The Kindling Group is a nonfiction media studio that crafts outstanding documentaries and impact campaigns to inspire, entertain, and ignite change. The Kindling group's productions investigate, document and present social, civic, political, historic and educational issues.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
81¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$86K 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

FY2022 · 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
1 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $183K a year · 21% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
81%
of spending
Looks good: 81% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$86K
to officers and key staff · 8% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 8% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
8 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 8.5 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
8
named funders · $102K
Looks good: 8 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$327K
34% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 34% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
7
of 7 voting members
Looks good: 7 of 7 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.5M
+25% vs prior year
Spent
$1.1M
To programs
81%
Net assets
$643K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$1.5M
FY2022▲ +25%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$980K
FY2021$1.2M
FY2022$1.5M
FY2023$387K
FY2024$298K
Expenses
$1.1M
FY2022▼ -10%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.4M
FY2021$1.2M
FY2022$1.1M
FY2023$1.1M
FY2024$478K
Net assets
$643K
FY2022▲ +64%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$416K
FY2021$391K
FY2022$643K
FY2023−$75K
FY2024−$255K

From the FY2022 Form 990 · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2022 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 Jun 2002.

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

Where the money goes

81 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 81% · $895K Management & general 18% · $194K Fundraising 1% · $13K

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

7 people listed on the 990; $86K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$86,000Pt VII · Sec A
Board Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Daniel Alpert’s $73K as Executive Director is at the 68th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2216 $100K–1M arts & culture 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 · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Daniel Alpert$73,125$88,200$86,000$52,419$60,358

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 The Kindling Group executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

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
  • Loans to or from officersSch L · Pt II1 listed

Programs and updates

Creates documentaries and campaigns to inspire, entertain, and ignite change on social and civic issues.

Questions for The Kindling Group

Tap to ask. The Kindling Group sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. The Kindling Group answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

1 program · $895K · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Production of documentaries and impact campaigns that inspire, entertain, and ignite change.

$895Kprogram 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 · FY2024
See all 8 funders →
Grants paid · 22 grants · $692K · 2022–2023
Leonard SuryajayaFY2023$70,000
In Care of Black Women LLCFY2023$45,000
Chicago Public Art GroupIL · FY2023$40,000
New Roots LLCFY2023$23,575
Alt Space ChicagoIL · FY2023$21,250
Sommer Filmworks LLCFY2023$17,500
Individual RecipientFY2023$8,153
Red Clay Dance Company INCIL · FY2023$7,750
Chicago Public Art GroupIL · FY2022$130,000
Alt Space ChicagoIL · FY2022$48,750
In Care of Black Women LLCFY2022$45,000
Leonard SuryajayaFY2022$27,000
New Roots LLCFY2022$22,375
Red Clay Dance Company INCIL · FY2022$22,250
See all 22 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2022 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.4M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$131K
Other incomeLn 4–11$12K
Money outPt IX
$1.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$895K
Managementcol C$194K
Fundraisingcol D$13K
Owns and owesPt X
$643K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$784K
Total assetsLn 16$970K
LiabilitiesLn 26$327K
PeoplePt VI, VII
7
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a7
IndependentVI 1b7
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.4M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$131K
Investment incomeLn 3$22
Other incomeLn 4–11$12K
Total revenueLn 12$1.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$784K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$784K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$126K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3K
Total assetsLn 16$970K
LiabilitiesLn 26$327K
Net assetsLn 32$643K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 52
VolunteersI 65
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 FY22End FY22
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$492K$784K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$348K$126K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$5K$3K
Total assetsLn 16$1.0M$970K
LiabilitiesLn 26$632K$327K
Net assetsLn 32$391K$643K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$385K$385K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$86K$86K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$131K$119K$6K$6K
Payroll taxesLn 10$22K$21K$557$557
Legal feesLn 11b$364$364
Accounting feesLn 11c$31K$31K
OccupancyLn 16$36K$18K$18K
InterestLn 20$9K$9K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$3K$3K
InsuranceLn 23$31K$16K$16K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$368K$250K$112K$7K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.1M$895K$194K$13K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $298K$478K−$180K−$255K 990 PDF
FY2023 $387K$1.1M−$716K−$75K 990 PDF
FY2022 Viewing $1.5M$1.1M$429K$643K 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.2M$1.2M−$184$391K 990 PDF
FY2020 $980K$1.4M−$446K$416K 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2022 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,531,037 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $844,568$1,388,096
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $371,908$131,264
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $4,222$22
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$11,655
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,220,698$1,531,037
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$384,655
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $218,490$239,504
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,002,392$478,290
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,220,882$1,102,449
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$184$428,588
Part VI · Governance 7 of 7 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body7
VI-1b Independent voting members7
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 $1,531,037 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,388,096
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,388,096
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $131,264$131,264
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $22$22
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $1,661$1,661
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $9,994$9,994
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $142,919 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $22$1,531,037
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,102,449 across 11 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $384,655$384,655
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $86,000$86,000
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $119,473 · Management $5,882 · Fundraising $5,882$131,237
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $21,153 · Management $557 · Fundraising $557$22,267
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $364$364
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $30,902$30,902
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $18,000 · Management $18,000$36,000
IX-20 InterestManagement $8,732$8,732
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $2,535$2,535
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $15,748 · Management $15,747$31,495
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $249,821 · Management $111,717 · Fundraising $6,724$368,262
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $894,850 · Management $194,436 · Fundraising $13,163$1,102,449
Part X · Balance sheet $970,342 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $492,281$784,133
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $176,021$52,270
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $2,781$4,387
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $4,577$3,227
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $348,125$126,325
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,023,785$970,342
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $396,419$27,459
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $51,768$39,981
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $632,295$327,440
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year −$11,135$57,494
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $402,625$585,408
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $391,490$642,902
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,023,785$970,342
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $642,902 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,531,037
XI-2 Total expenses$1,102,449
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$428,588
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$391,490
XI-8 Prior period adjustments−$193,771
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$16,595
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$642,902

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2022 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.