Iola Foundation

Tax-deductible

Los Angeles, CA501(c)(3)Foundations & GrantmakersEIN 26-1906629Revenue $2.1M in FY2024

On file with the IRSitgetsbetter.org7190 W Sunset Blvd 504, 90046-4415 · Los Angeles, CATax-exempt since Jul 2008Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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The mission of the It Gets Better Project is to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) youth around the globe. Its vision is a world where all LGBTQ+ youth are free to live equally and know their worthiness and power as individuals.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
72¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 8 volunteers and 8 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $198K a year · 7% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
72%
of spending
Fine: 72% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$535K
to officers and key staff · 22% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 70% of similar orgs
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 22% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.4 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $6K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$64K
12% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 12% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
10
of 10 voting members
Looks good: 10 of 10 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.1M
-15% vs prior year
Spent
$2.5M
To programs
72%
Net assets
$460K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$2.1M
FY2024▼ -15%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.3M
FY2021$4.1M
FY2022$3.1M
FY2023$2.5M
FY2024$2.1M
Expenses
$2.5M
FY2024▼ -40%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.5M
FY2021$2.4M
FY2022$4.6M
FY2023$4.2M
FY2024$2.5M
Net assets
$460K
FY2024▼ -43%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.2M
FY2021$3.9M
FY2022$2.4M
FY2023$800K
FY2024$460K

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jul 2008.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

72 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 72% · $1.8M Management & general 13% · $311K Fundraising 16% · $387K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

16 people listed on the 990; $535K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Chief Executive Officer
$167,954Pt VII · Sec A
SR. Dir., Comm. & Public Relations
$133,370Pt VII · Sec A
SR. Dir., Programs & Operations
$125,727Pt VII · Sec A
Dir., Development
$108,075Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Brian Wenke’s $168K as Chief Executive Officer is at the 70th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1690 $1–10M philanthropy & grantmaking nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 5 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Brian Wenke$167,954$177,224$190,299$203,000$145,125
Ross Von Metzke$133,370$129,205$120,075$102,235—
Justin Tindall$125,727$127,912$117,850$102,235—
Eboni Munn—$125,695$117,850——
Jimmy Ancheta-Tilley JR$108,075$110,568———

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Iola Foundation executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Uplifts and empowers LGBTQ+ youth globally through a massive storytelling network, educational resources, and support for local affiliate organizations across four continents.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.8M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Media

Storytelling is at the heart of our effort to empower LGBTQ+ youth around the globe. We share stories that inspire hope, stories that spark conversations, and stories that can inform and positively influence a sexual orientation and/or gender identity journey.

$844Kprogram expense
02

Education

It Gets Better EDU exists to ensure our uplifting and informative stories reach LGBTQ+ youth and their peers wherever learning takes place. With an impactful youth ambassador program, student-driven grantmaking initiatives, and a growing library of free educational resources for educators and student leaders, thousands of middle and high…

$680Kprogram expense
03

Global

It Gets Better is the world's largest storytelling effort to empower LGBTQ+ youth. Investing in local, like-minded organizations outside the US, It Gets Better brings storytelling and other life-affirming support to communities of LGBTQ+ youth around the globe.By the end of 2024, the It Gets Better Global Affiliate Network spanned 19…

