irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $1.80MMPI PRODUCTIONS: MPI ORIGINAL FILMS USE THE POPULAR AND ACCESSIBLE MEDIUM OF VISUAL STORYTELLING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT FREEDOM IS AND WHY IT MATTERS. WE REACH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS BY DISTRIBUTING OUR FILMS TO THEATERS AND DIGITAL STREAMING PLATFORMS SUCH AS NETFLIX, APPLE TV, AMAZON PRIME VIDEO, STARZ, HULU, GOOGLE PLAY, TUBI, AND BET+. MPI'S NONPARTISAN APPROACH ATTRACTS THE ATTENTION OF PROMINENT MEDIA OUTLETS, AND OUR FILMS AND FILMMAKERS WIN MAJOR AWARDS AND SCREEN AT TOP-TIER FILM FESTIVALS SUCH AS THE TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL AND SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST. MPI'S IN-HOUSE PRODUCTION TEAM CONTINUALLY WORKS TO DEVELOP MPI'S SLATE OF FILMS-SECURING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FROM BOOKS AND ARTICLES, ACQUIRING LIFE STORY RIGHTS TO ADAPT INTO SCREENPLAYS, AND HIRING WRITERS TO DEVELOP ORIGINAL SCREENPLAYS. THESE PROJECTS ARE THEN PRODUCED BY MPI FOR WIDE DISTRIBUTION WITH TWO GOALS IN MIND-TO CHANGE MINDS AND INSPIRE ACTION. THE 2024 MPI ORIGINAL MOTHERLAND, WHICH WILL BE RELEASED IN 2025 IS A CASE STUDY FOR HOW OUR INTEGRATED PROGRAMS WORK. THE FILM WAS WRITTEN BY AN MPI FILMMAKER, DIRECTED BY ANOTHER FILMMAKER FROM OUR NETWORK, AND ALLOWED FOR OUR FILMMAKERS TO WORK ON SET IN A VARIETY OF CAPACITIES FROM PRODUCTION ASSISTANT TO DIRECTOR'S SHADOW. MOTHERLAND PREMIERED AT THE OMAHA FILM FESTIVAL AND CONTINUES ITS FESTIVAL RUN WHERE IT IS EARNING ACCOLADES LIKE BEST ACTRESS AT THE VERMONT FILM AND FOLKLORE FESTIVAL. MPI SECURED DISTRIBUTION WITH VERTICAL, AND A LIMITED THEATRICAL RELEASE FOLLOWED BY AVAILABILITY ON STREAMING PLATFORMS IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 2025. MPI ALSO PROVIDES OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS COMPLIMENTARY ACCESS TO ITS FILM LIBRARY AND ENCOURAGES THEM TO USE THEIR FILMS AS A TOOL TO EDUCATE THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES ABOUT ISSUES RELATED TO HUMAN FREEDOM AND INSPIRE THEM TO TAKE ACTION. MPI'S CURRENT PRODUCTION SLATE INCLUDES EIGHTEEN ACTIVE FILM PROJECTS.
named programs · 8 · from sources
What they call their work
Documentary Storytelling Workshop
Workshop providing hands-on training and mentoring for documentarians developing short documentary pitches.
First Feature Lab
Capstone program for promising filmmakers to develop and produce their first narrative feature-length film with mentorship and production support.
Hollywood Career Launch Program
Internship program placing emerging filmmakers with partner production companies and on MPI film sets, providing stipends and access to industry networks.
MPI Mentorship Program
Yearlong mentorship pairing emerging filmmakers with industry professionals for career guidance, monthly discussions, and values-driven development.
Production Lab
Program guiding filmmakers through the full production process of turning concepts into completed films, including post-production and festival strategy.
Rising Filmmaker Program
Initiative that trains and supports emerging filmmakers through labs, workshops, mentorship, and grants, with the goal of launching careers and producing MPI Original Films.
Script Development Fellowship
Advanced fellowship for MPI alumni to develop feature-length scripts with one-on-one support from MPI producers and mentors.
Short Film Lab
Comprehensive program providing filmmakers with training and mentoring to develop short film scripts, including screenwriting and directing workshops, with select scripts receiving $10,000 grants and production support.
activities · 2 groups
What they do
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Documentary Film Production 2 activities
- Distribution of original films on freedom themesDistributes original films about human freedom to theaters and digital streaming platforms such as Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and YouTube, reaching hundreds of millions of viewers.
