Highlights Foundation INC FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

Milanville, PA501(c)(3)Since 1987EIN 31-1203417Revenue $1.6M in FY2021

On file with the IRSboydsmills.org392 Boyds Mills Rd, 18443-3024 · Milanville, PATax-exempt since Oct 1987Publicly supported — 509(a)(2)

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Positively impact children by amplifying the voices of storytellers who inform, educate, and inspire children to become their best selves. Boyds mills hosts workshops and retreats, both at its retreat center in northeast PA, and online, that encourage and nurture storytellers and illustrators who create books for children. Provides scholarships to ease the financial costs.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
80¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX

Before you give

FY2021 · 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
FY2026
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2026, this tax year; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $72K a year · 3% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
80%
of spending
Looks good: 80% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Cash reserves
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.3 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $20K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$5K
0.09% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 0% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 6 of 6 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.6M
Spent
$959K
To programs
80%
Net assets
$6.1M
By yearFY2021–FY2026
Revenue
$1.6M
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$1.6M
FY2022$1.6M
FY2023$2.1M
FY2024$2.1M
FY2025$2.6M
FY2026$2.6M
Expenses
$959K
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$959K
FY2022$1.5M
FY2023$2.2M
FY2024$2.3M
FY2025$2.5M
FY2026$2.7M
Net assets
$6.1M
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$6.1M
FY2022$6.3M
FY2023$5.7M
FY2024$6.2M
FY2025$6.4M
FY2026$6.8M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending February 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2026) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2026. IRS ruling in Oct 1987.

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

Where the money goes

80 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 80% · $770K Management & general 12% · $117K Fundraising 7% · $72K

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

8 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director (through 1/15/21)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
See Highlights Foundation INC 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 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Amplifies storytellers' voices to inspire children and help them become their best selves.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $770K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

The highlights foundation positively impacts children by amplifying the voices of storytellers who inform, educate, and inspire children to become their best SELVES.WE do not take lightly what it means to create engaging, authentic stories for children and youth.

$770Kprogram 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
Beyond WordsFY2025$20K
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$20K
Grants paid · 7 grants · $439K · 2020–2025
Unitemized GrantFY2025$78,849
The Milkwood FundFY2025$25,051
Unitemized GrantFY2024$139,030
Unitemized GrantFY2023$64,637
Unitemized GrantFY2022$86,119
Unitemized GrantFY2021$21,772
Unitemized GrantFY2020$23,863

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.6M
Ln 12
Investment incomeLn 3$703K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$498K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$368K
Money outPt IX
$959K
Ln 25
Programscol B$770K
Managementcol C$117K
Fundraisingcol D$72K
Owns and owesPt X
$6.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$342K
Total assetsLn 16$6.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5K
PeoplePt VI, VII
8
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$368K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$498K
Investment incomeLn 3$703K
Other incomeLn 4–11$32K
Gains on assetsLn 7$610K
Total revenueLn 12$1.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$342K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$342K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$4.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.3M
Total assetsLn 16$6.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5K
Net assetsLn 32$6.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 66
Fiscal year endsHeaderFebruary
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$342K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$4.1M$4.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.3M$1.3M
Total assetsLn 16$5.8M$6.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$605K$5K
Net assetsLn 32$5.2M$6.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$24K$24K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$112K$88K$12K$12K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$343K$270K$37K$37K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$61K$48K$6K$6K
Accounting feesLn 11c$11K$11K
Investment management feesLn 11f$16K$16K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$142K$142K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$12K$8K$4K
Office expensesLn 13$24K$13K$4K$7K
OccupancyLn 16$55K$54K$2K
TravelLn 17$4K$4K$885
InterestLn 20$10K$10K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$53K$47K$6K
InsuranceLn 23$18K$10K$8K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$70K$61K$4K$4K
All other expensesLn 24e$3K$3K
Total functional expensesLn 25$959K$770K$117K$72K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2026 Latest $2.6M$2.7M−$19K$6.8M 990 PDF
FY2025 $2.6M$2.5M$28K$6.4M 990 PDF
FY2024 $2.1M$2.3M−$154K$6.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.1M$2.2M−$131K$5.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.6M$1.5M$64K$6.3M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $1.6M$959K$643K$6.1M 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 FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,601,480 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $310,284$368,427
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,150,357$497,594
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $211,516$703,165
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$32,294
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,672,157$1,601,480
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $94,225$23,863
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $604,612$515,937
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $737,611$418,911
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,436,448$958,711
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $235,709$642,769
Part VI · Governance 6 of 6 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members6
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,601,480 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$368,427
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$368,427
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $497,594$497,594
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $93,433$93,433
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $20,008$20,008
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $609,732$609,732
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $12,286$12,286
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $509,880 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $723,173$1,601,480
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $958,711 across 16 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $23,863$23,863
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $87,522 · Management $12,343 · Fundraising $12,343$112,208
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $269,507 · Management $36,831 · Fundraising $36,831$343,169
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $47,560 · Management $6,500 · Fundraising $6,500$60,560
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $11,074$11,074
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $15,847$15,847
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $141,956$141,956
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $7,520 · Fundraising $4,401$11,921
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $13,102 · Management $3,763 · Fundraising $7,235$24,100
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $53,808 · Management $1,595$55,403
IX-17 TravelPrograms $3,542 · Management $885$4,427
IX-20 InterestManagement $10,338$10,338
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $47,173 · Management $6,311$53,484
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $9,991 · Management $7,598$17,589
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $61,309 · Management $4,378 · Fundraising $4,378$70,065
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $2,707$2,707
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $769,560 · Management $117,463 · Fundraising $71,688$958,711
Part X · Balance sheet $6,153,760 assets, 11 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearing$342,313
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,341,106$1,307,606
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $3,714,912$3,785,425
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $411,594$718,416
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $5,803,466$6,153,760
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $10,296$5,262
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $604,559$5,262
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $5,198,907$5,981,584
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictions$166,914
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $5,198,907$6,148,498
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $5,803,466$6,153,760
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $6,148,498 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,601,480
XI-2 Total expenses$958,711
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$642,769
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$5,198,907
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$306,822
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$6,148,498

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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