irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $741KPOV ENGAGE CONDUCTS COMMUNITY AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH, SCREENINGS, AND MATERIALS FOR POV PROGRAMS.
- #2 $741KCOMMUNICATIONS program PROVIDES PROMOTION, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES FOR POV AND AMERICA REFRAMED PROGRAMS.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
AmDoc Interactive
Produces digital and interactive media features to extend the reach and impact of documentary storytelling beyond traditional formats.
America ReFramed
Documentary series showcasing stories from underrepresented communities across the U.S., broadcast nationally with integrated public outreach campaigns.
P.O.V.
Independent documentary series on PBS featuring diverse voices and stories that spark dialogue on social issues, accompanied by community engagement and educational resources.
POV Engage
Community and educational outreach initiative providing screenings, discussion guides, and materials to support dialogue around P.O.V. films.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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History Education Curriculum Development 1 activity
- Develops educational resources for students and educatorsCreates lesson plans, classroom activities, and discussion guides tied to documentary films to promote critical thinking and student-led research on social issues. Resources are designed for use in schools and civic education settings.
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Film Distribution and Screening Programs 1 activity
- Distributes documentary films for community screenings and educational useMakes documentary films available for local screenings through the POV Community Network digital lending library and supports community engagement with curated collections, encores, and educational resources. Collaborates with Kanopy to distribute legacy collections.
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Film Festival and Screening Programming 1 activity
- Facilitates community engagement and public dialogue through documentary storytellingOrganizes over 150 free community screenings, discussions, and educational events annually in schools, universities, libraries, prisons, and public spaces. Develops discussion guides and event planning resources to support civic dialogue around social issues.
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Documentary Film Production 1 activity
- Produces and broadcasts independent documentary films on PBS and digital platformsProduces, curates, and distributes documentary seasons and short-form series for broadcast on PBS and streaming via POV.org, the PBS app, and the PBS YouTube Channel. Includes ongoing programming such as POV and America ReFramed, with new seasons and episodes premiering annually.
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Public Awareness and Educational Outreach 1 activity
- Provides promotion, marketing, and communications for documentary programsConducts national promotion, marketing, and communications campaigns for POV and America ReFramed programs to expand audience reach and engagement across broadcast and digital platforms.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Offers online learning resources on ethical documentary filmmakingProvides a free, searchable online library containing articles, videos, courses, podcasts, and toolkits focused on ethical inquiry in documentary filmmaking through the Behind the Lens initiative.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$4.12M
Contributions & grants$1.48M36%
Program service revenue$2.59M63%
Investment income$38K1%
Other revenue$1K
expenses
Total expenses$5.07M
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising11%
Salaries & benefits$2.63M
Grants paid out$46K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.51M
Cash$698K
Investments$852K
Liabilities$414K
Net assets$2.10M
Liquid reserves3.7 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -7.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 5
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erika Dilday | Executive Dir. | 40 | $252K |
| Chris White | VP, Prgm. & Prod. | 40 | $165K |
| Asad Muhammad | VP, Community eng. | 40 | $145K |
| Cecilia Mejia | VP.External Affair | 40 | $132K |
| Betty Cordero | SR. Dr. Fin & Ops | 40 | $122K |
board members · 12
- Anjali Kumar — Board Member
- Beth Viner — Board Member
- Chris Plaut — Board chair
- Danielle Lee — Board Member
- Jane Hirt — Treasurer
- John Bredar — Secretary
- Joi Thomas Adams — Board Member
- Juanita Anderson — Exec at Large
- Kellie Castruita Specter — Board Member
- Mark Contreras — Board member
- Michael Isip — Vice Chair
- Zain Habboo — Board Member
relationships · 31
Who they work with
- Austin Film Society Partner — Partner organization providing fiscal sponsorship for independent films, listed as a resource by American Documentary
- Black Public Media Partner — Co-presentation partner for the film "For Venida, For Kalief".
- CAAM Partner — Co-presentation partner for the film "The Gas Station Attendant".
