Project Unloaded INC FY2024 filing

Tax-deductible

Chicago, IL501(c)(3)Since 2021Public Safety & DisasterEIN 87-4212016Revenue $3.8M in FY2024

On file with the IRSprojectunloaded.org1 E Erie St Ste 525 Pmb 4787, 60611-2980 · Chicago, ILTax-exempt since Nov 2022Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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

Project Unloaded INC. (organization) is a non-profit corporation organized to prevent gun violence in all its forms by educating, engaging, and empowering teens through cultural campaigns and community partnerships that share a simple message: guns make US less safe.Project Unloaded sits at the intersection of public health, youth engagement, social marketing and culture. Through large-scale, data-backed social media campaigns, original research, teen-facing local programs, and inspiring youth leaders, we combine young people's love of social media with a gun violence prevention message that can reduce gun use and save lives.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
76¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$258K 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
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
1 of 2
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $984K a year · 39% of revenue · last 2 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 1 of the last 2 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 2 filings
Spent on programs
76%
of spending
Looks good: 76% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$258K
to officers and key staff · 23% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 23% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
19 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 19.1 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
14
named funders · $1.8M
Looks good: 14 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$25K
0.9% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
7
of 8 voting members
Looks good: 7 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
$3.8M
Spent
$1.1M
To programs
76%
Net assets
$2.7M
By yearFY2024–FY2025
Revenue
$3.8M
FY2024
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2024$3.8M
FY2025$1.2M
Expenses
$1.1M
FY2024
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2024$1.1M
FY2025$1.9M
Net assets
$2.7M
FY2024
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2024$2.7M
FY2025$2.0M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2024 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 Nov 2022.

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

Where the money goes

76 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 76% · $853K Management & general 11% · $121K Fundraising 13% · $147K

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

9 people listed on the 990; $258K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President
$139,819Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Marketing & Communications
$118,235Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Nina Vinik’s $231K as President is at the 92nd percentile of top reported officer pay among 433 $1–10M public safety & disaster 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

NameFY2025FY2024
Nina Vinik$231,469$139,819
Ann Taylor Maxwell$201,386$118,235

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

Programs and updates

Educates youth about gun violence risks, empowering them to make safer choices.

Questions for Project Unloaded INC

Tap to ask. Project Unloaded INC sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Project Unloaded INC answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this organization? Claim it to add your story

3 programs · $853K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Our campaigns leverage the power of social media and gen z to reach american teens with a message that sticks. Whether it's through a post on their favorite social media platform or a message via trusted gaming or lifestyle influencers, we reach young people at scale with the information they need to make informed, independent choices…

$567Kprogram expense
02

Through our community partner program, project unloaded works with teen-facing organizations to empower young people with the facts on why they're safer unarmed and to train teens on how to use social media to spread that message to their peers.

$144Kprogram expense
03

Young people are at the heart of everything we do at project unloaded. Our teen and young adult leaders are the creative engines behind our social media campaigns, reaching their peers with the life-saving message that guns make us less safe. Project unloaded is proudly supported by two teams of young people.

$142Kprogram 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 14 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.8M
Money outPt IX
$1.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$853K
Managementcol C$121K
Fundraisingcol D$147K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.8M
Total assetsLn 16$2.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$25K
PeoplePt VI, VII
9
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b7
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.8M
Total revenueLn 12$3.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.8M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.8M
Total assetsLn 16$2.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$25K
Net assetsLn 32$2.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 510
VolunteersI 69
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$31K$1.8M
Total assetsLn 16$31K$2.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1K$25K
Net assetsLn 32$30K$2.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$160K$117K$8K$35K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$300K$216K$15K$69K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$33K$27K$1K$5K
Payroll taxesLn 10$35K$26K$1K$8K
Legal feesLn 11b$11K$11K
Accounting feesLn 11c$34K$34K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$178K$154K$23K$1K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$292K$266K$520$25K
Office expensesLn 13$1K$224$941
Information technologyLn 14$10K$6K$4K
TravelLn 17$9K$4K$4K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$20K$20K$463
InsuranceLn 23$10K$10K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$27K$23K$4K
All other expensesLn 24e$9$9
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.1M$853K$121K$147K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $1.2M$1.9M−$701K$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $3.8M$1.1M$2.7M$2.7M 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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,790,583 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $28,900$3,790,583
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $28,900$3,790,583
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 $0$528,315
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,261$593,162
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,261$1,121,477
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $27,639$2,669,106
Part VI · Governance 7 of 8 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body8
VI-1b Independent voting members7
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $3,790,583 across 3 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,790,583
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,790,583
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$3,790,583
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,121,477 across 15 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $116,856 · Management $7,791 · Fundraising $35,155$159,802
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $215,936 · Management $15,426 · Fundraising $68,671$300,033
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $27,189 · Management $1,176 · Fundraising $5,129$33,494
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $26,049 · Management $1,150 · Fundraising $7,787$34,986
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $11,411$11,411
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $34,386$34,386
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $154,100 · Management $22,963 · Fundraising $1,419$178,482
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $266,115 · Management $520 · Fundraising $25,000$291,635
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $224 · Management $941$1,165
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $6,396 · Fundraising $4,001$10,397
IX-17 TravelPrograms $4,136 · Management $4,484$8,620
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $19,508 · Management $463$19,971
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $9,953$9,953
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $22,973 · Management $4,160$27,133
IX-24e All other expensesManagement $9$9
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $853,086 · Management $121,229 · Fundraising $147,162$1,121,477
Part X · Balance sheet $2,724,456 assets, 10 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $30,972$1,783,998
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$930,986
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$9,472
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $30,972$2,724,456
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,095$25,473
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,095$25,473
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $29,877$1,767,165
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictions$931,818
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $29,877$2,698,983
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $30,972$2,724,456
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,698,983 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,790,583
XI-2 Total expenses$1,121,477
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,669,106
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$29,877
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,698,983

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 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.