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← JOAN GANZ COONEY CENTER FOREDUCATIONAL MEDIA AND RESEARCH INC

Form 990 for tax year 2022

Filed by JOAN GANZ COONEY CENTER FOREDUCATIONAL MEDIA AND RESEARCH INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$1,504,764
Total expenses
$2,318,677
Contributions and grants received
$309,278
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$1,196,460
Investment income
-$974
Other revenue
$0
Total assets, end of year
$28,086,018
Total liabilities, end of year
$5,836,575
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$22,249,443
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$1,720,177
Management and general expenses
$372,554
Fundraising expenses
$225,946
Program service expenses (Part III)
$1,720,177

Program services were 74.2% 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

    $309,278

  • 2a · Program service revenue: PROGRAM SUPPORT

    total $656,899 · related or exempt $656,899

  • 2b · Program service revenue: DESIGN WELL, PLAY WELL

    total $539,561 · related or exempt $539,561

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $329 · excluded $329

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $32,026

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

    securities $33,329

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities -$1,303

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total -$1,303 · excluded -$1,303

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $432,846 · program services $281,350 · management and general $64,927 · fundraising $86,569

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $450,647 · program services $383,050 · management and general $45,065 · fundraising $22,532

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $131,861 · program services $112,082 · management and general $13,186 · fundraising $6,593

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $103,634 · management and general $103,634

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $100,000 · fundraising $100,000

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $125,666 · management and general $125,666

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $654,419 · program services $654,419

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $1,782 · program services $1,782

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $4,500 · program services $3,825 · management and general $450 · fundraising $225

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $73,691 · program services $62,637 · management and general $7,369 · fundraising $3,685

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $57,689 · program services $49,036 · management and general $5,769 · fundraising $2,884

  • 17 · Travel

    total $61,551 · program services $52,318 · management and general $6,155 · fundraising $3,078

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $3,329 · program services $2,830 · management and general $333 · fundraising $166

  • 24a · Other expenses: PRODUCTION SERVICES

    total $108,710 · program services $108,710

  • 24b · Other expenses: REGISTRATION FEES

    total $4,283 · program services $4,069 · fundraising $214

  • 24c · Other expenses: HONORARIUMS

    total $4,069 · program services $4,069

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $1,029,241 · end of year $1,185,677

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $381,445

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $58,099 · end of year $211,405

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $3,286,790 · end of year $3,665,514

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $21,526,907 · end of year $23,023,422

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $149,761 · end of year $143,007

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    end of year $47,229

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $5,006,977 · end of year $5,646,339

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $21,125,744 · end of year $22,249,443

Mission and programs · 2022

Mission

THE JOAN GANZ COONEY CENTER IS AN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AND INNOVATION LAB WITHIN SESAME WORKSHOP THAT ADVANCES POSITIVE FUTURES FOR KIDS IN THE DIGITAL WORLD. WE CONDUCT RESEARCH ON EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND COLLABORATE WITH TECHNOLOGISTS, DIGITAL MEDIA (SEE SCHEDULE O)PRODUCERS, AND EDUCATORS TO PUT THIS RESEARCH INTO ACTION TO SUPPORT CHILDREN'S LEARNING AND WELLBEING. WE FACILITATE AN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF RESEARCHERS AND PARTNER WITH YOUNG PEOPLE THEMSELVES, ELEVATING THEIR VOICES IN OUR RESEARCH AND ENGAGING THEM IN CO-DESIGNING DIGITAL MEDIA EXPERIENCES. WE ALSO WORK DIRECTLY WITH POLICY MAKERS AND INVESTORS TO DRIVE NATIONAL CONVERSATIONS AND DECISIONS THAT HELP CHILDREN THRIVE WITHIN OUR DIGITAL WORLD.

Activities or mission (Part I)

OUR MISSION IS TO CATALYZE & SUPPORT RESEARCH IN DIGITAL MEDIA TO ADVANCE CHILDREN'S LEARNING.

