irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2019
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $20KAWARD A COLLEGE SENIOR WITH A FELLOWSHIP TO WRITE AN ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY UNDER THE MENTORSHIP OF A PROMINENT SCREENWRITER.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Graduate Writers Program
Online continuation program for past workshop participants to support long-term writing projects through peer feedback and mentor engagement
Helen Deutsch Writing Workshops
Writing workshops for underserved communities including veterans, caregivers, incarcerated individuals, frontline healthcare workers, and survivors of trauma, using curated prompts and mentorship from professional writers
Michael Collyer Memorial Fellowship in Screenwriting
Fellowship supporting a college senior in writing an original screenplay under the mentorship of a professional screenwriter, in partnership with The Blacklist
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Film Production Funding and Fiscal Sponsorship 1 activity
- Awards the Michael Collyer Memorial Fellowship in ScreenwritingFunds a one-year fellowship including a $10,000 stipend and mentorship by a professional screenwriter to support an emerging screenwriter (aged 18–25) in writing an original screenplay. The fellowship also includes a 12-month ISAConnect membership through a partnership with the International Screenwriters’ Association.
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Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Conducts writing workshops for underserved and marginalized communitiesProvides access to storytelling education through writing workshops for underserved populations including veterans, incarcerated individuals, first responders, disaster survivors, immigrant and refugee communities, LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, people living with chronic illness, and others facing systemic barriers. The organization conducts approximately one workshop per month, including remote formats during the pandemic, and has delivered workshops in locations such as Landstuhl, Germany, and Columbus, Ohio.
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Storytelling and Literacy Resource Development 1 activity
- Releases ongoing writing prompts for public engagementProduces and shares writing prompts (e.g., prompts 274 and 275) as part of an ongoing series to encourage storytelling and creative expression among broader audiences.
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Emerging Filmmaker Support Programs 1 activity
- Supports publication and creative development of workshop participantsProvides ongoing support to alumni of writing workshops, helping them publish memoirs, fiction, children’s books, screenplays, and other works, including through mentorship and resources. Supported the publication of a memoir by participant Cindy Crystal.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$355K
Contributions & grants$288K81%
Program service revenue$8K2%
Investment income$57K16%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$265K
Program expenses69%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising11%
Salaries & benefits$127K
Grants paid out$10K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.81M
Cash$1.16M
Investments$615K
Liabilities$66K
Net assets$1.75M
Liquid reserves80.5 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +19.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 6
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHIARA CARMEL MONTALTO-GIANNINI | DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING AND COMMUNICATIONS | 40 | $73K |
| COLLEEN WERTHMANN | DIRECTOR | 1 | $3K |
| CHRIS ALBERS | DIRECTOR | 1 | $900 |
| CHRIS WOLFE | DIRECTOR | 1 | $900 |
| MICHAEL WELLER | FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR | 1 | $600 |
| SUSAN KIM | DIRECTOR | 1 | $600 |
board members · 19
- ADAM BROOKS — DIRECTOR
- ANDREA CIANNAVEI — DIRECTOR
- ANDREW BERGMAN — ADVISORY BOARD
- ANN TOBACK — DIRECTOR
- CARLA BRISCOE — DIRECTOR
- CHRISTOPHER KYLE — TREASURER
- DAVID SIMON — ADVISORY BOARD
- DAVID TUCKER — ADVISORY BOARD
- ERIC BOGOSIAN — ADVISORY BOARD
- ERIC OVERMYER — ADVISORY BOARD (DIED IN MARCH 2026)
- EVANGELINE MORPHOS — DIRECTOR
- FRED GRAVER — DIRECTOR
- JAMAL JOSEPH — DIRECTOR
- JAMES ANTHONY TYLER — DIRECTOR
- JAMES V HART — DIRECTOR
- JENNY LUMET — ADVISORY BOARD
- JIM YOSHIMURA — ADVISORY BOARD
- JOHN MARKUS — DIRECTOR
- KENNY LONERGAN — ADVISORY BOARD
relationships · 17
Who they work with
- Charles & Lucille King Family Foundation Funder — Partnered with the organization since 2008 to fund the Michael Collyer Fellowship, establishing an endowment in 2021 through the Diana King Memorial Awards Fund.
- Cindy Crystal Partner — Participant in WGI programs who published a book with organizational support.
- Innocence Project Partner — Partners with the Innocence Project to offer writing workshops for wrongfully convicted individuals.
- International Screenwriters’ Association Partner — Provides a 12-month ISAConnect membership to the Collyer Fellowship winner.
- Muslim Writer’s Collective Partner — Partnership to offer writing workshops for Muslim writers.
- New York Professional Nurses Union Partner — Partnered to deliver writing workshops for nurses on the front lines of the COVID crisis.
- New York State Attorney General Government — Complies with financial reporting requirements and provides financial reports upon request through the Charities Bureau.
- Prominent Screenwriter Partner — Mentored a college senior recipient of the fellowship in writing an original screenplay.
- SAG Foundation Partner — Partnered to launch the Pencil Pals program, connecting writers with students as pen pals.
- The Black List Partner — Co-hosts the Michael Collyer Fellowship in Screenwriting.
- The Black List Partner — Partnership with The Black List to administer the Michael Collyer Memorial Fellowship in Screenwriting.
- The Blacklist Partner — Partnership to administer the Michael Collyer Fellowship competition for emerging screenwriters.
- Veterans Writing Program Partner — Collaborative program launched and supported by WGI to provide writing workshops for veterans.
- Witness to Innocence Partner — Collaborates to provide writing workshops for exonerated death row inmates.
- Wounded Warriors Partner — Collaborates with Wounded Warriors to provide writing workshops for veterans.
- Writers Guild of America East Government — Parent organization and affiliated guild supporting the foundation's initiatives.
- Writers Guild of America East Partner — Founded as an initiative of Writers Guild East.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Emerging Talent Incubationmethodology: emerging-talent-developmentBy providing financial support, sustained mentorship, and focused development opportunities, we advance original screenwriting by enabling emerging writers to complete character-driven projects they might otherwise be unable to pursue due to economic or structural constraints.
- Inclusive Access Through Community Integrationmethodology: inclusive_accessBy delivering writing education directly to underserved communities through accessible formats and outreach, we increase participation because removing systemic and cultural barriers enables broader engagement from diverse ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds.
- Mentorship-Driven Creative Developmentmethodology: mentorship-based creative writing instructionBy pairing emerging writers from marginalized communities with professional writer mentors, we produce stronger creative skills and voice development because sustained, personalized guidance increases confidence, technical ability, and access to industry norms.
- Participant-Centered Storytelling Empowermentmethodology: participant-driven storytellingBy offering inclusive, structured writing workshops with adaptive prompts and no requirement to disclose personal trauma, we produce authentic self-expression because participants gain agency over form and content, reducing barriers to entry and fostering psychological safety.
- Writing as a Tool for Self-Discovery and Voice Developmentmethodology: writing-for-self-discoveryBy using writing challenges and guided narrative exploration, we help participants discover personal meaning and develop a unique voice because structured creative practice fosters internal reflection and expressive confidence.