Public Good Projects FY2023 filing

Tax-deductible

New York, NY501(c)(3)Since 2013Health CareEIN 46-2717584

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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.
$914K 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

FY2023 · 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
$914K
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Worth a look: 0.8 months of spending in cash; under 1.
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
$1.7M
73% of total assets
Worth a look: liabilities are 73% of assets; over 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
11
of 15 voting members
Looks good: 11 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
$7.8M
-13% vs prior year
Spent
$9.0M
To programs
60%
Net assets
$625K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$7.8M
FY2023▼ -13%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$3.9M
FY2021$5.2M
FY2022$9.0M
FY2023$7.8M
FY2024$9.4M
FY2025$9.6M
Expenses
$9.0M
FY2023▲ +3%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$3.5M
FY2021$5.6M
FY2022$8.8M
FY2023$9.0M
FY2024$9.0M
FY2025$8.9M
Net assets
$625K
FY2023▼ -66%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.1M
FY2021$1.6M
FY2022$1.8M
FY2023$625K
FY2024$982K
FY2025$1.7M

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending June 2023) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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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% · $5.4M Management & general 36% · $3.3M Fundraising 4% · $392K

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

17 people listed on the 990; $914K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
$223,127Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Operating Officer
$162,814Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Program Officer
$150,219Pt VII · Sec A
Editor in Chief
$139,292Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Communications
$130,914Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Programs
$107,572Pt 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.

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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

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

Provided by the organization

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1 program service account for $5.4M of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2022.
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.

$5.4Mprogram expense

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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 FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$7.8M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$5.4M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.4M
Other incomeLn 4–11$16K
Money outPt IX
$9.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$5.4M
Managementcol C$3.3M
Fundraisingcol D$392K
Owns and owesPt X
$625K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$600K
Total assetsLn 16$2.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
17
listed · VII A
PaidVII A6
Voting boardVI 1a15
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.4M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.4M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$5.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$5K
Other incomeLn 4–11$16K
Total revenueLn 12$7.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$600K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$600K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4K
Total assetsLn 16$2.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.7M
Net assetsLn 32$625K
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.0M$600K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$16K$4K
Total assetsLn 16$3.0M$2.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.2M$1.7M
Net assetsLn 32$1.8M$625K
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$1.2M$503K$611K$78K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.7M$1.6M$1.9M$258K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$75K$28K$44K$3K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$303K$114K$179K$10K
Payroll taxesLn 10$366K$160K$186K$21K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$21K$21K
Accounting feesLn 11c$93K$93K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2.0M$2.0M$33K$250
Advertising and promotionLn 12$657K$654K$2K$1K
Office expensesLn 13$20K$8K$12K$178
Information technologyLn 14$371K$245K$125K$281
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$4K$4K
TravelLn 17$165K$92K$52K$21K
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$11K$11K
InsuranceLn 23$25K$25K
All other expensesLn 24e$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$9.0M$5.4M$3.3M$392K

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 Viewing $7.8M$9.0M−$1.2M$625K 990 PDF
FY2022 $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

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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 FY2023 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $7,839,348 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$2,398,373
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$23,935
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,422,308
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $5,396,429$5,396,429
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $4,646$4,646
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $15,965$15,965
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $5,412,394 · Excluded from tax $4,646$7,839,348
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $9,041,951 across 29 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 $503,008 · Management $611,208 · Fundraising $77,982$1,192,198
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,587,918 · Management $1,867,591 · Fundraising $257,591$3,713,100
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $28,242 · Management $44,447 · Fundraising $2,511$75,200
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $113,946 · Management $179,327 · Fundraising $10,131$303,404
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $159,511 · Management $185,500 · Fundraising $20,504$365,515
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $20,657$20,657
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $92,653$92,653
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,992,318 · Management $33,200 · Fundraising $250$2,025,768
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $653,503 · Management $1,856 · Fundraising $1,449$656,808
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $8,141 · Management $11,977 · Fundraising $178$20,296
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $244,896 · Management $125,497 · Fundraising $281$370,674
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $4,044$4,044
IX-17 TravelPrograms $92,399 · Management $51,875 · Fundraising $21,207$165,481
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 $11,495$11,495
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $24,658$24,658
IX-24e All other expenses$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $5,383,882 · Management $3,265,985 · Fundraising $392,084$9,041,951
Part X · Balance sheet $2,315,068 assets, 11 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,044,917$599,807
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,889,891$1,631,071
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $89,505$80,078
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $15,719$4,112
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $3,040,032$2,315,068
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $238,376$400,721
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $692,541$1,289,085
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,212,167$1,689,806
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,827,865$625,262
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,827,865$625,262
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $3,040,032$2,315,068
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $625,262 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$7,839,348
XI-2 Total expenses$9,041,951
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,202,603
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,827,865
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$625,262

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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