$257Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$6K
Grants paid · 124 grants · $1.2M · 2022–2024
Small Town Open Hearts ProjectFY2024$10,000
Prism UnitedAL · FY2024$10,000
Pride FoundationWA · FY2024$10,000
Phoenix Elementary School District #1FY2024$10,000
Mountain PrideCO · FY2024$10,000
Montour School District GsaFY2024$10,000
Milwaukee Board of School Directors DBA Milwaukee Public SchoolsFY2024$10,000
Tonys PlaceTX · FY2024$10,000
Fairness WV Institute INCWV · FY2024$10,000
Dubuque Community School DistrictFY2024$10,000
Central Arkansas PrideAR · FY2024$10,000
Boston Prepatory Charter Public School DBA Boston PrepFY2024$10,000
See all 124 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$12K
Investment incomeLn 3$1K
Money outPt IX
$2.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.8M
Managementcol C$311K
Fundraisingcol D$387K
Owns and owesPt X
$460K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$505K
Total assetsLn 16$524K
LiabilitiesLn 26$64K
PeoplePt VI, VII
16
listed · VII A
PaidVII A4
Voting boardVI 1a10
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$1K
Other incomeLn 4–11$12K
Total revenueLn 12$2.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$505K
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$505K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$7K
Other assetsLn 15$3K
Total assetsLn 16$524K
LiabilitiesLn 26$64K
Net assetsLn 32$460K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 58
VolunteersI 68
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$874K$505K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$18K$7K
Total assetsLn 16$920K$524K
LiabilitiesLn 26$120K$64K
Net assetsLn 32$800K$460K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$232K$232K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$179K$125K$27K$27K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.1M$748K$108K$208K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$137K$98K$12K$27K
Payroll taxesLn 10$126K$81K$23K$22K
Legal feesLn 11b$17K$17K
Accounting feesLn 11c$42K$42K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$219K$169K$50K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$55K$55K
Office expensesLn 13$9K$1K$6K$1K
Information technologyLn 14$89$89
OccupancyLn 16$78K$59K$8K$10K
TravelLn 17$43K$34K$2K$7K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$5K$5K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$7K$7K
InsuranceLn 23$4K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$178K$128K$29K$21K
All other expensesLn 24e$83K$38K$32K$14K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.5M$1.8M$311K$387K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $2.1M$2.5M−$342K$460K 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.5M$4.2M−$1.6M$800K 990 PDF
FY2022 $3.1M$4.6M−$1.4M$2.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 $4.1M$2.4M$1.7M$3.9M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.3M$1.5M$761K$2.2M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,136,887 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,472,602$2,123,652
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $27,100$1,147
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $5,208$12,088
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,504,910$2,136,887
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $678,783$232,032
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,912,522$1,506,367
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,561,059$740,093
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $4,152,364$2,478,492
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$1,647,454−$341,605
Part VI · Governance 10 of 10 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body10
VI-1b Independent voting members10
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,136,887 across 5 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $7,088 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,123,652
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,123,652
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,147$1,147
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $5,000$5,000
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $7,088 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $6,147$2,136,887
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,478,492 across 18 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $232,032$232,032
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $125,478 · Management $26,888 · Fundraising $26,888$179,254
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $747,523 · Management $107,513 · Fundraising $208,463$1,063,499
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $97,579 · Management $12,421 · Fundraising $27,176$137,176
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $80,810 · Management $23,380 · Fundraising $22,248$126,438
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $16,805$16,805
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $42,260$42,260
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $169,409 · Fundraising $50,029$219,438
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $55,329$55,329
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $1,255 · Management $6,153 · Fundraising $1,394$8,802
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $89$89
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $59,290 · Management $8,415 · Fundraising $9,893$77,598
IX-17 TravelPrograms $34,116 · Management $1,813 · Fundraising $7,189$43,118
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $5,000$5,000
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $6,965$6,965
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $4,170$4,170
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $127,759 · Management $29,303 · Fundraising $20,545$177,607
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $37,668 · Management $31,639 · Fundraising $13,605$82,912
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,780,302 · Management $310,760 · Fundraising $387,430$2,478,492
Part X · Balance sheet $524,299 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $574,322$504,622
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $300,000$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $13,567$5,549
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $10,839$3,429
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $18,255$7,306
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $3,393$3,393
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $920,376$524,299
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $120,282$64,307
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $120,282$64,307
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $239,617−$1,128
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $560,477$461,120
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $800,094$459,992
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $920,376$524,299
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $459,992 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,136,887
XI-2 Total expenses$2,478,492
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$341,605
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$800,094
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$1,503
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$459,992

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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