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Nonprofiteer
← BORN THIS WAY FOUNDATION

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by BORN THIS WAY FOUNDATION.

Totals

Total revenue
$6,032,453
Total expenses
$6,939,064
Contributions and grants received
$5,829,812
Grants paid
$3,314,098
Program service revenue
$300
Investment income
$200,654
Other revenue
$1,687
Total assets, end of year
$9,021,963
Total liabilities, end of year
$188,452
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$8,833,511
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$5,918,017
Management and general expenses
$475,249
Fundraising expenses
$545,798
Program service expenses (Part III)
$5,918,017

Program services were 85.3% 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.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $5,829,812

  • 2a · Program service revenue: SPEAKER FEES

    total $300 · related or exempt $300

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $198,348 · excluded $198,348

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $1,687 · excluded $1,687

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $189,849

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

    securities $187,543

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $2,306

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $2,306 · excluded $2,306

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $917,075 · program services $917,075

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $15,850 · program services $15,850

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $2,381,173 · program services $2,381,173

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,086,213 · program services $786,539 · management and general $152,490 · fundraising $147,184

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $773,094 · program services $558,686 · management and general $109,341 · fundraising $105,067

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $24,361 · program services $17,579 · management and general $3,454 · fundraising $3,328

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $71,308 · program services $56,420 · management and general $7,054 · fundraising $7,834

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $138,908 · program services $100,235 · management and general $19,695 · fundraising $18,978

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $64,783 · program services $60,452 · management and general $2,148 · fundraising $2,183

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $155,347 · management and general $155,347

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $174,000 · fundraising $174,000

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $4,190 · management and general $4,190

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $385,441 · program services $339,946 · management and general $4,063 · fundraising $41,432

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $465,736 · program services $465,736

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $119,849 · program services $94,163 · management and general $12,257 · fundraising $13,429

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $2,855 · program services $2,040 · management and general $407 · fundraising $408

  • 17 · Travel

    total $135,772 · program services $105,618 · management and general $1,507 · fundraising $28,647

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $5,750 · program services $4,106 · management and general $821 · fundraising $823

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $17,359 · program services $12,399 · management and general $2,475 · fundraising $2,485

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $3,452,826 · end of year $2,478,682

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $1,129,152 · end of year $964,657

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $2,745,947 · end of year $1,625,694

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $24,745 · end of year $27,901

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

    $12,910

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

    $8,748

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $6,743 · end of year $4,162

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $2,227,067 · end of year $3,646,277

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    beginning of year $25,346 · end of year $22,177

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $252,413

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $106,794 · end of year $188,452

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $5,359,085 · end of year $5,840,370

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $4,145,947 · end of year $2,993,141

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

BORN THIS WAY FOUNDATION EMPOWERS AND INSPIRES YOUNG PEOPLE TO BUILD A KINDER, BRAVER WORLD THAT SUPPORTS THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

Activities or mission (Part I)

EMPOWER AND INSPIRE YOUTH TO BUILD A KINDER, BRAVER WORLD SUPPORTING THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

  • THE KINDNESS IN COMMUNITY FUND IS OUR YOUTH-DRIVEN GRANTMAKING INITIATIVE THAT EMPOWERS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ADDRESSING YOUNG PEOPLE'S DIVERSE NEEDS GLOBALLY. GUIDED BY YOUNG PEOPLE'S INPUT FROM NOMINATION TO SELECTION, WE SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE INFORMED OR LED BY YOUNG PEOPLE, ROOTED IN EQUITY AND INCLUSION, AND PROVIDE FREE, ACCESSIBLE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES. IN 2024, THE KINDNESS IN COMMUNITY FUND, WITH SUPPORT FROM OUR PARTNERS AT COTTON ON, DISTRIBUTED OVER 2.8M USD TO 65 ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS 10 COUNTRIES, SUPPORTING A VARIETY OF RESOURCES THAT FOSTER MENTAL WELLNESS INCLUDING CLINICAL CARE, EDUCATION, AND SAFE SPACES.

    Expenses $3,238,280 · Grants $2,852,542

  • BE THERE CERTIFICATE IS OUR FREE, ONLINE MENTAL HEALTH COURSE THAT EQUIPS YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE TOOLS TO CONFIDENTLY AND COMPASSIONATELY SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER, CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH JACK.ORG. THROUGH SIX SELF-PACED LESSONS, AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH, FRENCH, AND SPANISH, YOUNG PEOPLE AND CARING ADULTS LEARN HOW TO RECOGNIZE WHEN SOMEONE IS STRUGGLING, PROVIDE SUPPORT, AND CONNECT OTHERS TO THE HELP THEY DESERVE. AS OF 2024, OVER 60K PEOPLE HAVE EARNED THEIR BE THERE CERTIFICATE, WITH OVER 50 COMPLETED DAILY. SURVEYS SHOW THAT WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF COMPLETING THE COURSE, 79% OF PARTICIPANTS HAVE USED THE SKILLS THEY LEARNED TO SUPPORT SOMEONE, 96% FEEL MORE CONFIDENT OFFERING SUPPORT, AND 95% CAN BETTER RECOGNIZE SIGNS OF STRUGGLE.

