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WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA EAST INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 131773198 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Large ($10M-$50M) · wgaeast.org
revenue
$11.2M
expenses
$11.2M
net assets
$13.7M
employees
52
mission · from form 990

TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE PROFESSIONAL AND ARTISTIC INTERESTS OF ALL CREATORS AND ADAPTERS OF LITERARY MATERIAL & REPRESENT MEMBERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

profile · synthesized from sources

Writers Guild of America East is a labor union representing writers in film, television, radio, and digital media. It advances members' professional and artistic interests through collective bargaining, contract enforcement, and advocacy for fair working conditions and copyright protections. The organization operates nationally with a focus on U.S.-based writers across entertainment and journalism sectors.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Collective Bargaining Representation
Negotiates, ratifies, and enforces minimum basic agreements and standard contracts for writers in film, television, news, and online media industries
Discipline and Arbitration
Administers internal disciplinary procedures and arbitration processes to resolve disputes involving members, employers, and agents
Script Registration Service
Provides members with a service to register literary material for protection of ownership rights and intellectual property
activities · 9 groups

What they do

  • Labor Union Representation & Organizing 2 activities
    • Collective bargaining and contract negotiation
      Negotiates multi-year collective bargaining agreements with production companies to secure compensation, benefits, creative rights, and job security for writer members. Engages members through surveys, outreach, and a member-led negotiating committee, with final ratification requiring majority approval.
    • Legal advocacy and public policy action
      Files lawsuits and takes legal action on behalf of members and the broader writing profession, such as challenging corporate mergers that could harm writer employment and working conditions.
  • Emerging Filmmaker Support Programs 2 activities
    • Fellowship program with public showcase
      Hosts table reads of participants' screenplays and a reception with New York film industry leaders at the conclusion of the Fellowship program to support emerging writers.
    • Professional development training for early-career writers
      Offers a six-week training program for early-career television writers to prepare for or improve performance in episodic writers' rooms, including mentorship, seminars, and industry introductions for up to eight under-represented screenwriters in the NYC area.
  • Labor Union Member Support Services 1 activity
    • Contract enforcement and grievance representation
      Enforces terms of collective bargaining agreements by monitoring employer compliance, filing formal grievances when violations occur, and pursuing arbitration. Ensures implementation of arbitrator-ordered resolutions to protect members’ contractual rights.
  • Union and Association Benefit Funds 1 activity
    • Health and pension plan trustee representation
      Appoints four trustees to the Producer-Writers Guild of America Pension Plan and the Writers Guild-Industry Health Fund to represent members covered under collective bargaining agreements.
  • Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
    • Member career coaching and advisory services
      Provides drop-in career coaching sessions for members to address writing challenges, brainstorm solutions, and create action plans.
  • Internal Organizational Elections 1 activity
    • Member elections administration
      Conducts biennial Council elections using online, mail, and in-person voting methods, administered by work sector so members nominate and vote only within their designated sector.
  • Artist Visa and Mobility Support 1 activity
    • O-1 visa support services
      Provides mandatory opinion letters and consultation letters for writers seeking O-1 visas to work in the U.S. across film, television, new media, and news. Reviews petitions and issues letters that endorse, object to, or state no objection, charging a $250 fee per advisory opinion.
  • Mentorship and Professional Development Programs 1 activity
    • Professional development events and pitch practice
      Organizes professional development events and pitch practice sessions for members, including exclusive events accessible via email invitation and specific programs like “Pitch Practice Makes Perfect.”
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Administration of industry-wide employment standards
      Administers Minimum Basic Agreements, Codes of Fair Practice, and other standard contracts governing the employment of writers in film, television, radio, and related media.
    • Writers' Deal Hub and compensation resources
      Operates the Writers' Deal Hub as a centralized resource offering detailed guides and tools to help members negotiate overscale compensation, including the Screen Compensation Guide, Staff Size Guide, Pilot Deal Guide, Series Compensation Guide, TV Weekly Pay Calculator, Span Guide, and Options & Exclusivity Guide.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$11.21M
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$10.53M94%
Investment income$496K4%
Other revenue$185K
expenses
Total expenses$11.16M
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$7.62M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$13.99M
Cash$2.26M
Investments$11.16M
Liabilities$296K
Net assets$13.69M
Liquid reserves14.4 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +22.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 8
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
SAMUEL W WHEELER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $311K
ANN BURDICK GENERAL LEGAL COUNSEL 40 $270K
MARSHA SEEMAN ASST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $254K
JUSTIN MOLITO DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZING 40 $251K
GEOFFREY BETTS DEPUTY DIRECTOR (EFF 4/20/24) 40 $208K
RACHEL T NILLIASCA Dir. Online Media 40 $175K
JASON GORDON DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS 40 $173K
MICHAEL ISAAC DIRECTOR OF BCSN 40 $166K
board members · 17
  • AM HOMES — COUNCIL MEMBER (THRU 9/19/24)
  • BENJAMIN ROSENBLUM — COUNCIL MEMBER (THRU 9/19/24)
  • CAITLIN CRUZ — COUNCIL MEMBER
  • CELINE ROBINSON — COUNCIL MEMBER (EFF 9/19/24)
  • CHRISTOPHER KYLE — SECRETARY-TREASURER
  • Don P Hooper — Council Member (EFF 9/19/24)
  • ELIZABETH GODVICK — VICE PRESIDENT
  • ERICA SALEH — COUNCIL MEMBER
  • GAIL LEE — COUNCIL MEMBER
  • GINA GIONFRIDO — COUNCIL MEMBER (THRU 9/19/24)
  • GREG IWINSKI — COUNCIL MEMBER
  • JESSICA SCHULBERG — COUNCIL MEMBER
  • JOSH GONDELMAN — COUNCIL MEMBER
  • JUSTIN DILAURO — COUNCIL MEMBER
  • KAITLIN FONTANA — COUNCIL MEMBER (THRU 9/19/24)
  • KATHY MCGEE — VICE PRESIDENT (THRU 9/19/24)
  • LISA TAKEUCHI CULLEN — PRESIDENT
relationships · 25