  • IN FY23, THE JOAN GANZ COONEY CENTER BUILT FROM ITS CENTRAL THEME OF HELPING THE CHILDREN'S MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY SECTOR DESIGN WITH AND FOR KIDS TO PRIORITIZING CHILDREN'S BEST INTEREST IN THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE DIGITAL PRODUCTS THEY USE, TO MOBILIZE EVIDENCE AND RESEARCH-BASED APPROACHES TO DESIGN THAT INCLUDE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AS PARTNERS IN THE INNOVATION PROCESS. THIS EFFORT BUILDS ON RECENT REGULATORY MOMENTUM TOWARD ESTABLISHING STANDARDS FOR CHILDREN'S ONLINE SAFETY, SECURITY, AND PRIVACY, AND OFFERS AN ASPIRATIONAL BUT ACHIEVABLE VISION FOR PRODUCTS THAT ARE TRULY CHILD CENTERED. (SEE SCHEDULE O)THE CENTER'S KEY PRIORITIES REMAIN CONSISTENT WITH FY23:1. ENABLE INNOVATORS TO DESIGN WITH AND FOR KIDS 2. PROMOTE CHILDREN'S WELL-BEING IN A DIGITAL WORLD3. SUPPORT MEDIA INNOVATION WITH YOUTH AUDIENCESDESIGNING WITH AND FOR KIDSTHE CENTER FORMALLY ANNOUNCED ITS COMMITMENT TO PUTTING KIDS AT THE CENTER OF DESIGN WITH OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE SANDBOX, AN INNOVATION AND DESIGN LAB FOR NEW DIGITAL PRODUCTS. THE SANDBOX LEVERAGES CHILD-CENTERED DESIGN PRACTICES AND RESEARCH EXPERTISE TO HELP DIGITAL DESIGNERS (1) BUILD BETTER DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTS THAT LEAD TO POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR KIDS, (2) ACQUIRE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW RESEARCH AND PARTICIPATORY METHODS CAN LEAD TO PRODUCTS THAT BETTER ENGAGE KIDS AND ACHIEVE THEIR INTENDED IMPACT, AND (3) ENGAGE KIDS IN PRODUCT IDEATION, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SYSTEMICALLY UNDER-REPRESENTED IN DESIGN. WITH A COMBINATION OF PHILANTHROPIC FUNDING AND EARNED REVENUE, THE CENTER WORKED WITH A RANGE OF PRODUCT TEAMS FROM SMALL AI EDUCATION STARTUPS TO AN ESTABLISH NONPROFIT WITH A GLOBAL REACH. THE WORK WAS CARRIED OUT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LABS IN NYC, BALTIMORE, AND SEATTLE THAT HELPED RECRUIT DIVERSE CHILDREN AND STAFF SESSIONS WITH RESEARCH ASSISTANTS.PROMOTING CHILDREN'S WELL-BEING IN A DIGITAL WORLDTHE CENTER CONTINUED ITS WORK TO DEFINE AND BUILD AWARENESS OF THE EMERGING DOMAIN OF CHILDREN'S WELL-BEING IN DIGITAL SPACES. THE TEAM CONTINUED TO LEAD A MULTI-SECTOR ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN FOR THE RITEC INITIATIVE ("RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION IN TECHNOLOGY FOR CHILDREN"), IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LEGO GROUP AND UNICEF, PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON THE US BUT ALSO COORDINATING WITH SIMILAR EFFORTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES. THE CENTER ALSO CONTINUED TO DEVELOP A "DIGITAL THRIVING PLAYBOOK" BY AND FOR THE ONLINE GAMING INDUSTRY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FAIR PLAY ALLIANCE, TO PROMOTE POSITIVE OUTCOMES IN GAME PLAY. THE TEAM HOSTED OR PARTICIPATED IN 11 EVENTS THAT WERE ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 1,600 ATTENDEES, PROMOTED WELL-BEING TOPICS AND ACTIVITIES ON THEIR BLOG AND VIA SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS, AND LAUNCHING A NEW DESIGN WELL, PLAY WELL ONLINE HUB TO COLLECT AND SHARE WORK FROM THE FIELD.SUPPORTING MEDIA INNOVATION FOR YOUTH AUDIENCESTHE CENTER CONCLUDED ITS THREE-YEAR NEXT GEN PUBLIC MEDIA PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING, WHICH WAS FOCUSED ON HELPING PUBLIC TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY BETTER ENGAGE TWEEN AND TEEN AUDIENCES. THE TEAM ENGAGED MORE THAN 100 STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN REGULAR COMMUNITY OFFERINGS INCLUDING AN ACTIVE PEER LEARNING COMMUNITY, A WEBINAR SERIES, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS. THE CENTER ALSO OFFERED A FUNDED ACCELERATOR FOR 12 STATIONS TO PILOT AND EXPERIMENT WITH NEW APPROACHES TO YOUTH-FOCUSED INITIATIVES, LEVERAGING THE TEAM'S PUBLISHED REPORTS FREQUENTLY CITED BY THE PUBLIC MEDIA FIELD AND BEYOND, INCLUDING THE MISSING MIDDLE (MAY 2021), GEN Z IN THE ROOM (JANUARY 2023), AND A SERIES OF RESEARCH PRACTICE BRIEFS, FOUND AT TOOLKIT.NEXTGENPUBLICMEDIA.ORG.COMMUNICATIONS HIGHLIGHTSTHE CENTER OFFERED SEASON 2 OF THE "INTO THE DIGITAL FUTURE" PODCAST, A SERIES OF CONVERSATIONS HOSTED BY COONEY CENTER SENIOR FELLOW JORDAN SHAPIRO AND ROBLOX'S DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SAFETY AND CIVILITY LAURA HIGGINS. GUESTS INCLUDED LEADERS IN THE FIELDS OF CHILDREN'S MEDIA, TECH, HEALTH, AND RESEARCH. GUESTS INCLUDED AUSTRALIA'S ESAFETY COMMISSIONER AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE US CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL & PREVENTION, THE UNITED NATIONS, AND A RANGE OF COMPANIES AND NONPROFITS.THE TEAM PRESENTED THEIR WORK AT ANNUAL CONFERENCES HELD BY THE MILKEN INSTITUTE, THE SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT, SXSW, ASU+GSV, GAMES FOR CHANGE, ACM INTERACTION DESIGN AND CHILDREN (IDC), ALL TECH IS HUMAN, DUST OR MAGIC, AND OTHERS.

