Form 990 for tax year 2023

Totals

Total revenue

$8,893,621

Total expenses

$20,156,233

Contributions and grants received

$8,172,630

Grants paid

$11,941,477

Program service revenue

$161,895

Investment income

$619,221

Other revenue

-$60,125

Total assets, end of year

$66,710,817

Total liabilities, end of year

$11,891,401

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$54,819,416

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$17,403,123

Management and general expenses

$2,042,775

Fundraising expenses

$710,335

Program service expenses (Part III)

$17,403,123

Program services were 86.3% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Mission and programs · 2023

• Withheld by Nonprofiteer: this text may name a private individual.

  Expenses $12,723,344 · Grants $11,882,477

• PERFORMERS PROGRAMS: IN ORDER TO PREPARE A DYNAMIC TALENT POOL FOR SUCCESS IN THE EVOLVING ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA ENVIRONMENT, THE FOUNDATION OFFERS THE PERFORMERS PROGRAMS, A BROAD EDUCATIONAL ROSTER WITH SUBJECTS RANGING FROM AUDITION TECHNIQUE AND SELF-MARKETING TO PANEL DISCUSSIONS WITH ACCOMPLISHED ACTORS AND MODERATED TALKS WITH RESPECTED DIRECTORS. THESE PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE PERFORMING ARTISTS TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR CAREERS, REFINE THEIR CRAFT, LEARN NEW SKILLS, AND ESTABLISH LIFELONG HABITS OF SELF-MOTIVATED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR THE FOUNDATION CONTINUED TO SCALE UP IN-PERSON PERFORMERS PROGRAMS IN HOUSE AS WELL AS CONTINUING TO OFFER VIRTUAL PROGRAMS TO THE SAG-AFTRA COMMUNITY. THE FOUNDATION ALSO ADD NEW RECORDED EDUCATIONAL CONTENT TO THE FOUNDATION'S WEBSITE VIDEO GALLERY AND YOUTUBE CHANNEL, TO HELP ENSURE THAT MEMBERS WHO ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON HAVE ACCESS TO THIS PROGRAMMING. THE BUSINESS: THE BUSINESS PROVIDES PARTICIPATING MEMBERS WITH AN ENHANCED UNDERSTANDING OF ENTERTAINMENT'S FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL MECHANICS, AS WELL AS CURRENT TRENDS AND CONDITIONS ACROSS THE INDUSTRY. ATTENDEES LEARN PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR SOCIAL MEDIA SELF-MARKETING, PRE-AUDITION PREPARATION, AND MONEY MANAGEMENT IN LARGE FORMAT SEMINARS AND HIGHLY INTERACTIVE SMALL GROUP SESSIONS. PARTICIPANTS ARE PROVIDED WITH TOOLS TO HELP THEM BEGIN TO THINK NOT ONLY AS ARTISTS, BUT ALSO AS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, UNDERSTANDING THE VARIOUS MARKETS AND THE BUYERS WITHIN THOSE MARKETS, AND PUTTING IN PLACE LONG-TERM CAREER PLANS.CONVERSATIONS: CONVERSATIONS PROGRAMS PRESENT FILM AND TELEVISION SCREENINGS ACCOMPANIED BY MODERATED DISCUSSIONS WITH CAST MEMBERS, AS WELL AS CAREER CONVERSATIONS WITH LEADING ACTORS WHO HAVE MADE LASTING ARTISTIC AND PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE INDUSTRY. CONVERSATIONS PROGRAMMING IS CURATED WITH A FOCUS ON PROJECTS AND ASSOCIATED CASTS GENERATING BOTH CONSUMER ATTENTION AND CRITICAL HONORS, OFFERING ATTENDEES THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM FELLOW PERFORMING ARTISTS WHO ARE WORKING IN CURRENT OR RECENT PRODUCTIONS. GUEST SPEAKERS EXPLORE THE PROCESS AND PROFESSION OF ACTING AND DRILL DOWN INTO THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND ARTISTIC INFLUENCES THAT HAVE SHAPED THEIR CAREERS. THESE INSIGHTS PROVIDE BOTH NEW AND ESTABLISHED PERFORMERS IN THE AUDIENCE WITH AN EXPANDED UNDERSTANDING OF FRESH METHODS FOR APPROACHING MATERIAL, BOTH IN AUDITIONS AND WHILE WORKING ON SET.CASTING ACCESS: OFFERING CRITICAL INSIGHT INTO THE CASTING PROCESS, PROVIDING MEMBERS WITH COLD READING EXPERIENCE IN AN INTERACTIVE CLASS SETTING. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM RESPECTED INDUSTRY CASTING PROFESSIONALS THEY MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AND LEARN FROM.VOICEOVER LAB: THIS PROGRAMMING IS DESIGNED TO PREPARE MEMBERS FOR CAREERS IN THE VOICEOVER ARTS. VO LAB PROGRAMMING PROVIDES MEMBERS WITH INSTRUCTION, CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK, AND ADVICE ON CAREER DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES FROM RESPECTED INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS IN INTERACTIVE CLASSES THAT EXPLORE PERFORMANCE TECHNIQUE IN MULTIPLE VOICEOVER SUBSETS -- INCLUDING VOICING COMMERCIALS, VOICE-TO-PICTURE PROMO WORK, AUDIOBOOK NARRATION, AND ANIMATION AND VIDEO GAME VOICE ACTING. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO PROVIDE BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING. ON-CAMERA: MEMBERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REHEARSE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA IN OUR LA AND NY ON-CAMERA LABS, WHICH OFFER QUIET, DEDICATED SPACES WITH INDUSTRY STANDARD LIGHTING AND EQUIPMENT. STAFFED BY TRAINED ENGINEERS, THE ON-CAMERA LABS ARE CURRENTLY PROVIDING BOTH IN-PERSON AND REMOTE ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS IN WHICH OUR ENGINEERS SERVE AS READERS OR HELP MEMBERS TROUBLESHOOT TECH-RELATED ISSUES THEY MAY BE HAVING WHILE SELF-RECORDING THEIR OWN AUDITIONS. DUE TO THE DEMAND FOR THIS PROGRAM, LOS ANGELES EXPANDED THE ON-CAMERA LAB AND NOW OFFERS TWO LABS FOR IN-PERSON SESSIONS DAILY, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL AVAILABILITY FOR SESSIONS IN THE EVENING AND WEEKENDS. NEW YORK WILL FOLLOW COURSE WITH A SECOND LAB OPENING IN 2025. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION HAS PRODUCED A COLLECTION OF TECH TIPS VIDEOS WITH RELEVANT INFORMATION FOR SELF-RECORDING AUDITIONS, SUCH AS POINTERS FOR LIGHTING, BACKDROPS, AND CAMERA AND SOUND TECHNIQUE. THESE VIDEOS ARE PUBLISHED IN OUR WEBSITE VIDEO GALLERY AND ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.COMPUTER LAB: DUE TO CHANGES IN PERSONNEL, THE COMPUTER LAB WAS TEMPORARILY CLOSED AND THE FOUNDATION CHOSE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REASSESS THE NEEDS AND RE-IMAGINE THE COMPUTER LAB TO REFLECT THE CHANGING NEEDS OF MEMBERS. WE ANTICIPATE OFFERING COMPUTER LAB PROGRAMS IN FY2025.