- Production and release of MPI Original filmsProduces and supports narrative and documentary films—including short and feature-length works—as MPI Originals, such as "A Piece of Cake," "Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game," "Remnants," "Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up," "Melons," and "Infraction," which screen at major film festivals and have received award recognition.
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Emerging Filmmaker Support Programs 2 activities
- Management of filmmaker network and production pipelineManages a network of over 650 filmmakers and contractors annually through a full-time team of producers and support staff, facilitating the development and production of original content through labs, workshops, and mentorship.
- Rising Filmmaker Program and filmmaker developmentOperates the Rising Filmmaker Program to identify, train, and support freedom-minded filmmakers through fellowships, script development, and production opportunities; has supported 678 filmmakers through 1,064 fellowships since 2006 and currently supports approximately 70 annually.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$8.06M
Contributions & grants$7.11M88%
Program service revenue$969K12%
Investment income$-26K-0%
Other revenue$4K
expenses
Total expenses$5.32M
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$1.59M
Grants paid out$538K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$7.48M
Cash$1.30M
Investments$1.09M
Liabilities$271K
Net assets$7.21M
Liquid reserves5.4 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -29.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 5
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROB PFALTZGRAFF | PRESIDENT | 50 | $527K |
| NICK REID | EXECUTIVE VP/TREASURER | 50 | $406K |
| LANA LINK | SENIOR VP/SECRETARY | 50 | $316K |
| JOSEPH COREY | DR.OF PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENTS | 50 | $212K |
| TARA GALLARDY | DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION Coordination | 50 | $154K |
board members · 9
- KRISTINA KENDALL — DIRECTOR
- MICHAEL FRIEDMAN — DIRECTOR
- ROBERT BALZEBRE — DIRECTOR
- ROBERT LONG — VICE CHAIRMAN
- SARAH ATKINS — DIRECTOR
- SHELLEY GREGORY — DIRECTOR
- STACEY PARKS — DIRECTOR
- STEPHEN MODZELEWSKI — CHAIRMAN
- VIRGINIA WALDEN FORD — DIRECTOR
relationships · 15
Who they work with
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Partner — Partnership enabling MPI interns to be eligible for the Academy Gold internship enhancement and mentorship program.
- BRON Studios Partner — Past internship placement site for MPI’s Hollywood Career Launch Program.
- Elizabeth Mirzaei Partner — Featured participant or collaborator in MPI screenwriting workshops, as indicated by image inclusion and testimonial context.
- Hollywood Career Launch Program Partner — Primary pipeline for mentorship program participants; mentorship is primarily offered to alumni of this internship initiative.
- Long Island International Film Expo Partner — Partnered to screen the documentary film "The Dying Business" at the festival.
- Millennium Media Partner — Past internship placement site for MPI’s Hollywood Career Launch Program.
- SXSW Partner — MPI Original short films are selected for screening at SXSW film festival.
- Skybound Entertainment Partner — Past internship placement site for MPI’s Hollywood Career Launch Program.
- South by Southwest (SXSW) Partner — Film festival where MPI's films and filmmakers regularly screen and win awards.
- The Bragg Brothers Partner — Collaborated with MPI to produce the short film "A Piece of Cake" and the feature film "Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game."
- Tribeca Partner — MPI Original short films are selected for screening at Tribeca film festival.
- Tribeca Film Festival Partner — Film festival where MPI's films and filmmakers regularly screen and win awards.
- Wyoming International Film Festival Partner — Partnered to screen the MPI Original documentary short 'Remnants'.
- Wyoming International Film Festival Partner — Partnered to screen the MPI Original short film 'Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up'.
- partner production companies Partner — Host intern placements for the Hollywood Career Launch Program.
strategies · 3
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.
- Full-Cycle Production Pipeline from Training to Screenmethodology: pipeline_to_productionBy guiding filmmakers from concept through treatment, script development, funding, and production, MPI increases the output of high-quality, values-aligned films because a structured pipeline reduces drop-off between idea and completion, turning emerging talent into recognized creators.
- Mentorship-Integrated Filmmaker Development Pipelinemethodology: mentorship_and_workshop_modelBy combining structured workshops, peer feedback, and sustained mentorship with a focus on pro-freedom values, MPI develops filmmakers who can successfully produce high-impact films because this integrated support system builds both technical skill and ideological clarity, increasing the likelihood of professional success and cultural influence.
- Story-Driven Social Change through Filmmethodology: story-driven social changeBy producing and promoting narrative and documentary films that explore themes of human freedom, property rights, and individual liberty, MPI changes cultural narratives because powerful stories create emotional and intellectual engagement that shifts public understanding.