    Expenses $1,720,177 · Revenue $1,196,460

As filed on the 2022 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Stephen Youngwood

    DIRECTOR/CEO (THRU 2/6/23)

    Total calculated
    $1,060,482
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $1,022,143
    Other
    $38,339
    Hours/week
    0.5 + 62 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $0 + $746,418 related
    Bonus
    $0 + $274,431 related
    Other
    $0 + $1,294 related
    Deferred
    $0 + $30,500 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $7,839 related
    Filer's total
    $0 + $1,060,482 related

  • Sherrie Rollins Westin

    CHAIRMAN/PRESIDENT SESAME WORKSHOP

    Total calculated
    $898,021
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $864,748
    Other
    $33,273
    Hours/week
    0.5 + 60 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $0 + $621,380 related
    Bonus
    $0 + $237,930 related
    Other
    $0 + $5,438 related
    Deferred
    $0 + $30,434 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $2,839 related
    Filer's total
    $0 + $898,021 related

  • Joan Ganz Cooney

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5 + 0.5 related

  • Michael Levine

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Lloyd Morrisett

    DIRECTOR (THRU 1/15/23)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5 + 0.5 related

  • Esteban Sosnik

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Ellen Wartella

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Joseph Salvo

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $582,918
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $521,954
    Other
    $60,964
    Hours/week
    2 + 63 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $0 + $393,137 related
    Bonus
    $0 + $123,200 related
    Other
    $0 + $5,617 related
    Deferred
    $0 + $26,317 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $34,647 related
    Filer's total
    $0 + $582,918 related