  Expenses $3,195,153 · Grants $59,000

• IN AUGUST 2024, THE FOUNDATION OPENED THE DOORS TO ITS NEW FACILITY IN LOS ANGELES "THE MERYL STREEP CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTISTS". THE FACILITY IS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING A WIDE ARRAY OF ENTIRELY FREE EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER-BUILDING PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP SAG-AFTRA MEMBERS ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS AND REFINE THEIR SKILLS. IT INCLUDES A 100-SEAT SCREENING ROOM, VOICEOVER LABS, ON-CAMERA LABS AND CLASS ROOMS. IN ADDITION, THE CENTER HOUSES THE FOUNDATION'S EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND OFFICES.THE FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO HAVE OFFICES AND EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES LOCATED AT 1900 BROADWAY IN NEW YORK AS WELL AS THE ROBIN WILLIAMS CENTER, A 125-SEAT SCREENING ROOM LOCATED AT 247 W 54TH STREET, NEW YORK.

  Expenses $977,334 · Revenue $161,895

• LITERACY INITIATIVES STORYLINE ONLINE CHILDREN'S LITERACY PROGRAM THE FOUNDATION COMMITS OUR OUTWARD-FACING ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTING EARLY READING DEVELOPMENT WITH STORYLINE ONLINE, OUR CHILDREN'S LITERACY PROGRAM. STORYLINE ONLINE IS A FREE ONLINE VIDEO LIBRARY DESIGNED TO BUILD READING CAPACITY AT THE K THROUGH 4 LEVEL, FEATURING ACCLAIMED ACTORS WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO READ CHILDREN'S BOOKS ALOUD ALONGSIDE IMAGINATIVELY PRODUCED ILLUSTRATIONS. SUPPLEMENTAL ACTIVITY GUIDES DEVELOPED BY A CREDENTIALED ELEMENTARY EDUCATOR AND ALIGNED WITH ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA) COMMON CORE STANDARDS ACCOMPANY EVERY VIDEO FOR USE IN THE CLASSROOM, IN HOSPITALS, AND AT HOME. STORYLINE ONLINE HAS PROVEN TO BE AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE FOR TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND CAREGIVERS, AND, THANKS TO ITS EVER-GROWING POPULARITY, THE TOTAL FOR LIFETIME VIDEO VIEWS HAS REACHED OVER 900M. THE PROGRAM IS A THREE-TIME EMMY NOMINEE (2018, 2023 AND 2024). IT WAS NAMED #1 BEST EDUCATIONAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR KIDS BY PARENTS MAGAZINE IN 2021. STORYLINE ONLINE HAS ALSO BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS, AND IT IS ENDORSED BY THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS AND THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

  Expenses $507,292

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here. A text marked withheld matched a screen for wording that may name a private individual, such as an honorific or "in memory of". Most of what it withholds names no one; it is withheld so that what does is never shown.

Listed in Part VII

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

• GHETTO FILM SCHOOL

  $25,000

  OPERATIONAL SUPPORT

• MOTION PICTURE & TELEVISION FUND

  $25,000

  OPERATIONAL SUPPORT

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2023

Filed

7 May 2025

IRS schema version

2023v6.0

Source object

202501329349306610

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.