To enable great documentary films and connect them to audiences globally.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
78¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$133K 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

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
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $456K a year · 19% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 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
$133K
to officers and key staff · 9% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 9% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
12 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 12.1 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
11
named funders · $957K
Looks good: 11 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$179K
10% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 10% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 8 voting members
Looks good: 5 of 8 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.8M
-41% vs prior year
Spent
$1.6M
To programs
78%
Net assets
$1.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$1.8M
FY2021▼ -41%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$3.0M
FY2021$1.8M
FY2022$2.9M
FY2023$2.0M
FY2024$2.4M
FY2025$2.4M
Expenses
$1.6M
FY2021▼ -28%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.2M
FY2021$1.6M
FY2022$1.8M
FY2023$2.6M
FY2024$1.7M
FY2025$2.0M
Net assets
$1.5M
FY2021▲ +15%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.3M
FY2021$1.5M
FY2022$2.7M
FY2023$2.1M
FY2024$2.8M
FY2025$3.2M

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

990 PDF Claim
You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jan 2014.

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% · $1.2M Management & general 19% · $292K Fundraising 3% · $47K

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; $133K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
Secy/Treasurer & Executive Director
$133,135Pt VII · Sec A
Board Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Maxyne Franklin’s $149K as Secy/Treasurer & Executive Director is at the 63rd percentile of top reported officer pay among 1690 $1–10M philanthropy & grantmaking 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 · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Megha Agrawal Sood$147,729$154,157$122,038———
Maxyne Franklin$149,036$144,621$138,788$131,861$133,135$124,767
Anurima Bhargava—————$4,900

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 Doc Society 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 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Supports independent documentary filmmakers worldwide with funding, strategic guidance, and workshops to create and connect impactful social-issue films with global audiences.

Questions for Doc Society INC

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.1M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Film fundsimpact producers' relief fundwe made a total of 395 emergency relief grants to documentary impact producers located in 42 countries. Other film fundsour film funds support independent documentary films that extend the boundaries of the art-form.

$729Kprogram expense
02

Good pitchour major good pitch activity in the year was good pitch philadelphia. Good pitch brings together documentary filmmakers with grass-roots organizations, media organizations, foundations, philanthropists, and policymakers who are seeking to have a positive impact on major social and environmental issues.

$205Kprogram expense
03

Pass-through film grantswe provide pass-through funding for films when it is sure that the films for which it is providing this service have a purpose consistent with doc society's objectives and its status as a 501(c)(3).

$196Kprogram 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
New Venture FundFY2024$250K
Total grants receivedfrom 11 funders$957K
See all 11 funders →
Grants paid · 66 grants · $2.3M · 2019–2024
The Memory Project LLCFY2024$251,750
Plan C for Civilization LLCFY2024$23,750
Caesura FilmsFY2024$17,575
BgdmNY · FY2024$10,000
Points North InstituteME · FY2024$10,000
Plan C for Civilization LLCFY2023$356,250
Unitemized GrantFY2023$11,000
Points North InstituteME · FY2023$10,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$2,000
Common Counsel FoundationCA · FY2022$25,000
Individual RecipientFY2022$24,000
High ImpactFY2022$19,200
Jason Fitzroy JeffersFY2022$11,000
Foammentary LLCFY2022$11,000
Unseen Documentary LLCFY2022$11,000
River of Grass LLCFY2022$11,000
Unitemized GrantFY2021$106,500
See all 66 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$48K
Investment incomeLn 3$717
Money outPt IX
$1.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.2M
Managementcol C$292K
Fundraisingcol D$47K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.6M
Total assetsLn 16$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$179K
PeoplePt VI, VII
8
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.7M
Government grantsLn 1e$45K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$48K
Investment incomeLn 3$717
Gains on assetsLn 7$516
Total revenueLn 12$1.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.4M
SavingsLn 2$201K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$9K
Other assetsLn 15$1K
Total assetsLn 16$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$179K
Net assetsLn 32$1.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 57
VolunteersI 610
Fiscal year endsHeaderMarch
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$593K$1.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$8K$9K
Total assetsLn 16$1.5M$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$185K$179K
Net assetsLn 32$1.3M$1.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$135K$135K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$260K$260K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$518K$518K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$146K$58K$74K$13K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$162K$48K$97K$17K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$21K$6K$12K$2K
Payroll taxesLn 10$25K$9K$14K$2K
Legal feesLn 11b$8K$3K$5K$821
Accounting feesLn 11c$28K$28K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$93K$86K$6K$1K
OccupancyLn 16$69K$23K$39K$7K
TravelLn 17$2K$597$1K$178
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$4K$1K$2K$369
InsuranceLn 23$12K$4K$7K$1K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$66K$57K$8K$1K
All other expensesLn 24e$5K$4K$300$53
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.6M$1.2M$292K$47K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $2.4M$2.0M$437K$3.2M 990 PDF
FY2024 $2.4M$1.7M$639K$2.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.0M$2.6M−$577K$2.1M 990 PDF
FY2022 $2.9M$1.8M$1.2M$2.7M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $1.8M$1.6M$214K$1.5M 990 PDF
FY2020 $3.0M$2.2M$840K$1.3M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support F · Foreign O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,765,554 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,941,187$1,716,721
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $49,478$48,116
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $692$717
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,991,357$1,765,554
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $959,329$913,077
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $390,551$352,926
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $801,391$285,062
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,151,271$1,551,065
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $840,086$214,489
Part VI · Governance 5 of 8 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body8
VI-1b Independent voting members5
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
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 $1,765,554 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1d Related organizations$134,531
VIII-1e Government grants$45,214
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,536,976
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,716,721
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $48,116$48,116
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $201$201
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $516$516
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $48,116 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $717$1,765,554
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,551,065 across 16 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $134,550$134,550
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $260,373$260,373
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $518,154$518,154
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $58,221 · Management $74,230 · Fundraising $13,099$145,550
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $48,066 · Management $96,808 · Fundraising $17,084$161,958
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $6,021 · Management $12,311 · Fundraising $2,173$20,505
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $8,529 · Management $13,927 · Fundraising $2,457$24,913
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $2,746 · Management $4,651 · Fundraising $821$8,218
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $27,660$27,660
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $85,842 · Management $5,786 · Fundraising $1,021$92,649
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $22,992 · Management $38,945 · Fundraising $6,873$68,810
IX-17 TravelPrograms $597 · Management $1,010 · Fundraising $178$1,785
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,233 · Management $2,089 · Fundraising $369$3,691
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $3,860 · Management $6,538 · Fundraising $1,154$11,552
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $56,684 · Management $7,894 · Fundraising $1,393$65,971
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $4,373 · Management $300 · Fundraising $53$4,726
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,212,241 · Management $292,149 · Fundraising $46,675$1,551,065
Part X · Balance sheet $1,715,489 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $392,389$1,365,709
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $200,992$201,193
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $858,034$121,000
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $23,600$4,465
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $7,149$12,852
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $7,727$8,829
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $27,510$1,441
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,517,401$1,715,489
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $50,619$61,784
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $132,521$77,021
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,513$40,000
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $184,653$178,805
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $535,983$608,819
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $796,765$927,865
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,332,748$1,536,684
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,517,401$1,715,489
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,536,684 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,765,554
XI-2 Total expenses$1,551,065
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$214,489
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,332,748
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$10,553
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,536,684

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

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