named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
BYkids Academy
Hands-on filmmaking workshops for youth and educators that teach storytelling as a tool for expression, empathy, and change
Community of Learners
Network of educators and students using BYkids films to build skills, share experiences, and inspire local change, supported by the EMA Foundation
Film Development Fund (FDF)
Annual open call for youth aged 10–20 to submit documentary film ideas; winners receive mentorship and a monetary award
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Youth & Emerging Filmmaker Training 4 activities
- Animated Film Collaboration for Youth StorytellingProduces animated films in collaboration with youth creators, animators, and illustrators to expand storytelling formats; debuted a new animated film as part of its programming.
- BYkids Youth Media TeamSupports a youth-led content creation team that produces media to amplify young perspectives; launched as an ongoing initiative to expand youth voice in storytelling.
- Public Film Idea SubmissionsAccepts film idea submissions from the public to identify new youth storytellers and stories for potential production through the BYkids program.
- Youth Storytelling Workshops and TrainingConducts hands-on film and storytelling workshops through the BYkids Academy program, teaching youth film as a tool for expression, empathy, and change; 100% of participants in past workshops reported increased confidence in sharing their story and 92% learned new skills.
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Documentary Film Production 2 activities
- Film Festival Advocacy and RecognitionSubmits youth documentaries to international film festivals to amplify youth voices and advocate for social change; films have been selected for 184 festivals and received top awards from festivals including the United Nations Association and Chicago International Children’s Film Festival.
- Youth Documentary Film Production ProgramProduces documentary films created by youth from underrepresented communities, mentored by professional filmmakers; has produced 18 films since 2007 across 11 countries, distributed through public television, film festivals, and classrooms globally.
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Film Festival and Screening Programming 1 activity
- Community Screenings and Dialogue EventsHosts screenings of youth-made documentaries to spark dialogue, build empathy, and inspire action among diverse audiences.
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Film Distribution and Screening Programs 1 activity
- Public Broadcasting and Global DistributionBroadcasts youth-made documentaries on 409 PBS stations across 44 states, reaching approximately 83 million U.S. households, and has generated over 240 million impressions through public television, social media, and global partnerships.
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Storytelling and Literacy Resource Development 1 activity
- Youth Media Education and OutreachDistributes free educational materials and conversation starters to support use of youth-created documentaries in classrooms; reached 50 million students and 4.5 million teachers via Discovery Education, 1.8 million teachers via PBS LearningMedia, and audiences in 150 countries through PenPal Schools.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$460K
Contributions & grants$451K98%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$5K1%
Other revenue$4K
expenses
Total expenses$337K
Program expenses72%
Admin / overhead17%
Fundraising11%
Salaries & benefits$97K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$329K
Cash$318K
Investments$8K
Liabilities$16K
Net assets$312K
Liquid reserves11.6 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +105.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOLLY CARTER | BOARD MEMBER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $90K |
board members · 16
- BILL MCCARTHY — BOARD MEMBER
- DIANE MILLER — SECRETARY
- DUSTIN LIU — BOARD MEMBER
- GRAHAM MESSICK — BOARD MEMBER
- HILARY ADAMS — BOARD MEMBER
- JIM BRASHER — BOARD MEMBER
- JONICE PADHILA — BOARD MEMBER
- LESLIE DEBAUGE — BOARD MEMBER
- LING LI — BOARD MEMBER
- MAYA KOPYTMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- MELANIE GRISANTI — CHAIR AND TREASURER
- MICHAEL ALPERT — BOARD MEMBER
- SAMANTHA CHADWICK — BOARD MEMBER
- STEPHANIE APT — BOARD MEMBER
- SUSAN HOENIG — BOARD MEMBER
- TINA THOMSON — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 9
Who they work with
- BYkids Academy Partner — Hosts storytelling workshops for youth filmmakers.
- Daunnette Moniz-Reyome Partner — Youth mentee who co-created the documentary _Against the Current_ under BYkids mentorship.
- Discovery Education Partner — Educational partner distributing BYkids films and materials to students and teachers.
- EMA Foundation Partner — Supports the BYkids Community of Learners network.
- Joyce Chopra Partner — Film mentor who guided youth participants in the BYkids program.
- Keith Griffith III Partner — Youth mentee currently creating a documentary film with BYkids mentorship.
- PBS LearningMedia Partner — Partner platform providing access to BYkids educational materials for teachers.
- PenPal Schools Partner — Global education partner distributing BYkids materials to teachers in 150 countries.
- University of Colorado at Denver Partner — Collaborates with faculty or affiliates in film education or youth development programming.
strategies · 7
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.
- Co-Creative Engagement with Vulnerable Communitiesmethodology: co-creative engagement with vulnerable communitiesBy collaboratively producing content directly with vulnerable populations—including refugees, youth-at-risk, and people with special needs—we generate authentic narratives that shift public perception, because inclusion in the creative process ensures dignity, accuracy, and emotional truth in storytelling.
- Community-Led Storytelling Networkmethodology: community_led_storytellingBy training storyteller ambassadors from within vulnerable communities, we produce sustainable changemaking, because individuals who share lived experiences in emotionally authentic ways become trusted messengers who can shift narratives and mobilize peers.
- Story Distribution for Educational Empathy Buildingmethodology: storytelling_for_empathy_and_actionBy distributing youth-made documentaries through public television and classroom networks, we foster empathy and inspire local action, because structured exposure to diverse lived experiences in educational settings shifts perspectives more effectively than awareness campaigns alone.
- Storytelling for Empathy and Actionmethodology: storytelling_for_empathy_and_actionBy distributing youth-produced documentaries through public television and classroom networks, we produce empathy and inspire civic action among American audiences, because emotionally engaging, peer-generated narratives disrupt distant or abstract perceptions of global issues.
- Youth-Adult Co-Creation Modelmethodology: youth-adult_co_creationBy pairing youth with professional filmmakers in documentary production, we produce media that drives empathy and social impact, because lived-experience storytelling combined with expert mentorship results in high-quality, emotionally resonant content that engages broader audiences.
- Youth-Adult Co-Creation with Professional Mentorshipmethodology: youth_adult_co_creationBy pairing young people with professional filmmakers in a co-creative process, we enhance media literacy and storytelling impact, because mentorship bridges technical skill gaps while preserving the authenticity of youth voice.
- Youth-Led Storytelling for Empathy and Social Changemethodology: youth_led_storytellingBy empowering youth to tell their own stories through documentary filmmaking, we build empathy and inspire action among audiences, because personal narratives rooted in lived experience create deeper emotional engagement than traditional reporting.