
| Patricia Kinlock | Corresponding Secretary and BSFS Board Chair Officer | 5 | $0 |
| John Robison | Parliamentarian Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Maria Markham Thompson | Treasurer Officer | 10 | $0 |
| Steven Joel Zeve | Assistant Treasurer/Balticon Treasurer Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Michael Rafferty | Recording Secretary Officer | 5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2024: 13 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Megan Allen-Kingsland | Social Media and Public Relations Coordinator Trustee or director | 15 | $0 |
| Robert Markowitz | Director at Large Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Allison Brown | Balticon 58 Vice Chair Trustee or director | 15 | $0 |
| ERIC FLEISCHER | DIRECTOR AT LARGE Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| SAMUEL LUBELL | CHAIR OF BALTICON 57 Trustee or director | 20 | $0 |
| Dale Arnold | President Officer | 20 | $0 |
| Patricia Kinlock | Corresponding Secretary and BSFS Board Chair Officer | 10 | $0 |
| John Robison | Parliamentarian Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Maria Markham Thompson | Treasurer Officer | 15 | $0 |
| Steven Joel Zeve | Assistant Treasurer/Balticon Treasurer Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Michael Rafferty | Recording Secretary Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Aurora Pierce | Director at Large Officer | 5 | $0 |
| LEONA A THOMPSON | DIRECTOR AT LARGE Officer | 5 | $0 |
990-EZ for the year ended September 30, 2023: 13 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel Lubell | Balticon 58 Chair | 10 | $0 |
| Dale Arnold | President | 20 | $0 |
| Patricia Kinlock | Corresponding Secretary and BSFS Board Chair | 10 | $0 |
| John Robison | Parliamentarian | 5 | $0 |
| Maria Markham Thompson | Treasurer | 12 | $0 |
| Steven Joel Zeve | Assistant Treasurer/Balticon Treasurer | 10 | $0 |
| Michael Rafferty | Recording Secretary | 10 | $0 |
| Megan Allen-Kingsland | Social Media and Public Relations Coordinator | 10 | $0 |
| Robert Markowitz | Director at Large | 5 | $0 |
| Aurora Pierce | Director at Large | 5 | $0 |
| Allison Brown | Balticon 58 Vice Chair | 15 | $0 |
| LEONA A THOMPSON | DIRECTOR AT LARGE | 5 | $0 |
| ERIC FLEISCHER | DIRECTOR AT LARGE | 5 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 102 SEEVUE CT APT F, BEL AIR, MD 21014-3107
- In care of
- % DALE S ARNOLD
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Dale S Arnold, 102 Seevue Ct Apt F, Bel Air, MD 21014
- Signed the 990
- DALE ARNOLD, PRESIDENT
- Phone
- (410) 563-2737
- Website
- https://bsfs.org/
Mission
The Baltimore Science Fiction Society is a literary society that exists to promote the creation and appreciation of science fiction and fantasy cultural arts, primarily through literary art forms, but also embracing the many related graphic, musical, and theatrical creations inspired by speculative fiction.
Program accomplishments
- THE ANNUAL BALTICON CONVENTION IS HEADED BY A AUTHOR GUEST OF HONOR AND THE WINNER OF THE ROBERT A. HEINLEIN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PUBLISHED WORKS IN SCIENCE FICTION AND TECHNICAL WRITINGS TO INSPIRE THE HUMAN EXPLORATION OF SPACE. ALSO FEATURED ARE THE CURRENT AND PRIOR YEAR WINNERS OF THE COMPTON CROOK AWARD FOR THE BEST FIRST SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL. AN ARTIST GUEST OF HONOR ALSO IS FEATURED. OVER 100 OTHER WRITERS AND ARTISTS PARTICIPATE IN A MULTI-TRACK SCHEDULE OF PANELS PROVIDING CONVENTION MEMBERS WITH GUEST OF HONOR SPEECHES, PANELS, AND SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS. OF NOTE, IS THE SCIENCE TRACK OF WORKING SCIENTISTS DELIVERING CURRENT RESEARCH TO KEEP WRITERS ABREAST OF NEW FINDINGS AND DEVELOPMENTS IN THEORETICAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES INCLUDING PHYSICS, SPACE EXPLORATION, BIOLOGY, EARTH SCIENCE, AND OTHER FIELDS. CONVENTION MEMBERS ALSO EXPLORE EXPRESSIONS OF SCIENCE FICTION LITERATURE IN MOVIES, VIDEOS, GAMING, MUSIC AND AN ART SHOW. BALTICON ANYWHERE IS USES STREAMING TO INCLUDE PARTICIPANTS FROM REMOTE LOCATIONS AND DELIVER VIDEO CONTENT DURING THE CONVENTION AND THE FOLLOWING MONTH.Expenses $93,495 · revenue $82,500
- SUPPORT AND PROMOTE BASIC LITERACY IN GENERAL AND SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY IN PARTICULAR THROUGH THE ANNUAL COMPTON CROOK AWARD THE BEST FIRST NOVEL IN SCIENCE FICTION DURING THE PRECEDING YEAR, THE ANNUAL YOUNG WRITERS CONTEST, THE ANNUAL POETRY CONTEST AND SUPPORT OF LOCAL LIBRARIES THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL BOOK AND ART FESTIVALS. THE ROBERT A. HEINLEIN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PUBLISHED WORKS IN SCIENCE FICTION AND TECHNICAL WRITINGS TO INSPIRE THE HUMAN EXPLORATION OF SPACE IS CO-SPONSORED BY BSFS AND THE HEINLEIN SOCIETY, WHICH PAYS HALF OF THE COSTS OF THE AWARD EACH YEAR.Expenses $3,548 · revenue $2,915
