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Nonprofiteer
← BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$9,536,917
Total expenses
$14,241,451
Contributions and grants received
$8,915,415
Grants paid
$12,448,108
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$589,828
Other revenue
$31,674
Total assets, end of year
$22,940,273
Total liabilities, end of year
$3,104
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$22,937,169
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$13,300,305
Management and general expenses
$613,744
Fundraising expenses
$327,402
Program service expenses (Part III)
$13,300,305

Program services were 93.4% 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.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1b · Membership dues

    $303,500

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $8,611,915

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $554,732 · excluded $554,732

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $12,952,872

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $12,917,776

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $35,096

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $35,096 · excluded $35,096

  • 11a · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $31,674 · excluded $31,674

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $31,674

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $12,073,108 · program services $12,073,108

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $375,000 · program services $375,000

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $381,873 · program services $116,025 · management and general $104,701 · fundraising $161,147

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $319,226 · program services $130,012 · management and general $118,533 · fundraising $70,681

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $27,733 · program services $8,771 · management and general $15,409 · fundraising $3,553

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $39,277 · program services $14,888 · management and general $13,381 · fundraising $11,008

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $39,699 · program services $14,828 · management and general $11,488 · fundraising $13,383

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $17,125 · management and general $17,125

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $93,750 · management and general $93,750

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $15,530 · management and general $15,530

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $247,684 · program services $177,388 · management and general $61,116 · fundraising $9,180

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $73,791 · program services $62,877 · management and general $10,914

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $3,536 · management and general $3,536

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $24,500 · program services $16,010 · management and general $7,930 · fundraising $560

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $3,342 · management and general $3,342

  • 17 · Travel

    total $134,461 · program services $18,747 · management and general $75,764 · fundraising $39,950

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $2,463 · management and general $2,463

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $4,800 · management and general $4,800

  • 24a · Other expenses: PRIZE PRESENTATION & EV

    total $291,326 · program services $289,818 · management and general $1,508

  • 24b · Other expenses: OTHER EXPENSES

    total $52,001 · program services $2,302 · management and general $46,774 · fundraising $2,925

  • 24c · Other expenses: STATE REGISTRATION

    total $11,019 · fundraising $11,019

  • 24d · Other expenses: SOFTWARE & OTHER SUBSCR

    total $10,207 · program services $531 · management and general $5,680 · fundraising $3,996

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,783,970 · end of year $677,735

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $10,598,333 · end of year $9,710,286

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $11,625,534 · end of year $8,789,800

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $15,956 · end of year $13,646

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $183,050

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $178,560

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $2,160 · end of year $4,490

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $3,623,813 · end of year $3,744,316

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $9,780 · end of year $3,104

  • 18 · Grants payable

    beginning of year $11,583

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $9,949,097 · end of year $10,365,243

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $17,679,306 · end of year $12,571,926

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

SUPPORTS AMERICAN HISTORY DOCUMENTARY FILMS TO PROMOTE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION.THE SOCIETY ALSO RECOGNIZES AND SUPPORTS DOCUMENTARY FILM ARTISTS THROUGH ITS LIBRARY OF CONGRESS LAVINE/KEN BURNS PRIZE FOR FILM ANNUAL AMERICAN HISTORY DOCUMENTARY CONTEST, WHICH AWARDS ONE WINNER, ONE RUNNER-UP AND UP TO FOUR FINALISTS FUNDING FOR LATE-STAGE PRODUCTION COSTS, DISTRIBUTION AND OUTREACH; BETTER ANGELS FELLOWSHIP, WHICH FUNDS A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR PROMISING FILMS, AND THE NEXT GENERATION ANGELS AWARDS, WHICH RECOGNIZES EXCELLENCE IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL-AGED STUDENT AMERICAN HISTORY DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING.

Activities or mission (Part I)

ENSURE HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY FILMS ARE FUNDED/SHARED THRU EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH & CIVIC DISCOURSE.

