The Vii Foundation INC

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The Vii foundation's mission is to transform visual journalism by empowering new voices and creating stories that advocate change. In a world where beliefs and actions are increasingly out-of-sync with facts and realities, transforming visual journalism is an urgent task.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
74¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$219K 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

FY2024 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
1 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $367K a year · 22% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
74%
of spending
Fine: 74% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$219K
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
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 5.9 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $396K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.0M
27% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 27% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 8 voting members
Looks good: 8 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
$1.9M
+69% vs prior year
Spent
$2.3M
To programs
74%
Net assets
$2.7M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$1.9M
FY2024▲ +69%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.7M
FY2021$1.7M
FY2022$1.8M
FY2023$1.1M
FY2024$1.9M
Expenses
$2.3M
FY2024▲ +21%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.5M
FY2021$2.0M
FY2022$2.4M
FY2023$1.9M
FY2024$2.3M
Net assets
$2.7M
FY2024▲ +16%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$4.0M
FY2021$3.7M
FY2022$3.1M
FY2023$2.3M
FY2024$2.7M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · 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: FY2024. IRS ruling in Sep 2010.

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

Where the money goes

74 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 74% · $1.7M Management & general 17% · $386K Fundraising 9% · $209K

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

10 people listed on the 990; $219K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Director
$175,200Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$43,400Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Gary Knight’s $175K as Director is at the 76th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3924 $1–10M 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Gary Knight$175,200$219,000$219,000$219,000$27,735
Ron Jacques$43,400$62,000$62,000$41,333—

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 The Vii Foundation INC 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

Funds projects promoting health, human rights, the environment, and society.

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3 programs · $1.0M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

As the educational wing of the vii foundation, vii academy promotes, teaches, and fosters high quality journalism. Vii academy provides real- world, tuition-free training and practice as a new generation of journalists and visual practitioners build a contemporary global media environment.

$502Kprogram expense
02

The peace project explores the conditions of peace processes in lebanon, northern ireland, bosnia, rwanda, indochina, and colombia. Leading photographers and writers of war will return to those countries where they first reported during conflict. Others who lived through war will add their voices to the project.

$251Kprogram expense
03

Vii insider is a free online platform that takes the general public inside the profession of visual journalism to advance the production and analysis of new stories. Vii insider offers regular live presentations, a video collection of previous events and publishes writing on the role of images in its blog, dispaches.

$251Kprogram 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
Total grants receivedfrom 4 funders$396K
See all 4 funders →
Grants paid · 6 grants · $61K · 2020–2023
Unitemized GrantFY2023$10,066
Unitemized GrantFY2023$10,066
Unitemized GrantFY2022$10,054
Unitemized GrantFY2022$10,054
Unitemized GrantFY2021$11,491
Unitemized GrantFY2020$9,440

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.8M
Other incomeLn 4–11$135K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$9K
Money outPt IX
$2.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.7M
Managementcol C$386K
Fundraisingcol D$209K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$3.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.0M
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.8M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$6K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$9K
Investment incomeLn 3$3K
Other incomeLn 4–11$135K
Gains on assetsLn 7$3K
Total revenueLn 12$1.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.1M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.1M
Accounts receivableLn 4$58K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$1.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.5M
Intangible assetsLn 14$62
Other assetsLn 15$7K
Total assetsLn 16$3.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.0M
Net assetsLn 32$2.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 55
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$1.5M$1.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$704K$1.5M
Total assetsLn 16$2.4M$3.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$56K$1.0M
Net assetsLn 32$2.3M$2.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$219K$169K$25K$25K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$259K$122K$57K$80K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$62K$31K$5K$26K
Payroll taxesLn 10$45K$45K
Accounting feesLn 11c$15K$15K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$18K$18K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$84K$62K$22K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$10K$4K$6K
Office expensesLn 13$13K$9K$3K$379
Information technologyLn 14$60K$41K$8K$10K
OccupancyLn 16$76K$18K$57K
TravelLn 17$112K$85K$992$27K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$6K$29$6K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$580K$483K$97K
InsuranceLn 23$36K$18K$12K$5K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$645K$565K$68K$12K
All other expensesLn 24e$32K$23K$9K$460
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.3M$1.7M$386K$209K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS May 27, 2026 $1.9M$2.3M−$373K$2.7M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Jun 2, 2025 $1.1M$1.9M−$751K$2.3M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2023 $1.8M$2.4M−$582K$3.1M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Nov 14, 2022 $1.7M$2.0M−$311K$3.7M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Aug 22, 2022 $1.7M$1.5M$181K$4.0M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,897,206 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,151,161$1,751,085
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $20,428$8,877
I-10 Investment income$2,565
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $300$134,679
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,171,889$1,897,206
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $505,897$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $370,694$584,318
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$17,582
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,034,511$1,667,826
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,911,102$2,269,726
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$739,213−$372,520
Part VI · Governance 8 of 8 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body8
VI-1b Independent voting members8
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 $1,897,206 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,751,085
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$6,230
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,751,085
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $8,877$8,877
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $2,565$2,565
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $134,679$134,679
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $146,121$1,897,206
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,269,726 across 17 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $168,600 · Management $25,000 · Fundraising $25,000$218,600
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $121,758 · Management $57,166 · Fundraising $79,785$258,709
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $30,913 · Management $4,991 · Fundraising $26,344$62,248
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $44,761$44,761
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $15,087$15,087
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $17,582$17,582
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $61,924 · Management $21,841$83,765
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $4,247 · Fundraising $6,182$10,429
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $8,946 · Management $3,454 · Fundraising $379$12,779
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $41,304 · Management $8,384 · Fundraising $9,859$59,547
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $18,401 · Management $57,357$75,758
IX-17 TravelPrograms $84,732 · Management $992 · Fundraising $26,580$112,304
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $29 · Management $6,210$6,239
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $482,981 · Management $96,751$579,732
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $18,267 · Management $12,315 · Fundraising $5,181$35,763
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $564,556 · Management $68,308 · Fundraising $11,761$644,625
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $22,744 · Management $8,594 · Fundraising $460$31,798
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,674,163 · Management $386,450 · Fundraising $209,113$2,269,726
Part X · Balance sheet $3,728,224 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,504,560$1,116,312
X-4 Accounts receivable$57,559
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $170,853$1,028,080
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $703,671$1,519,463
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $12,000$62
X-15 Other assets$6,748
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,391,084$3,728,224
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $56,461$191,703
X-19 Deferred revenue$13,084
X-23 Secured mortgages and notes payable$796,250
X-25 Other liabilities$8,155
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $56,461$1,009,192
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,334,623$1,785,863
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictions$933,169
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,334,623$2,719,032
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,391,084$3,728,224
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,719,032 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,897,206
XI-2 Total expenses$2,269,726
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$372,520
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,334,623
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$4,716
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$654,121
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$107,524
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,719,032

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

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