We use storytelling and the arts to help youth build confidence and strengthen connections with peers, adults, and their communities - laying the foundation for positive well-being and success in adolescence and beyond.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
76¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$53K 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
2 of 3
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $29K a year · 12% of revenue · last 3 filings
Fine: a surplus in 2 of the last 3 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 3 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
$53K
to officers and key staff · 38% of spending
Concern: pay to officers and key staff is 38% of spending; over 30%.
Pt VII · Sec A
13 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 13.4 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
8
named funders · $103K
Looks good: 8 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$0
0% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 0% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 7 voting members
Looks good: 6 of 7 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$244K
+98% vs prior year
Spent
$142K
To programs
76%
Net assets
$158K
By yearFY2022–FY2025
Revenue
$244K
FY2023▲ +98%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2022$124K
FY2023$244K
FY2024$224K
FY2025$267K
Expenses
$142K
FY2023
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2022Not on file
FY2023$142K
FY2024$248K
FY2025$259K
Net assets
$158K
FY2023▲ +185%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2022$55K
FY2023$158K
FY2024$134K
FY2025$142K

From the FY2023 Form 990 · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 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 Aug 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% · $108K Management & general 24% · $34K

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

8 people listed on the 990; $53K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Co-Founder Board Chair
$53,335Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Co-Founder Vice Board Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Stacey Gillett’s $99K as Trustee is at the 82nd percentile of top reported officer pay among 1613 $100K–1M education 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 · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023
Stacey Gillett$98,504$98,465$53,335

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 Once Upon Our Time Capsule executive salaries →

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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

Uses arts and storytelling to build youth confidence and community connections for well-being.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $108K · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

In 2033 we worked with 36 youth-serving partners including schools after-school programs shelters summer camps and libraries to engage 2,225 children in our enrichment programming. 95% of participants were from BIPOC and low-income communities Through a structured reflection and story sharing process we helped the children honor their…

$108Kprogram 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 8 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$244K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$231K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$14K
Money outPt IX
$142K
Ln 25
Programscol B$108K
Managementcol C$34K
Owns and owesPt X
$158K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$158K
Total assetsLn 16$158K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
PeoplePt VI, VII
8
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a7
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$231K
Government grantsLn 1e$0
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Fees for servicesLn 2g$14K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$244K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$158K
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$158K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$158K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
Net assetsLn 32$158K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 51
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aNo
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$55K$158K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0$0
Total assetsLn 16$55K$158K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0$0
Net assetsLn 32$55K$158K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$58K$43K$14K$0
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0$0$0$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$0$0$0$0
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0$0$0$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$0$0$0$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$0$0$0$0
Management feesLn 11a$0$0$0$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0$0$0$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$0$0$0$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0$0$0$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0$0$0$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$50K$41K$9K$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$0$0$0$0
Office expensesLn 13$2K$0$2K$0
Information technologyLn 14$10K$8K$2K$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0$0$0$0
OccupancyLn 16$5K$0$5K$0
TravelLn 17$2K$2K$0$0
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0$0$0$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0$0$0$0
InterestLn 20$0$0$0$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0$0$0$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$0$0$0$0
InsuranceLn 23$2K$0$2K$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$14K$14K$495$0
All other expensesLn 24e$0$0$0$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$142K$108K$34K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $267K$259K$8K$142K 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS May 14, 2025 $224K$248K−$24K$134K 990 PDF
FY2023 ViewingFiled with the IRS Mar 25, 2024 $244K$142K$102K$158K 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS May 12, 2023 $124K$55K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $244,192 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $0$230,626
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$13,566
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $0$244,192
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$57,668
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $0$84,086
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $0$141,754
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $0$102,438
Part VI · Governance 6 of 7 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body7
VI-1b Independent voting members6
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyNo
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $244,192 across 16 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$0
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$230,626
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$230,626
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $13,566 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$13,566
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $13,566 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$244,192
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $141,754 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $0$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $0$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $0$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for membersPrograms $0$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $43,251 · Management $14,417 · Fundraising $0$57,668
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $0$0
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $40,674 · Management $9,347 · Fundraising $0$50,021
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $0 · Management $1,541 · Fundraising $0$1,541
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $7,827 · Management $1,688 · Fundraising $0$9,515
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $0 · Management $4,980 · Fundraising $0$4,980
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,993 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$1,993
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officialsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-20 InterestPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliatesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $0 · Management $1,758 · Fundraising $0$1,758
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $13,783 · Management $495 · Fundraising $0$14,278
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $107,528 · Management $34,226 · Fundraising $0$141,754
Part X · Balance sheet $157,787 assets, 24 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $55,349$157,787
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $0$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $0$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $0$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $0$0
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $55,349$157,787
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $0$0
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$0
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $55,349$157,787
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $0$0
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $55,349$157,787
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $55,349$157,787
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $157,787 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$244,192
XI-2 Total expenses$141,754
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$102,438
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$55,349
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$157,787

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

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