  • THE BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY PROVIDED OVER $12,038,108 IN FUNDING FOR THE PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, AND ASSOCIATED EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY FILMS THAT FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON AMERICAN HISTORY, WHICH ARE BROADCAST FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND WIDELY AVAILABLE ON PBS TELEVISION STATIONS AND PBS DIGITAL PLATFORMS FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS. IN 2024, THE SOCIETY CONTINUED RAISING FUNDS FOR FILMS INCLUDING: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, CRIME & PUNISHMENT IN AMERICA, LEONARDO DAVINCI, LBJ AND THE GREAT SOCIETY, HENRY DAVID THOREAU, AND EMANCIPATION TO EXODUS. THROUGH ITS BETTER ANGELS STORIES INITIATIVE, THE SOCIETY ALSO PROVIDED SUPPORT TO A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF AMERICAN HISTORY DOCUMENTARY FILMS THAT ARE BROADCAST ON PBS, INCLUDING ON AMERICAN MASTERS AND AMERICAN EXPERIENCE. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS LAVINE/KEN BURNS PRIZE FOR FILM, THE SOCIETY RECOGNIZED AND PROVIDED SUPPORT AND NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR THE VERY BEST AMERICAN HISTORY DOCUMENTARIES, SELECTED BY JURIES WITH EXPERTISE IN FILMMAKING, ARCHIVAL SOURCES, AND AMERICAN HISTORY.

    Expenses $12,189,105 · Grants $12,038,108

  • IN 2024, THE BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY PROVIDED $410,000 TO SUPPORT EDUCATION, RECOGNITION, AND MENTORSHIP TO ENSURE THAT DEEPLY RESEARCHED AND ENGAGING DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY CONTINUE TO BE CREATED. THE SOCIETY LED THE FOURTH YEAR OF THE BETTER ANGELS LAVINE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, A MENTORING PROGRAM FOR PROMISING FILMS THAT WERE NOT SELECTED AS FINALISTS FOR THIS PRIZE FOR FILM BUT DEMONSTRATE THE POTENTIAL FOR EXCELLENCE. THE SOCIETY ALSO SUPPORTED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT BUILD JUNIOR HIGH, HIGH SCHOOL, AND COLLEGE-AGE STUDENTS' SKILLS IN HISTORY, CIVICS, RESEARCH, AND COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF MAKING DOCUMENTARIES THAT HIGHLIGHT THE STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY THAT ARE MEANINGFUL TO THEM. THESE PROGRAMS, IN COLLABORATION WITH NATIONAL HISTORY DAY AND THE LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL FOUNDATION, PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, MENTORSHIP FROM ESTABLISHED FILMMAKERS, AND PUBLIC RECOGNITION TO PROMOTE OUTSTANDING AMERICAN HISTORY DOCUMENTARIES AND INSPIRE PARTICIPATION IN THIS DISCIPLINE.

    Expenses $1,111,200 · Grants $410,000

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Bobby Stein

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Phil Kent

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Meredith Dewitt

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Greg Lau

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Hal Brierley

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Patrick Butler

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Nancy J Cable

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Joseph Evangelisti

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Greg Golkin

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Cappy McGarr

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Michael Mullen

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Eric Obeng

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Laura Roosevelt

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Jason Schlesinger

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Peter Thoren

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Brian Conway

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Tracy Frisk

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Katherine Malone-France

    PRESIDENT AND CEO

    Total calculated
    $322,292
    From this org
    $284,167
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $38,125
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $220,104
    Bonus
    $64,063
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $24,979
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,146
    Filer's total
    $322,292

  • Bee Nance

    CFAO - AS OF 8/2024

    Total calculated
    $59,581
    From this org
    $53,426
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,155
    Hours/week
    40

  • Rebecca Daniels

    SR DIR, PHILANTHROPIC OPS & PLAN

    Total calculated
    $125,778
    From this org
    $106,722
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,056
    Hours/week
    40

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

Answered yes

  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 7
THE PRESIDENT AND CEO RECEIVED TWO NON-FIXED, DISCRETIONARY BONUSES DURING 2024.

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

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
14 April 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.1
Source object
202511089349300606

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