The Story Collider's mission is to reveal the vibrant role that science plays in all of our lives through the art of personal storytelling.

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 45-5546873) · Dispute this line
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
77¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 10 volunteers and 7 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
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 7
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $75K a year · 12% of revenue · last 7 filings
A surplus in 2 of the last 7 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 7 filings
Spent on programs
77%
of spending
77% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$152K
to officers and key staff · 25% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 25% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
0.6 mo
of spending, in cash
0.6 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $11
1 funder names it on their filings.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$15K
34% of total assets
Liabilities are 34% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
11
of 12 voting members
11 of 12 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$462K
-13% vs prior year
Spent
$619K
To programs
77%
Net assets
$31K
By yearFY2018–FY2024
Revenue
$462K
FY2024▼ -13%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2018$1.3M
FY2019$362K
FY2020$292K
FY2021$784K
FY2022$733K
FY2023$530K
FY2024$462K
Expenses
$619K
FY2024▼ -15%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2018$657K
FY2019$902K
FY2020$501K
FY2021$823K
FY2022$731K
FY2023$732K
FY2024$619K
Net assets
$31K
FY2024▼ -84%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2018$1.1M
FY2019$608K
FY2020$426K
FY2021$388K
FY2022$390K
FY2023$188K
FY2024$31K

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

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Oct 2012.

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

Where the money goes

77 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 77% · $478K Management & general 18% · $111K Fundraising 5% · $30K

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

13 people listed on the 990; $152K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Dir.
$97,565Pt VII · Sec A
Managing Dir.
$49,860Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$4,991Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Erin Barker’s $98K as Executive Dir. is at the 87th 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 · 6 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020FY2019
Erin Barker$97,565$110,575$104,268$98,008$92,500$92,188
Liz Neeley—————$92,396
Ann Marie Lonsdale$49,860$82,700$75,750$38,665——
Elizabeth Neeley————$61,667—
Leslie Griesbach Schultz———$49,400——
Gastor Almonte$4,991—————

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 Story Collider 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

Shares science's role in life through personal stories.

Questions for Story Collider

Tap to ask. Story Collider sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Story Collider answers here, for everyone.

1 program · $478K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Workshops

Provide education and professional development training for adults in storytelling and science communications, including workshops, keynote addresses, panels, and other contracted engagements. Live Shows: Produce live and online storytelling shows sharing true, personal stories about science with general audiences.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 45-5546873) · Dispute this line
$478Kprogram 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 · FY2023
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$11
Grants paid · 2 grants · $90K · 2019–2019
Idea DistilleryFY2019$45,371
Community InitiativesCA · FY2019$45,109

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$462K
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$384K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$81K
Money outPt IX
$619K
Ln 25
Programscol B$478K
Managementcol C$111K
Fundraisingcol D$30K
Owns and owesPt X
$31K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$30K
Total assetsLn 16$46K
LiabilitiesLn 26$15K
PeoplePt VI, VII
13
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a12
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$81K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$920
Fees for servicesLn 2g$384K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$462K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$30K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$30K
Accounts receivableLn 4$9K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$5K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2K
Total assetsLn 16$46K
LiabilitiesLn 26$15K
Net assetsLn 32$31K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 57
VolunteersI 610
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$170K$30K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3K$2K
Total assetsLn 16$208K$46K
LiabilitiesLn 26$20K$15K
Net assetsLn 32$188K$31K
Business incomeForm 990-T, Part I
LineFY24
Gross$5K
Net−$12K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$152K$108K$29K$15K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$86K$60K$17K$9K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$18K$12K$4K$2K
Payroll taxesLn 10$19K$13K$4K$2K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$47K$47K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$1K$1K
Office expensesLn 13$6K$4K$1K$583
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$0
TravelLn 17$40K$40K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1K$764$218$109
InsuranceLn 23$3K$3K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$246K$239K$4K$2K
All other expensesLn 24e$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$619K$478K$111K$30K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 17, 2025 $462K$619K−$157K$31K 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2024 $530K$732K−$202K$188K 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2023 $733K$731K$2K$390K 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2022 $784K$823K−$39K$388K 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2021 $292K$501K−$209K$426K 990 PDF
FY2019Filed with the IRS Feb 10, 2021 $362K$902K−$540K$608K 990 PDF
FY2018Filed with the IRS Jan 12, 2021 $1.3M$657K$622K$1.1M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support I · Grants O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990
Part I · Summary $461,809 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $162,583$81,109
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $372,841$383,563
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$5,476−$2,863
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $529,948$461,809
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $319,076$274,884
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $412,959$343,918
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $732,035$618,802
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$202,087−$156,993
Part VI · Governance 11 of 12 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body12
VI-1b Independent voting members11
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 $461,809 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$920
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$80,189
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$81,109
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $383,563$383,563
VIII-3 Investment income$0
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events−$2,863
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $383,563$461,809
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $618,802 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $108,188 · Management $29,485 · Fundraising $14,743$152,416
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $60,188 · Management $17,197 · Fundraising $8,598$85,983
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $12,373 · Management $3,535 · Fundraising $1,768$17,676
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $13,167 · Management $3,762 · Fundraising $1,880$18,809
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting fees$0
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesManagement $46,680$46,680
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $1,040$1,040
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $4,080 · Management $1,166 · Fundraising $583$5,829
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 Occupancy$0
IX-17 TravelPrograms $40,038$40,038
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $764 · Management $218 · Fundraising $109$1,091
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $2,951$2,951
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $239,292 · Management $4,497 · Fundraising $2,500$246,289
IX-24e All other expenses$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $478,090 · Management $110,531 · Fundraising $30,181$618,802
Part X · Balance sheet $46,051 assets, 22 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $169,719$30,011
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $31,622$8,998
X-5 Loans to officers and key people$0
X-6 Loans to other insiders$0
X-7 Notes and loans receivable$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $3,924$5,335
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $2,798$1,707
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assets$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $208,063$46,051
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $20,468$14,549
X-19 Deferred revenue$900
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $20,468$15,449
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $187,595$30,602
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $187,595$30,602
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $208,063$46,051
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $30,602 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$461,809
XI-2 Total expenses$618,802
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$156,993
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$187,595
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$30,602

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

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

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

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. A filing can only be corrected by the organization filing an amended return with the IRS; the corrected information appears here at our next update.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing, and less than the filing contains. Our pages do not display home 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, contact the filing organization or the IRS directly.

All figures come from public IRS Form 990 filings. Comparisons are computed from the filing against similar orgs. They are not a rating.

Featured nonprofit jobs

All nonprofit jobs → · Hiring? Post a job →