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BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY INC

EIN 45-4587107 WASHINGTON, DC

Revenue 2025
$9,876,301
Expenses 2025
$11,715,776

Program services were 89.7% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
A31
Classification
2000
Street
5185 MACARTHUR BLVD

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2025

Mission

THE BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY SUPPORTS OUTSTANDING AMERICAN HISTORY DOCUMENTARIES TO INSPIRE LIFELONG LEARNING, PROMOTE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND ENCOURAGE CIVIL DISCOURSE.THE ORGANIZATION ADVANCES THIS MISSION BY RAISING FUNDS TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL DOCUMENTARY FILMS FOCUSED ON U.S. HISTORY AND CHARACTERIZED BY THOROUGH ARCHIVAL RESEARCH AND ENGAGING STORYTELLING; AWARDING THE ANNUAL LIBRARY OF CONGRESS LAVINE/KEN BURNS PRIZE FOR FILM AND BETTER ANGELS LAVINE FELLOWSHIP TO PROVIDE RESOURCES, RECOGNITION, AND MENTORSHIP TO OUTSTANDING U.S. HISTORY DOCUMENTARIES; AND CREATING PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS TO ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE IN MAKING DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT U.S. HISTORY TO BUILD SKILLS IN CRITICAL THINKING, COMMUNICATIONS, RESEARCH, HISTORY, AND CIVICS.

Activities or mission (Part I)

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

  • THE BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY PROVIDED $9,066,941 IN FUNDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION, AND ASSOCIATED EDUCATIONAL AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS FOR DOCUMENTARY FILMS THAT FOCUSED ON U.S. HISTORY, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE BROADCAST FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND WIDELY AVAILABLE TO MILLIONS OF AMERICANS. IN 2025, THESE FILMS INCLUDED THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, CENTRAL PARK, CRIME & PUNISHMENT IN AMERICA, EMANCIPATION TO EXODUS, HENRY DAVID THOREAU, INSIDE THE OVAL: DECISIONS OF CONSEQUENCE, LBJ & THE GREAT SOCIETY, AND W.E.B. DU BOIS. THROUGH THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS LAVINE/KEN BURNS PRIZE FOR FILM, THE SOCIETY PROVIDED SUPPORT AND NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR OUTSTANDING AMERICAN HISTORY DOCUMENTARIES, SELECTED BY PEER REVIEWERS AND JURIES WITH EXPERTISE IN FILMMAKING, ARCHIVAL RESOURCES, AND U.S. HISTORY.

    Expenses $9,501,700 · Grants $9,066,941

  • IN 2025, THE BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY PROVIDED $450,000 TO SUPPORT TRAINING, NETWORKING, AND MENTORSHIP TO ENSURE THAT THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED AND ENGAGING DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY CONTINUE TO BE CREATED. THE SOCIETY LED THE FIFTH YEAR OF THE BETTER ANGELS LAVINE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, A MENTORING PROGRAM FOR DOCUMENTARIES-IN-PROCESS, SELECTED FROM APPLICANTS FOR THE PRIZE FOR FILM. THE SOCIETY ALSO SUPPORTED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT BUILD JUNIOR HIGH, HIGH SCHOOL, AND COLLEGE-AGE STUDENTS' SKILLS IN CRITICAL THINKING, HISTORY, CIVICS, RESEARCH, AND COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF MAKING DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. THESE PROGRAMS, IN COLLABORATION WITH NATIONAL HISTORY DAY AND THE LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL FOUNDATION, PROVIDED FREE TRAINING SESSIONS, MENTORSHIP FROM EXPERTS IN HISTORICAL RESEARCH AND FILMMAKING, AND PUBLIC RECOGNITION TO PROMOTE OUTSTANDING AMERICAN HISTORY DOCUMENTARIES AND INSPIRE PARTICIPATION IN THIS DISCIPLINE. THE SOCIETY ALSO PROVIDED SUPPORT TO FILM FESTIVALS TO HIGHLIGHT OUTSTANDING HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARIES, ENCOURAGE CIVIL DISCOURSE RELATED TO THEM, AND ENCOURAGE BEST PRACTICES IN THEIR CREATION.

    Expenses $1,012,340 · Grants $450,000

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

Officers and directors · 2025

As listed in Part VII of the 2025 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • 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 FRIST

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • LARRY WASSERMAN

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • KATHERINE MALONE-FRANCE

    PRESIDENT AND CEO

    Total calculated
    $331,900
    From this org
    $288,750
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $43,150
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $228,750
    Bonus
    $60,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $28,875
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,275
    Filer's total
    $331,900

  • BEE NANCE

    CFAO

    Total calculated
    $175,170
    From this org
    $141,581
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,589
    Hours/week
    30

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $141,581
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $10,938
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,651
    Filer's total
    $175,170

  • REBECCA DANIELS

    SR DIR, PHILANTHROPIC OPS & PLAN

    Total calculated
    $140,928
    From this org
    $120,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,928
    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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2025
    Revenue
    $9,876,301
    Expenses
    $11,715,776
    Contributions
    $9,153,992
    Grants paid
    $9,516,941
  • 2024
    Revenue
    $9,536,917
    Expenses
    $14,241,451
    Contributions
    $8,915,415
    Grants paid
    $12,448,108
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $11,000,879
    Expenses
    $13,274,082
    Contributions
    $10,620,983
    Grants paid
    $11,745,184
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $9,108,547
    Expenses
    $10,742,249
    Contributions
    $8,942,999
    Grants paid
    $9,374,060

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $13,197,616
    Expenses
    $10,806,242
    Assets (EOY)
    $31,631,125

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $13,133,295
    Expenses
    $14,378,595
    Assets (EOY)
    $29,324,402

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $20,356,296
    Expenses
    $10,386,594
    Assets (EOY)
    $30,635,915

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $9,586,154
    Expenses
    $12,457,910
    Assets (EOY)
    $21,748,016

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $15,712,689
    Expenses
    $7,276,133
    Assets (EOY)
    $24,753,792

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $6,047,148
    Expenses
    $15,355,527
    Assets (EOY)
    $15,637,735

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $15,896,304
    Expenses
    $2,475,002
    Assets (EOY)
    $24,944,342

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $12,133,595
    Expenses
    $1,104,992
    Assets (EOY)
    $11,531,593

  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $186,198
    Expenses
    $230,273
    Assets (EOY)
    $485,960

  • 2012 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $34,920
    Assets (EOY)
    $530,035

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

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

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

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

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2025, the newest we have parsed for this organization.