    Expenses $1,135,823 · Grants $370,706

  • WE ENGAGE YOUTH THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT AMPLIFY THEIR STORIES AND CELEBRATE THE KINDER, BRAVER WORLD THEY'RE ALREADY BUILDING. CHANNEL KINDNESS IS OUR DIGITAL PLATFORM INVITING YOUNG PEOPLE TO PUT COMPASSION INTO ACTION THROUGH STORYTELLING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. IN 2024, OUR EDITORS HELPED 142 YOUTH SHARE THEIR STORIES, EACH PAIRED WITH SUGGESTED ACTIONS TO INSPIRE CHANGE. THE PLATFORM HAS FEATURED 2K+ STORIES FROM 61 COUNTRIES TO DATE. WE ALSO HOST THE FREE CHANNEL KINDNESS STORYTELLERS CLUB, A WRITING WORKSHOP THAT HELPS YOUTH TURN THEIR PERSPECTIVES INTO POWERFUL NARRATIVES. IN 2024, WE ENGAGED 249 PARTICIPANTS THROUGH VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON SESSIONS. #BEKIND365, OUR DIGITAL PLATFORM ENCOURAGING INTENTIONAL DAILY KINDNESS, HAS ENGAGED 55K PEOPLE ACROSS 119 COUNTRIES, PLEDGING 20M+ KIND ACTS TO DATE.

    Expenses $407,923

  • IN ADDITION TO THE PROGRAMS ABOVE, WE CONNECT YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ACCESSIBLE, EVIDENCE-BASED MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND CONDUCT RESEARCH THAT ADVANCES UNDERSTANDING OF YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH. OUR GLOBAL YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD GUIDES OUR MISSION, COLLABORATING ON PROGRAM DESIGN AND EXECUTION TO KEEP OUR WORK AUTHENTICALLY YOUTH-DRIVEN AND IMPACTFUL. MOST RECENTLY IN 2024, WE PARTNERED WITH HOPELAB TO SURVEY 1.2K LGBTQ+ YOUTH TO EXPLORE HOW TO BUILD SUPPORTIVE ONLINE SPACES. THESE FINDINGS WILL HELP US CONTINUE WORKING ALONGSIDE YOUNG PEOPLE, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND DECISION-MAKERS TO IMPROVE PRACTICES AND BUILD AWARENESS.

    Expenses $1,135,991 · Grants $90,850 · Revenue $300

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

Listed in Part VII

  • Cynthia Germanotta

    DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $312,996
    From this org
    $293,978
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,018
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $293,978
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $10,347
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,671
    Filer's total
    $312,996

  • Alexander Roque

    DIRECTOR, SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Tamika L Tremaglio

    DIRECTOR, TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Charles B Ortner

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Sean F Cassidy

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Stefani Germanotta

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Rachel Martin

    CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $268,452
    From this org
    $250,951
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,501
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $250,951
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,830
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,671
    Filer's total
    $268,452

  • Getenesh M Yilma

    VP, CONTENT AND BRAND

    Total calculated
    $170,105
    From this org
    $155,913
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,192
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $155,913
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,521
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,671
    Filer's total
    $170,105

  • Gary A Aide

    VP, PROGRAMS AND IMPACT

    Total calculated
    $168,134
    From this org
    $153,942
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,192
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $153,942
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,521
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,671
    Filer's total
    $168,134

  • Claudia Fernandes

    VP, RESEARCH AND EVALUATION

    Total calculated
    $166,526
    From this org
    $152,281
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,245
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $152,281
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,574
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,671
    Filer's total
    $166,526

  • Megan Bradley

    SENIOR MANAGER, PARTNERSHIPS

    Total calculated
    $132,105
    From this org
    $119,663
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,442
    Hours/week
    40

  • Shadille Estepan

    SENIOR MANAGER, COMMUNICATIONS

    Total calculated
    $122,033
    From this org
    $113,578
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,455
    Hours/week
    40

  • Joshua Meredith

    CHIEF OF STAFF

    Total calculated
    $123,914
    From this org
    $105,862
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,052
    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

  • 1a · First-class or charter travel
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 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

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 1A
THE ORGANIZATION'S PRESIDENT RECIEVED FIRST-CLASS TRAVEL BENEFITS. IT WAS NOT TREATED AS TAXABLE COMPENSATION. FIRST-CLASS TRAVEL MAY BE PROVIDED TO CERTAIN OFFICERS OR KEY EMPLOYEES WHEN NECESSARY TO ENSURE PERSONAL SAFETY, PRIVACY, AND CONFIDENTIALITY DUE TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S PUBLIC PROFILE OR NAME RECOGNITION. SUCH TRAVEL IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S TRAVEL POLICY AND SUBJECT TO BOARD OVERSIGHT.

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
2024
Filed
12 November 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202533169349308923

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.