Who they work with

  • Almanack Screenwriters Partner — Authorized organization that can refer applicants to the New York Screenwriting Fellowship.
  • Austin Film Festival Partner — Authorized organization that can refer applicants to the New York Screenwriting Fellowship.
  • CUNY Brooklyn Partner — Authorized organization that can refer applicants to the New York Screenwriting Fellowship.
  • Dramatists Guild Partner — Authorized organization that can refer applicants to the New York Screenwriting Fellowship.
  • FilmNation Entertainment Partner — Co-partner in administering The New York Screenwriting Fellowship, providing office space and shared leadership in fostering inclusion for emerging writers.
  • Final Draft Partner — Sponsor of the 2025 Fellowship, providing software and promotional materials to participants.
  • Ghetto Film School Partner — Authorized organization that can refer applicants to the New York Screenwriting Fellowship.
  • Jim Arnoff Partner — Provides career coaching services to Writers Guild members through facilitated group sessions.
  • Mack Harden Partner — Business Agent serving as contact for member inquiries regarding the Writers' Deal Hub.
  • NYWIFT Partner — Authorized organization that can refer applicants to the New York Screenwriting Fellowship.
  • National Black Theatre Partner — Authorized organization that can refer applicants to the New York Screenwriting Fellowship.
  • Paramount Partner — Subject of joint antitrust action with Warner Bros. Discovery in merger opposition.
  • Producer-Writers Guild of America Pension Plan Government — Appoints trustees to oversee pension benefits for members covered by collective bargaining agreements.
  • ReelWorks Partner — Authorized organization that can refer applicants to the New York Screenwriting Fellowship.
  • The Black List Partner — Authorized organization that can refer applicants to the New York Screenwriting Fellowship.
  • The Writers Lab Partner — Authorized organization that can refer applicants to the New York Screenwriting Fellowship.
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Government — Receives consultation letters from the Writers Guild of America East as part of O-1 and O-2 visa petitions.
  • Urbanworld Partner — Authorized organization that can refer applicants to the New York Screenwriting Fellowship.
  • WGAE Indie Caucus Partner — Authorized organization that can refer applicants to the New York Screenwriting Fellowship.
  • Warner Bros. Discovery Partner — Subject of joint antitrust action with Paramount in merger opposition.
  • Writers Guild of America West Partner — Collaborates with WGAW on contract negotiations, including joint participation in the negotiating committee for the Minimum Basic Agreement.
  • Writers Guild of America, West, Inc. Network — Collaborates with Writers Guild of America, West, Inc. on shared jurisdiction and affiliation matters.
  • Writers Guild-Industry Health Fund Government — Appoints trustees to oversee health benefits for members covered by collective bargaining agreements.
  • Zoom Partner — Technology platform used to deliver the Staff Writer Bootcamp in a hybrid format.
  • employers/signatories of collective bargaining agreements Partner — Employers bound by collective bargaining agreements with the Writers Guild of America East, with whom the Guild engages in contract enforcement and grievance resolution.
strategies · 4

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.

  • Career Advancement Through Mentorship and Access
    methodology: career_pathway_development
    By providing mentorship and strategic industry access to under-represented screenwriters, the Guild increases their representation in sustainable film careers, because structured support and sponsorship bridge systemic barriers to entry and advancement.
  • Collective Bargaining for Industry Standards
    methodology: collective_bargaining
    By negotiating industry-wide contracts through collective bargaining, the Writers Guild establishes standardized minimum terms for compensation, rights, and working conditions, because unified leverage produces stronger, more equitable outcomes than individual negotiation could achieve.
  • Market Transparency Through Data Aggregation
    methodology: market-transparency-through-data-aggregation
    By aggregating and publishing compensation and deal-term benchmarks from agency contracts, the Guild enables writers to negotiate higher-than-minimum pay, because transparent market data levels the informational imbalance between writers and production companies.
  • Member-Engaged Contract Enforcement
    methodology: member-engaged_enforcement
    By empowering members with knowledge of contract terms and encouraging active participation in union processes, the Guild strengthens enforcement of collective agreements, because accountability is most effective when writers themselves act as stewards of their rights.