Defy Ventures INC FY2023 filing

Tax-deductible

Los Angeles, CA501(c)(3)EducationEIN 27-3611908Revenue $4.0M in FY2023

On file with the IRSdefyventures.org3580 Wilshire Blvd Ste 1705, 90010-2518 · Los Angeles, CATax-exempt since Nov 2010Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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To shift mindsets and give people with criminal histories their best shot at a second chance.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
78¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$838K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2023 · 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
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $490K a year · 14% of revenue · last 5 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
78%
of spending
Looks good: 78% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$838K
to officers and key staff · 22% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 22% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 6.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $20K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$725K
22% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 22% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
12
of 12 voting members
Looks good: 12 of 12 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$4.0M
+25% vs prior year
Spent
$3.8M
To programs
78%
Net assets
$2.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$4.0M
FY2023▲ +25%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.6M
FY2021$3.0M
FY2022$3.2M
FY2023$4.0M
FY2024$4.6M
Expenses
$3.8M
FY2023▲ +33%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.9M
FY2021$2.1M
FY2022$2.9M
FY2023$3.8M
FY2024$4.3M
Net assets
$2.6M
FY2023▲ +8%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.1M
FY2021$2.0M
FY2022$2.4M
FY2023$2.6M
FY2024$2.9M

From the FY2023 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Nov 2010.

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

Where the money goes

78 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 78% · $3.0M Management & general 15% · $559K Fundraising 8% · $292K

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

20 people listed on the 990; $838K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$146,111Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Programs
$123,399Pt VII · Sec A
President & CEO
$122,802Pt VII · Sec A
Ed, Southern California
$118,296Pt VII · Sec A
$114,791Pt VII · Sec A
SR. Program Director, Nmhp
$106,616Pt VII · Sec A
Ed, Illinois
$105,676Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

John Garofolo’s $154K as CFO (through 12/24) is at the 66th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3394 $1–10M education 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
John Garofolo$154,251$146,111$146,354$146,426$151,655
Christine Castillo$124,682$123,399$105,597——
Andrew Glazier$123,121$122,802$120,954$99,700$77,885
Quan Huynh$121,531$118,296$108,245——
Julie Jackson-Forsberg$117,245$114,791$110,616$109,436$112,819
Mariah Dickinson$115,052————
Yehudah Pryce$110,918$106,616———
Melissa O'Dell—$105,676———

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.

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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 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Empowering people with criminal histories to change mindsets and secure second chances.

Questions for Defy Ventures INC

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $3.0M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

We're proud of defy's results and are excited to show supporters the results of their investment of time and funding. Since the launch of our program in january 2012, defy HAS:1.SERVED more than 7,900 entrepreneurs in training (eits) in our in-prison and post-release program.

$3.0Mprogram 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
Visionary WomenFY2025$15K
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$20K
Grants paid · 11 grants · $179K · 2020–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$70,100
Unitemized GrantFY2024$10,047
Unitemized GrantFY2023$34,650
Unitemized GrantFY2023$8,291
Unitemized GrantFY2022$21,855
Unitemized GrantFY2022$9,400
Unitemized GrantFY2021$3,100
Unitemized GrantFY2021$1,500
Unitemized GrantFY2020$5,000
Unitemized GrantFY2020$3,200

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.8M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$116K
Investment incomeLn 3$96K
Money outPt IX
$3.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.0M
Managementcol C$559K
Fundraisingcol D$292K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.1M
Total assetsLn 16$3.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$725K
PeoplePt VI, VII
20
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a12
IndependentVI 1b12
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.8M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.5M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$60K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$31K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$116K
Investment incomeLn 3$96K
Other incomeLn 4–11$7K
Total revenueLn 12$4.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$156K
SavingsLn 2$1.9M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$47K
Total assetsLn 16$3.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$725K
Net assetsLn 32$2.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 537
VolunteersI 6538
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.7M$2.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0$0
Total assetsLn 16$3.3M$3.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$857K$725K
Net assetsLn 32$2.4M$2.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$73K$73K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$324K$266K$35K$22K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.2M$1.7M$286K$193K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$5K$4K$529$330
Other employee benefitsLn 9$197K$162K$22K$13K
Payroll taxesLn 10$202K$166K$22K$14K
Legal feesLn 11b$31K$31K
Accounting feesLn 11c$38K$38K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$111K$35K$72K$4K
Office expensesLn 13$90K$62K$15K$13K
Information technologyLn 14$43K$20K$15K$9K
OccupancyLn 16$81K$80K$1K
TravelLn 17$85K$69K$10K$5K
InterestLn 20$6K$6K
InsuranceLn 23$61K$61K$4
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$253K$230K$5K$18K
All other expensesLn 24e$5K$5K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.8M$3.0M$559K$292K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $4.6M$4.3M$314K$2.9M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $4.0M$3.8M$191K$2.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 $3.2M$2.9M$351K$2.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 $3.0M$2.1M$820K$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.6M$1.9M$772K$1.1M 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 FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $4,021,502 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $3,116,359$3,801,794
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $68,524$116,219
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $11,606$96,090
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $26,572$7,399
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,223,061$4,021,502
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $55,030$72,753
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,297,397$2,952,574
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $519,479$804,841
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,871,906$3,830,168
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $351,155$191,334
Part VI · Governance 12 of 12 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body12
VI-1b Independent voting members12
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
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 $4,021,502 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$31,018
VIII-1e Government grants$1,452,979
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,317,797
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$60,000
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,801,794
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $116,219$116,219
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $96,090$96,090
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $1,391$1,391
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $6,008$6,008
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $116,219 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $103,489$4,021,502
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,830,168 across 17 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $72,753$72,753
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $266,367 · Management $35,439 · Fundraising $22,092$323,898
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,745,169 · Management $285,690 · Fundraising $193,208$2,224,067
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $3,979 · Management $529 · Fundraising $330$4,838
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $162,344 · Management $21,599 · Fundraising $13,465$197,408
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $166,420 · Management $22,141 · Fundraising $13,802$202,363
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $31,393$31,393
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $38,074$38,074
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $34,555 · Management $72,100 · Fundraising $4,101$110,756
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $61,798 · Management $14,686 · Fundraising $13,192$89,676
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $19,684 · Management $14,796 · Fundraising $8,897$43,377
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $79,622 · Management $1,486$81,108
IX-17 TravelPrograms $69,119 · Management $10,154 · Fundraising $5,326$84,599
IX-20 InterestManagement $6,487$6,487
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $61,441 · Management $4$61,445
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $230,281 · Management $4,718 · Fundraising $17,927$252,926
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $5,000$5,000
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,978,532 · Management $559,296 · Fundraising $292,340$3,830,168
Part X · Balance sheet $3,316,665 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $470,243$156,275
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $2,270,511$1,939,231
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $358,253$1,053,454
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $106,589$120,705
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $50,007$47,000
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $3,255,603$3,316,665
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $282,558$339,534
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $181,818$90,909
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $392,229$294,390
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $856,605$724,833
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $822,467$1,171,666
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,576,531$1,420,166
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,398,998$2,591,832
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $3,255,603$3,316,665
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,591,832 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,021,502
XI-2 Total expenses$3,830,168
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$191,334
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,398,998
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$1,500
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,591,832

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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