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Nonprofiteer
← BLACKSTAR PROJECTS INC

Form 990 for tax year 2025

Filed by BLACKSTAR PROJECTS INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$7,248,433
Total expenses
$5,020,419
Contributions and grants received
$6,850,824
Grants paid
$363,106
Program service revenue
$379,488
Investment income
$19,361
Other revenue
-$1,240
Total assets, end of year
$5,488,004
Total liabilities, end of year
$159,596
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$5,328,408
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$3,397,818
Management and general expenses
$868,629
Fundraising expenses
$753,972
Program service expenses (Part III)
$3,397,818

Program services were 67.7% 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.

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $50,000

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $6,800,824

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $8,659

  • 2a · Program service revenue: TICKET SALES

    total $248,292 · related or exempt $248,292

  • 2b · Program service revenue: SUBMISSION FEES

    total $33,315 · related or exempt $33,315

  • 2c · Program service revenue: PUBLICATIONS

    total $29,704 · related or exempt $29,704

  • 2d · Program service revenue: CONSULTING REVENUE

    total $17,650 · related or exempt $17,650

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $50,527 · related or exempt $50,527

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $19,361 · excluded $19,361

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $388

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $388

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $388 · related or exempt $388

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $17,282

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $18,910

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total -$1,628 · related or exempt -$1,628

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $314,906 · program services $314,906

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $48,200 · program services $48,200

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $404,044 · program services $223,078 · management and general $98,924 · fundraising $82,042

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,741,473 · program services $961,491 · management and general $426,372 · fundraising $353,610

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $21,941 · program services $12,114 · management and general $5,372 · fundraising $4,455

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $187,152 · program services $103,329 · management and general $45,821 · fundraising $38,002

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $177,846 · program services $98,191 · management and general $43,543 · fundraising $36,112

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $825 · management and general $825

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $57,420 · management and general $57,420

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $787,248 · program services $618,093 · management and general $89,020 · fundraising $80,135

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $191,921 · program services $180,966 · management and general $2,838 · fundraising $8,117

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $155,657 · program services $128,154 · management and general $13,950 · fundraising $13,553

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $69,144 · program services $56,323 · management and general $10,221 · fundraising $2,600

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $138,759 · program services $98,548 · management and general $26,425 · fundraising $13,786

  • 17 · Travel

    total $280,340 · program services $241,898 · management and general $5,432 · fundraising $33,010

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $13,669 · management and general $13,669

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $27,213 · management and general $27,213

  • 24a · Other expenses: EVENT PRODUCTION AND VE

    total $395,155 · program services $306,584 · management and general $522 · fundraising $88,049

  • 24b · Other expenses: DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $4,575 · program services $3,782 · management and general $402 · fundraising $391

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $2,931 · program services $2,161 · management and general $660 · fundraising $110

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,049,979 · end of year $2,962,913

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $486,207 · end of year $505,568

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,690,479 · end of year $1,873,519

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $675

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $60,596 · end of year $57,319

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $32,788 · end of year $45,004

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

    $79,428

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

    $45,672

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $38,234 · end of year $33,756

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $134,635 · end of year $9,250

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $254,909 · end of year $154,371

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $5,225

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $137,615 · end of year $0

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,383,018 · end of year $1,015,833

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,717,376 · end of year $4,312,575

Mission and programs · 2025

Mission

PROMOTING FILM AND VISUAL CULTURE BY PEOPLE OF COLOR, BLACKSTAR IS FOCUSED ON CREATING THE SPACES AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO UPLIFT THE WORK OF BLACK, BROWN AND INDIGENOUS ARTISTS WORKING OUTSIDE OF THE CONFINES OF GENRE.

  • THE BLACKSTAR FILM FESTIVAL IS AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF VISUAL AND STORYTELLING TRADITIONS OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA AND OTHER GLOBAL COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. THE FESTIVAL CELEBRATED ITS 14TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2025.OUR PHILADELPHIA FILMMAKER LAB SUPPORTS FOUR BLACK, BROWN AND INDIGENOUS FILMMAKERS BY MAKING EQUIPMENT, SPACE, CREW, MENTORSHIP, FUNDING AND CRITICAL FEEDBACK AVAILABLE OVER THE COURSE OF A 12-MONTH PROGRAM. BLACKSTAR ACTS AS AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ON THE SHORT FILMS CREATED DURING THE LAB AND PREMIERES THE FILMS AT THE FOLLOWING YEAR'S FESTIVAL.THE WILLIAM AND LOUISE GREAVES FILMMAKER SEMINAR IS AN ANNUAL GATHERING FOR BLACK, BROWN, AND INDIGENOUS ARTISTSWORKING IN CINEMATIC REALMS, WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE AND RECEIVE FEEDBACK, VIEW CURATED SCREENINGS, AND MEET INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AND FUNDERS.

    Expenses $3,397,818 · Grants $363,106 · Revenue $378,248

As filed on the 2025 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • DENISE C BEEK

    CO-CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    8

  • SEKOU CAMPBELL

    CO-CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • AMANDA BRANSON GILL

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • TAYYIB SMITH

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • SUNANDA GHOSH

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • TED PASSON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MAORI KARMAEL HOLMES

    ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CEO

    Total calculated
    $243,231
    From this org
    $228,283
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,948
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $228,283
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $3,440
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,508
    Filer's total
    $243,231

  • IMRAN SIDDIQUEE

    CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $164,256
    From this org
    $152,054
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,202
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $152,054
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $2,294
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,908
    Filer's total
    $164,256

  • TERRI HALL- JACKSON

    ENGAGEMENT & PARTNERSHIP DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $138,422
    From this org
    $101,570
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $36,852
    Hours/week
    40

  • LEO BROOKS

    CREATIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $114,577
    From this org
    $101,946
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,631
    Hours/week
    40

  • CATHERINE LEE

    CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $160,812
    From this org
    $148,888
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,924
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $148,888
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $2,240
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,684
    Filer's total
    $160,812

  • AUTUMN VALDEZ

    BUSINESS DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $115,362
    From this org
    $103,985
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,377
    Hours/week
    40

  • NEHAD KHADER

    FESTIVAL DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $114,114
    From this org
    $102,766
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,348
    Hours/week
    40

  • HEIDI SAMAN

    PROGRAM DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $111,323
    From this org
    $109,641
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $1,682
    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 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

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
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

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

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2025
Filed
30 July 2026
IRS schema version
2025v4.2
Source object
202602129349300120

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