- Creative Capital Partner — Partner organization supporting artists and filmmakers through fiscal sponsorship and nonprofit fundraising status
- DiCapta Partner — Partner organization providing audio description services for POV films.
- Docs in Progress Partner — Partner organization offering fiscal sponsorship to documentary filmmakers, featured in American Documentary's resource list
- Film Independent Partner — Partner organization providing fiscal sponsorship with nonprofit status and fundraising guidance for filmmakers
- Fractured Atlas Partner — Partner organization providing fiscal sponsorship and access to grants and donations for independent filmmakers
- IDA Partner — Partner organization offering fiscal sponsorship with tax-exempt status for documentary projects, listed as a resource
- ITVS Partner — Co-production partner for the films "For Venida, For Kalief" and "Arrest the Midwife".
- KQED San Francisco Partner — Member of the public television station consortium that presents POV.
- Kanopy Partner — Collaborated with Kanopy to launch a project showcasing POV's documentary legacy.
- Kanopy Partner — Partnered with Kanopy to launch a curated collection titled “The Road to 40 - A Journey into POV’s Documentary Legacy”.
- Kanopy Partner — Partners with POV to launch a streaming collection titled “The Road to 40 - A Journey into POV’s Documentary Legacy”.
- NAS Partner — Partner organization providing fiscal sponsorship and financial oversight for filmmakers, included in American Documentary's resource directory
- Open Society Foundations Funder — Major funder of the Behind the Lens initiative
- Open Society Foundations Funder — Major funder of the Behind the Lens initiative.
- Open Society Foundations Funder — Provides major support for the Behind the Lens initiative.
- PBS Government — Primary broadcast partner and major funder of POV programming.
- PBS Network — POV broadcasts its documentary season on PBS, including Season 39 launched in July 2026.
- PBS Partner — Broadcasts POV documentary programming on television and through the PBS app.
- PBS Partner — Collaborates with PBS stations to facilitate community engagement and public dialogue through documentary screenings.
- POV Partner — Collaborates on educational resources inspired by POV documentary films.
- Shunpike Partner — Partner organization offering fiscal sponsorship services to filmmakers through a program supported by American Documentary
- THIRTEEN in association with WNET Partner — Member of the public television station consortium that presents POV.
- The Film Collaborative Partner — Partner organization providing fiscal sponsorship enabling tax-deductible contributions for independent films
- The Gotham Partner — Partner organization offering fiscal sponsorship that provides nonprofit status and funding access for independent filmmakers
- WGBH Boston Partner — Member of the public television station consortium that presents POV.
- WORLD Partner — Co-producer of the America ReFramed documentary series.
- Women Make Movies Partner — Partner organization offering fiscal sponsorship and fundraising support specifically for women filmmakers
+ 1 more
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.
- Amplifying Underrepresented Voices to Reframe National Narrativesmethodology: personal_narrative_reframingBy centering diverse, personal, and filmmaker-driven stories—especially those from marginalized communities—the organization reframes dominant cultural narratives (e.g., the American Dream) and illuminates systemic inequities, because intimate storytelling fosters empathy and critical reflection more effectively than abstract data.
- Dialogue-Based Civic Engagement in Educational Settingsmethodology: dialogue-based-engagementBy providing educators with culturally responsive, abolitionist-aligned tools and resources, the organization fosters classroom environments where documentary film prompts honest dialogue and critical engagement, because pedagogical approaches centered on vulnerability, listening, and multiple access points enable deeper learning about systemic injustice.
- Documentary as a Catalyst for Public Dialoguemethodology: film_for_dialogueBy using independent documentary film to engage the public, the organization fosters dialogue, education, and civic participation on pressing social issues, because personal, character-driven storytelling makes systemic issues more relatable and prompts deeper audience engagement.
- Supporting Filmmakers as Agents of Social Changemethodology: filmmaker_support_ecosystemBy building a supportive ecosystem for independent documentary filmmakers through fellowships, resources, and ethical education, the organization strengthens the field of nonfiction storytelling, because empowered filmmakers produce more authentic, impactful narratives that drive public understanding and transformation.