Public Good Projects FY2022 filing

Tax-deductible

New York, NY501(c)(3)Since 2013Health CareEIN 46-2717584Revenue $9.0M in FY2022

On file with the IRSpublicgoodprojects.org401 Park Avenue S10th FL, 10016-8808 · New York, NYTax-exempt since Jun 2014Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

This page gets seen. Tell your story. Claim this org.

To create a continuous and enduring supply of innovative media that makes the nations most complex and pressing problems easier to understand and improve the lives of americans young and old.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
60¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$768K 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
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
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $10K a year · under 1% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
60%
of spending
Worth a look: 60% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$768K
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
Cash reserves
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.4 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $1.8M
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.2M
40% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 40% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
14
of 15 voting members
Looks good: 14 of 15 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$9.0M
+73% vs prior year
Spent
$8.8M
To programs
60%
Net assets
$1.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$9.0M
FY2022▲ +73%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$3.9M
FY2021$5.2M
FY2022$9.0M
FY2023$7.8M
FY2024$9.4M
FY2025$9.6M
Expenses
$8.8M
FY2022▲ +56%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$3.5M
FY2021$5.6M
FY2022$8.8M
FY2023$9.0M
FY2024$9.0M
FY2025$8.9M
Net assets
$1.8M
FY2022▲ +12%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.1M
FY2021$1.6M
FY2022$1.8M
FY2023$625K
FY2024$982K
FY2025$1.7M

From the FY2022 Form 990 (year ending June 2022) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2022 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 Jun 2014.

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

Where the money goes

60 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 60% · $5.3M Management & general 38% · $3.3M Fundraising 3% · $234K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? The org can add a note here. Claim this org to fix it.

Who runs it and what they're paid

19 people listed on the 990; $768K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2021); the FY2022 filing did not itemize Part VII
$234,776Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Operating Officer
$142,800Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Program Officer
$142,379Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Communications
$139,832Pt VII · Sec A
Editor in Chief
$108,101Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Joseph Smyser’s $267K as CEO is at the 86th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3128 $1–10M health care 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 · 7 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Joseph Smyser$267,395$254,064$223,127$234,776$181,361$183,765
Polly Dong$200,742$188,740$162,814$142,800$37,836—
Jaclyn Goldbarg$197,402$177,992$150,219$142,379$124,780—
Megan Barber—$170,647$139,292$108,101——
Emily Lord—————$148,950
Jennifer Sittig——$130,914$139,832$101,284—
Yeabsira Mehari——$107,572———

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 Public Good Projects executive salaries →

Are you one of these people? Claim this org to confirm your role

Something off? The org can add a note here. Claim this org to fix it.

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

Creates media to explain complex problems and improve lives for all Americans.

Questions for Public Good Projects

Tap to ask. Public Good Projects sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Public Good Projects answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this organization? Claim it to add your story

1 program · $5.3M · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

The public good projects leverages large-scale media monitoring programs, social and behavior change interventions, and cross-sector initiatives to lead communication projects for a range of public health topics.

$5.3Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$1.8M

By the numbers

The FY2022 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$9.0M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$6.7M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.2M
Other incomeLn 4–11$22K
Money outPt IX
$8.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$5.3M
Managementcol C$3.3M
Fundraisingcol D$234K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.0M
Total assetsLn 16$3.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
19
listed · VII A
PaidVII A5
Voting boardVI 1a15
IndependentVI 1b14
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$6.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$395
Other incomeLn 4–11$22K
Total revenueLn 12$9.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$16K
Total assetsLn 16$3.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.2M
Net assetsLn 32$1.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 539
VolunteersI 614
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
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 FY22End FY22
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.1M$1.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$26K$16K
Total assetsLn 16$5.0M$3.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.3M$1.2M
Net assetsLn 32$1.6M$1.8M
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 current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$947K$447K$458K$42K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.7M$1.8M$1.7M$171K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$68K$25K$41K$1K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$376K$140K$228K$7K
Payroll taxesLn 10$373K$185K$177K$12K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$47K$47K
Accounting feesLn 11c$93K$93K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.8M$1.6M$195K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$956K$930K$26K
Office expensesLn 13$101K$10K$92K
Information technologyLn 14$297K$183K$114K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$3K$3K
TravelLn 17$42K$2K$38K$1K
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$14K$14K
InsuranceLn 23$23K$23K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$38K$38K
All other expensesLn 24e$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$8.8M$5.3M$3.3M$234K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $9.6M$8.9M$717K$1.7M 990 PDF
FY2024 $9.4M$9.0M$357K$982K 990 PDF
FY2023 $7.8M$9.0M−$1.2M$625K 990 PDF
FY2022 Viewing $9.0M$8.8M$190K$1.8M 990 PDF
FY2021 $5.2M$5.6M−$440K$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $3.9M$3.5M$321K$2.1M 990 PDF

Want to add your own materials alongside these filings? Claim this org

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 FY2022 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $8,988,626 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $392,883$2,232,125
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $4,783,795$6,734,366
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $260$395
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $13,503$21,740
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $5,190,441$8,988,626
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $3,099,835$5,422,674
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,530,486$3,375,952
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $5,630,321$8,798,626
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$439,880$190,000
Part VI · Governance 14 of 15 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body15
VI-1b Independent voting members14
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $8,988,626 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$2,196,605
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$35,520
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,232,125
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $6,734,366$6,734,366
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $395$395
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $21,740$21,740
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $6,756,106 · Excluded from tax $395$8,988,626
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $8,798,626 across 30 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 current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $446,842 · Management $458,037 · Fundraising $41,841$946,720
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,762,824 · Management $1,725,713 · Fundraising $170,629$3,659,166
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $25,254 · Management $41,055 · Fundraising $1,326$67,635
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $140,273 · Management $228,040 · Fundraising $7,367$375,680
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $184,581 · Management $177,069 · Fundraising $11,823$373,473
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $47,187$47,187
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $93,053$93,053
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,566,630 · Management $195,234$1,761,864
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $929,782 · Management $25,843$955,625
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $9,758 · Management $91,540$101,298
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $182,873 · Management $113,702$296,575
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $3,053$3,053
IX-17 TravelPrograms $2,331 · Management $38,413 · Fundraising $1,243$41,987
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 amortizationManagement $13,788$13,788
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $23,361$23,361
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Management $38,161$38,161
IX-24e All other expenses$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $5,251,148 · Management $3,313,249 · Fundraising $234,229$8,798,626
Part X · Balance sheet $3,040,032 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $4,118,120$1,044,917
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $684,860$1,889,891
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $141,698$89,505
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $26,192$15,719
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,973,298$3,040,032
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $709,068$238,376
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $1,135,000$281,250
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,491,365$692,541
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,335,433$1,212,167
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,637,865$1,827,865
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,637,865$1,827,865
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,973,298$3,040,032
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,827,865 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$8,988,626
XI-2 Total expenses$8,798,626
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$190,000
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,637,865
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,827,865

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.

If you ARE the filing organization, claim this org and add context

Made it to the end? Claim this organization

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.