- MONTHLY ACTIVITIES OFFERED FOR FREE FOR WRITING DEVELOPMENT AND EXPLORATION OF LITERATURE AND VIDEO PRESENTATIONS DERIVED FROM WORKS IN THE GENRE. HOSTED A SEMI-MONTHLY WORKSHOP FOR WRITERS ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH THURSDAYS OF EACH MONTH IN WHICH WRITERS REVIEWED WORKS IN PROGRESS. THE GROUP HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL ON HAVING WORKS BY PARTICIPANTS PUBLISHED. AFTER MARCH 2020, THESE SESSIONS WERE HELD ONLINE USING A CONFERENCING PLATFORM. HOSTED A MONTHLY ONLINE SPECULATIVE POETRY WORKSHOP IN WHICH PARTICIPANTS PRESENTED WORKS AND COLLABORATED ON WORK BASED VARIOUS THEMES. HOSTED A MONTHLY HYBRID BOOK DISCUSSION EXPLORING NEW AND CLASSIC WORKS OF SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY, AND HORROR. PRESENTED A BOOK DISCUSSION FOR ONE MARYLAND ONE BOOK IN CONJUNCTION WITH MARYLAND HUMANITIES. HOSTED MONTHLY ONSITE MOVIE NIGHTS TO VIEW NEW AND CLASSIC FILMS OF SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY, AND HORROR. HOSTED MONTHLY VIEWING SESSIONS, WITH AN ONLINE WATCH-ALONG COMPONENT, OF ANIME VIDEOS.Expenses $6,586
- BSFS maintains a Little Free Library in front of its building. During FY25, 608 books were distributed to the community in East Baltimore. Books for children were 59% of the total and of these 25% were in Spanish. Books4Kids funded the Spanish language books for children.Expenses $2,265 · revenue $2,472
- The Bobby Gear Memorial Charity Auction at Balticon commemorates Bobby's decades as a school teacher and BSFS volunteer by raising funds for BSFS Books for Kids to "to put books in the hands of children." BSFS Books for Kids will gift funds raised to the PTA, or program at the school administered by the Maryland Book Bank, at selected school for the purchase of books ordered by students for personal recreational reading. Funds also are used to purchase Spanish language children's books to put in the BSFS Little Free Library.Expenses $3,031 · revenue $6,308
- AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2025, BSFS HAD OVER 18,000 CATALOGED ITEMS IN A LIBRARY OF BOOKS, MAGAZINES AND RECORDINGS OF SPECULATIVE FICTION. THE LIBRARY COMMITTEE MET MONTHLY TO REVIEW BOXES OF DONATIONS, ADD NEW ITEMS TO THE COLLECTION, AND PACK UP DUPLICATES FOR DONATION TO THE HEINLEIN SOCIETY AND OTHER LITERACY GROUPS. VOLUNTEERS ON THE LIBRARY COMMITTEE LOGGED OVER 300 HOURS DURING FY 2025. REVENUE FROM DE-ACCESSIONS AND SALE OF DUPLICATE VOLUMES IS RESTRICTED TO PRESERVATION OF THE COLLECTION;Expenses $190 · revenue $31
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 September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | September 30, 2026 | February 16, 2027 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | September 30, 2025 | February 17, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | September 30, 2024 | February 18, 2025 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 52-1098281
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1978
- Accounting year ends
- September
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $212,550
- Income (IRS master file)
- $115,958
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | September 2025 | $106,410 | $137,433 | $212,550 | XML |
| 990 | September 2024 | $109,733 | $112,488 | $216,804 | XML |
| 990-EZ | September 2023 | $106,877 | $86,272 | $239,757 | XML |
| 990 | September 2022 | $82,236 | $114,921 | $211,393 | IRS |
| 990 | September 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
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 52-1098281).
Questions about BALTIMORE SCIENCE FICTION SOCIETY INCORPORATED
- What is the EIN of BALTIMORE SCIENCE FICTION SOCIETY INCORPORATED?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of BALTIMORE SCIENCE FICTION SOCIETY INCORPORATED is 52-1098281.
- Is BALTIMORE SCIENCE FICTION SOCIETY INCORPORATED tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1978.
- Are donations to BALTIMORE SCIENCE FICTION SOCIETY INCORPORATED tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does BALTIMORE SCIENCE FICTION SOCIETY INCORPORATED 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 BALTIMORE SCIENCE FICTION SOCIETY INCORPORATED due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 16, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did BALTIMORE SCIENCE FICTION SOCIETY INCORPORATED last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of BALTIMORE SCIENCE FICTION SOCIETY INCORPORATED?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names Dale S Arnold.
- Who are the officers and directors of BALTIMORE SCIENCE FICTION SOCIETY INCORPORATED?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 13 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.
- How much revenue does BALTIMORE SCIENCE FICTION SOCIETY INCORPORATED have?
- On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $106,410, expenses of $137,433 and total assets of $212,550 at year end.
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