On Being Project FY2021 filing

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On Being Project is an independent nonprofit media and public life initiative.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
79¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.1M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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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
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $482K a year · 12% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
79%
of spending
Looks good: 79% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.1M
to officers and key staff · 26% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 26% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
20 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 19.8 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
10
named funders · $1.6M
Looks good: 10 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$971K
11% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 11% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
3
of 4 voting members
Looks good: 3 of 4 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$6.8M
Spent
$4.4M
To programs
79%
Net assets
$7.9M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$6.8M
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$6.8M
FY2022$7.5M
FY2023$1.7M
FY2024$1.9M
FY2025$2.5M
Expenses
$4.4M
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$4.4M
FY2022$5.1M
FY2023$5.4M
FY2024$5.4M
FY2025$2.6M
Net assets
$7.9M
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$7.9M
FY2022$10.2M
FY2023$6.4M
FY2024$2.8M
FY2025$2.7M

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

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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 Oct 2014.

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

Where the money goes

79 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 79% · $3.5M Management & general 16% · $701K Fundraising 6% · $244K

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

10 people listed on the 990; $1.1M 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
$375,732Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Producer
$154,749Pt VII · Sec A
Exec Dir, Community & Design
$146,026Pt VII · Sec A
Exec Dir, Operations & Vitality
$137,292Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Manager, Editorial Operations
$118,001Pt VII · Sec A
Creative Director
$103,721Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Civil Conversations Project
$101,376Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Krista Tippett’s $351K as President is at the 94th percentile of top reported officer pay among 731 $1–10M public & societal benefit 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Krista Tippett$350,770$345,215$362,210$344,395$375,732
Romy Nehme—$103,949$210,860——
Lucas Johnson—$196,500$176,773$160,352—
Colleen Scheck—$153,849$158,190$148,843$137,292
Liliana Maria Percy Ruiz————$154,749
Serri Graslie————$146,026
Tiffany Champion—$130,822———
Manuel Gonzalez JR—$128,573$124,500$120,938$101,376

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 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Creates media and public life initiatives exploring what it means to be human.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $3.5M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

On Being Project Media Content

The on being project holds a distinct place in the media landscape. Our award-winning content is unique in its approach, depth, and production value. Our flagship weekly program, "on being with krista tippett," explores how the ancient, animating questions of meaning are being reframed in 21ST century lives and endeavors: what does it…

$3.5Mprogram 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
See all 10 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$6.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$6.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$321K
Investment incomeLn 3$10K
Money outPt IX
$4.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.5M
Managementcol C$701K
Fundraisingcol D$244K
Owns and owesPt X
$7.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$7.3M
Total assetsLn 16$8.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$971K
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a4
IndependentVI 1b3
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$6.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$321K
Investment incomeLn 3$10K
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Gains on assetsLn 7$141
Total revenueLn 12$6.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$624K
SavingsLn 2$6.7M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$7.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$316K
Other assetsLn 15$8K
Total assetsLn 16$8.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$971K
Net assetsLn 32$7.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 525
VolunteersI 63
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
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$2.6M$7.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$624K$316K
Total assetsLn 16$6.2M$8.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$745K$971K
Net assetsLn 32$5.5M$7.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$837K$498K$159K$180K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.2M$1.1M$120K$14K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$40K$34K$5K$261
Other employee benefitsLn 9$97K$85K$11K$1K
Payroll taxesLn 10$137K$106K$21K$11K
Legal feesLn 11b$66K$66K
Accounting feesLn 11c$112K$112K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$366K$308K$58K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$134K$134K
Office expensesLn 13$106K$97K$8K$458
Information technologyLn 14$390K$363K$20K$7K
OccupancyLn 16$134K$104K$18K$12K
TravelLn 17$53K$31K$22K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$316K$298K$11K$7K
InsuranceLn 23$36K$36K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$371K$335K$27K$10K
All other expensesLn 24e$34K$26K$7K$800
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.4M$3.5M$701K$244K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $2.5M$2.6M−$66K$2.7M 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.9M$5.4M−$3.4M$2.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.7M$5.4M−$3.7M$6.4M 990 PDF
FY2022 $7.5M$5.1M$2.4M$10.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $6.8M$4.4M$2.4M$7.9M 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 FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $6,812,649 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $6,233,257$6,479,643
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $345,142$320,843
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,494$9,993
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $2,564$2,170
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $6,582,457$6,812,649
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,380,403$2,294,696
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,973,313$2,118,587
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $4,353,716$4,413,283
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $2,228,741$2,399,366
Part VI · Governance 3 of 4 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body4
VI-1b Independent voting members3
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 $6,812,649 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$6,479,643
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$6,479,643
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $319,321 · Unrelated business $1,522$320,843
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $9,852$9,852
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $141$141
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $2,170$2,170
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $319,321 · Unrelated business $1,522 · Excluded from tax $12,163$6,812,649
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,413,283 across 17 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $498,029 · Management $158,962 · Fundraising $179,582$836,573
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,050,370 · Management $120,007 · Fundraising $13,514$1,183,891
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $34,121 · Management $5,279 · Fundraising $261$39,661
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $85,244 · Management $10,652 · Fundraising $1,300$97,196
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $105,733 · Management $20,827 · Fundraising $10,815$137,375
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $66,151$66,151
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $111,983$111,983
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $307,947 · Management $57,799$365,746
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $134,228$134,228
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $96,987 · Management $8,206 · Fundraising $458$105,651
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $363,005 · Management $19,596 · Fundraising $7,391$389,992
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $104,042 · Management $18,193 · Fundraising $12,196$134,431
IX-17 TravelPrograms $31,175 · Management $22,211$53,386
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $297,743 · Management $11,044 · Fundraising $7,403$316,190
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $36,057$36,057
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $334,724 · Management $26,556 · Fundraising $9,983$371,263
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $25,594 · Management $7,115 · Fundraising $800$33,509
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,468,942 · Management $700,638 · Fundraising $243,703$4,413,283
Part X · Balance sheet $8,862,676 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $520,794$623,756
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $2,101,016$6,660,746
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $2,453,399$730,452
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $62,393$71,797
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $71,968$56,668
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $624,431$315,892
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $395,757$395,757
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $7,608$7,608
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $6,237,366$8,862,676
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $223,779$275,623
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $117,400$291,500
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $403,600$403,600
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $744,779$970,723
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $3,235,553$6,535,341
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,257,034$1,356,612
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $5,492,587$7,891,953
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $6,237,366$8,862,676
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $7,891,953 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$6,812,649
XI-2 Total expenses$4,413,283
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,399,366
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$5,492,587
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$7,891,953

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

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