named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Backyard Wilderness
43-minute Giant Screen film and educational initiative that reconnects children with nature through immersive storytelling and BioBlitz events using the iNaturalist app.
Backyard Wilderness BioBlitz
Educational outreach program hosting community events where participants use the iNaturalist app to document local species and become citizen scientists.
Fiscal Sponsorship Program
Provides fiscal sponsorship to other production companies creating films on social and environmental issues, enabling tax-exempt fundraising and project support.
Free Money
Documentary exploring the world’s largest universal basic income experiment in Kenya, examining impacts on poverty and community well-being.
Inner Nature
Feature documentary exploring how reconnecting with nature helps individuals overcome personal crises, supported by neuroscience and global stories of healing.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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History Education Curriculum Development 1 activity
- Develop and distribute educational resources and curriculaCreates and provides downloadable guides, family resources, and classroom curricula aligned with U.S. science standards to support engagement with film content; includes the BioBlitz guide, Seek App, and companion materials for "Backyard Wilderness."
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Film Distribution and Screening Programs 1 activity
- Distribute films for educational and conservation advocacy useMakes completed films available for use in educational settings, high schools, and in-country conservation initiatives; examples include providing _Madagascar: a world apart_ for local conservation efforts and using _The Spirit of Kuna Yala_ in international indigenous rights advocacy.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Organize community science (BioBlitz) eventsHosts Backyard Wilderness BioBlitz events that engage the public in documenting local biodiversity using the iNaturalist app, encouraging hands-on exploration of urban and suburban ecosystems.
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Documentary Film Production 1 activity
- Produce documentary films on nature, biodiversity, and social issuesProduces feature-length and short-format documentaries exploring humanity's relationship with nature, conservation efforts, and social challenges such as universal basic income and teen dating violence. Films include "Backyard Wilderness," "Wings Over Water," "free money," and "It Ain’t Love," distributed through theatrical, broadcast, and digital platforms.
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Film Production Funding and Fiscal Sponsorship 1 activity
- Provide fiscal sponsorship for independent filmmakersOffers fiscal sponsorship to other production companies creating films on environmental and social justice topics, enabling them to receive tax-deductible funding and operational support.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$490K
Contributions & grants$470K96%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$650%
Other revenue$20K
expenses
Total expenses$495K
Program expenses97%
Admin / overhead3%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$208K
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$191K
Cash$187K
Investments$0
Liabilities$6K
Net assets$185K
Liquid reserves4.5 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +7.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 5
- ANDREW YOUNG — DIRECTOR
- BRADLEY P MARTIN — PRESIDENT
- ELLIOTT SUMERS — BOARD MEMBER
- JAMIE GRANT — TREASURER
- SUSAN TODD — SECRETARY
relationships · 19
Who they work with
- African Wildlife Foundation Partner — Co-conductor of African Conservation Voices Media Labs where Arise Media provides mentorship.
- BBC Partner — Featured the documentary "Flying High" in a story about scientists flying with endangered birds.
- Dorsey Pictures Partner — Production partner for _Wings Over Water_.
- Ducks Unlimited Partner — Supporting organization for _Wings Over Water_.
- Inter-American Foundation Funder — Provided grant funding for _The Spirit of Kuna Yala_.
- Jackson Wild Partner — Co-conductor of African Conservation Voices Media Labs where Arise Media provides mentorship.
- Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation Funder — Funder of _Wings Over Water_.
- National Audubon Society Partner — Supporting organization for _Wings Over Water_.
- National Endowment for the Arts Funder — Provided grant funding for _Children of Fate_.
- Pew Charitable Trust Funder — Supported production of _Backyard Wilderness_.
- SK Films Partner — Distributes the film "Backyard Wilderness" for science centers and museums worldwide.
- Tangled Bank Studios Funder — Supported production of _Backyard Wilderness_.
- The Guardian Partner — Reported on the conservation-focused documentary "Flying High" produced by the organization.
- The New York Times Partner — Covered the organization's documentary project "Flying High" in a feature article.
- The New Yorker Partner — Published a feature on the documentary "Flying High" about the Northern Bald Ibis migration.
- US Justice Department Funder — Provided completion funding for _Lives in Hazard_ and commissioned _It Ain’t Love_.
- Vulcan Productions Partner — Co-produced _Deadly Messengers_.
- Wildlife Conservation Society Partner — Influenced conservation distribution strategy for Madagascar film.
- World Wildlife Fund Partner — Influenced conservation distribution strategy for Madagascar film.
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.
- Immersive Nature Experience for Youthmethodology: immersive-nature-experienceBy simulating animal perspectives and slowing down to nature’s pace, we cultivate wonder and long-term environmental engagement in children because experiential empathy builds deeper connection than abstract learning.
- Local Empowerment Through Participatory Filmmakingmethodology: local-empowerment-through-filmmakingBy mentoring local filmmakers to tell their own stories, we generate sustainable local impact because community-led media fosters ownership, authenticity, and long-term engagement with environmental issues.
- Story-Driven Environmental Engagementmethodology: story-driven environmental engagementBy combining character-driven narratives with scientific evidence in documentary film, we inspire behavioral change because emotional reconnection to nature is more effective than data alone in motivating stewardship.