  • Michael Preston

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JGC CENTER

    Total calculated
    $432,845
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $346,196
    Other
    $86,649
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $0 + $263,594 related
    Bonus
    $0 + $80,315 related
    Other
    $0 + $2,287 related
    Deferred
    $0 + $27,591 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $59,058 related
    Filer's total
    $0 + $432,845 related

  • Karen Haynes-Blake

    TREASURER (THRU 11/3/22)

    Total calculated
    $285,285
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $228,084
    Other
    $57,201
    Hours/week
    0.5 + 60 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $0 + $173,935 related
    Bonus
    $0 + $53,427 related
    Other
    $0 + $722 related
    Deferred
    $0 + $18,455 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $38,746 related
    Filer's total
    $0 + $285,285 related

  • Brett Robinson

    TREASURER (AS OF 11/3/22)

    Total calculated
    $106,026
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $95,316
    Other
    $10,710
    Hours/week
    0.5 + 63 related

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

  • 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
OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S REPORTED ON SCHEDULE J OF THE JOAN GANZ COONEY CENTER'S FORM 990, ONLY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EXCLUSIVELY PROVIDES SERVICES TO THE CENTER (AND YET RECEIVE A W-2 FROM SESAME WORKSHOP, ITS MEMBER ORGANIZATION). THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PARTICIPATES IN SESAME WORKSHOP'S TARGETED INCENTIVE PROGRAM, AS DO THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS REPORTED IN SCHEDULE J. THE TARGETED INCENTIVE COMPENSATION AMOUNT REPORTED FOR EACH EMPLOYEE IS BASED ON A COMBINATION OF JOB LEVEL, INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE AND COMPANY PERFORMANCE. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF SESAME WORKSHOP DETERMINES WHETHER INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE FOR A GIVEN YEAR AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR INCENTIVE COMPENSATION.

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

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Related corporations and trusts

Part IV: related organizations taxable as a corporation or trust.

  • CTW COMMUNICATIONS INC

    C · HOLDING · DE

    Directly controlled by SESAME WORKSHOP

  • SESAME SERVICES FP INC

    C · VIDEO PRODUCTION · DE

    Directly controlled by SESAME WORKSHOP INTERNATIONAL

  • SESAME STREET BRAND MGMT & SVC SHANGHAI

    C · EDU. MEDIA · CH

    Directly controlled by SESAME WORKSHOP

  • SESAME STREET JAPAN GK

    C · EDU. MEDIA · JA

    Directly controlled by SESAME WORKSHOP

  • SESAME STREET SEASON 51 PRODUCTIONS INC

    C · VIDEO PRODUCTION · DE

    Directly controlled by SESAME WORKSHOP

  • SESAME STREET SEASON 52 PRODUCTIONS INC

    C · VIDEO PRODUCTION · DE

    Directly controlled by SESAME WORKSHOP

  • SESAME STREET SEASON 53 PRODUCTIONS INC

    C · VIDEO PRODUCTION · DE

    Directly controlled by SESAME WORKSHOP

  • SESAME STREET SEASON 54 PRODUCTIONS INC

    C · VIDEO PRODUCTION · DE

    Directly controlled by SESAME WORKSHOP

  • SESAME STREET SEASON 55 PRODUCTIONS INC

    C · VIDEO PRODUCTION · DE

    Directly controlled by SESAME WORKSHOP

  • SESAME WORKSHOP INITIATIVES (INDIA) PLC

    C · EDU. MEDIA · IN

    Directly controlled by SESAME WORKSHOP

  • SESAME WORKSHOP EUROPE GMBH

    C · EDU. MEDIA · GM

    Directly controlled by SESAME WORKSHOP INTERNATIONAL

  • SESAME WORKHSOP LATIN AMERICA SDE RL DE CV

    C · EDU. MEDIA · MX

    Directly controlled by SESAME WORKSHOP INTERNATIONAL

  • SESAME WORKSHOP EDUCATIONAL SERVICES SOUTH AFRICA NPC

    C · EDU. MEDIA · SF

    Directly controlled by SESAME WORKSHOP INTERNATIONAL

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2022
Filed
15 May 2024
IRS schema version
2022v5.0
Source object
202421369349306212

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