Is it real?
Yes. Exemption reinstated (2013-05-15). Per the IRS revocation list. Files the 990-N e-Postcard (latest 2025). Last full Form 990: 2023. IRS ruling in Feb 2015.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
23 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.
Something off? Claim to add context
Who runs it and what they're paid
4 people listed on the 990; $5K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).
Taylor Langley’s $5K as Assistant to Dr. Zimbardo is at the 12th percentile of top reported officer pay among 202 <$100K human services 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.
See Heroic Imagination Project executive salaries →Questions the 990 asks
The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.
- Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
- Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes
Programs and updates
Empowers people with research, education, and activism to solve problems and become everyday heroes.
Questions for Heroic Imagination Project
Your first name shows with your question. Heroic Imagination Project answers here, for everyone.
Inspired by the heroic imagination in each of us, HIP designs innovative strategies by combining psychological research, intervention education, and social activism to create everyday heroes equipped to solve local and global problems.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 27-1964460) · Dispute this lineFunders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
By the numbers
The FY2020 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | Start FY20 | End FY20 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $10K | $12K |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $10K | $12K |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $10K | $12K |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5 | $5K | $5K | ||
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $15K | $3K | $11K | |
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $505 | $505 | ||
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $1K | $1K | ||
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $3K | $3K | ||
| Office expensesLn 13 | $5 | $5 | ||
| Information technologyLn 14 | $3K | $3K | ||
| Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19 | $2K | $2K | ||
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $6K | $0 | $6K | $0 |
| All other expensesLn 24e | $0 | |||
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $35K | $8K | $27K | $0 |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2023 LatestFiled with the IRS Oct 1, 2024 | $60K | $4K | 990 PDF | ||
| FY2022 | Not on file | ||||
| FY2021 | Not on file | ||||
| FY2020 ViewingFiled with the IRS Jan 26, 2022 | $36K | $35K | $2K | $12K | 990 PDF |
Files the 990-N e-Postcard (latest 2025). Last full Form 990: 2023. The 990-N has no money details, and postcard years before 2025 are not published by the IRS.
Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2020 990
Part I · Summary $36,339 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 3 of 3 board members independent, 3 to look at
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $36,339 across 11 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $34,648 across 10 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $11,686 assets, 7 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $11,686 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file FY2020 from the IRS (about our sources) · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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