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Pacific Islanders in Communications

Tax-deductible

Honolulu, HI501(c)(3)Since 1991UnclassifiedEIN 99-0293514Revenue $2.3M in FY2025

On file with the IRSpiccom.org615 Piikoi St Ste 1203, 96814-3141 · Honolulu, HITax-exempt since Sep 1996Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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The mission of Pacific Islanders in Communications (pic) is to support, advance, and develop Pacific island media content and talent that enhances public recognition of and appreciation for Pacific islander history, culture and society.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
76¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 9 volunteers and 9 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $134K a year · 8% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 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
$141K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
17 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 16.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $1.3M
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$3.3M
65% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 65% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 9 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.3M
+19% vs prior year
Spent
$2.3M
To programs
76%
Net assets
$1.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$2.3M
FY2025▲ +19%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.4M
FY2021$1.3M
FY2022$1.7M
FY2023$1.9M
FY2024$1.9M
FY2025$2.3M
Expenses
$2.3M
FY2025▲ +38%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.3M
FY2021$1.3M
FY2022$1.4M
FY2023$1.7M
FY2024$1.7M
FY2025$2.3M
Net assets
$1.8M
FY2025▼ -2%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$975K
FY2021$1.0M
FY2022$1.2M
FY2023$1.5M
FY2024$1.8M
FY2025$1.8M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending September 2025) · 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 Sep 1996.

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% · $1.8M Management & general 21% · $489K Fundraising 3% · $74K

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; $141K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Cheryl Hirasa
Executive Director
$141,332Pt VII · Sec A
Rita Nauta
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Taryn Jackson
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vincent Iuli
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Cheryl Hirasa$141,332$133,044$121,550$113,599——
Leanne Ferrer————$104,250$99,251

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 Pacific Islanders in Communications 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

Funds, produces, and distributes films by Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander storytellers while providing professional development and training opportunities for emerging filmmakers.

Questions for Pacific Islanders in Communications

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $1.8M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

During the fiscal year, pic continued to amplify native hawaiian and pacific islander (nhpi) voices that enrich america's cultural landscape through the art of storytelling. We are the only organization in the country that does this by developing, producing, and funding films, as well as providing professional development opportunities…

$1.8Mprogram 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 · FY2025
Corporation for Public BroadcastingFY2025$1.3M
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$1.3M
Grants paid · 124 grants · $3.0M · 2019–2024
Terra Carrere LLCFY2024$75,000
Niu Doc LLCFY2024$60,000
Worm Media LLCFY2024$50,000
Rooy Media LLCFY2024$50,000
Mounga Pictures LLCFY2024$50,000
Ninth Island Documentary LLCFY2024$41,525
What Took You So LongFY2024$40,000
Doc Society INCNY · FY2024$40,000
Olona Media LLCFY2024$38,000
Women Make Movies INCNY · FY2024$30,000
The Film Collaborative INCCA · FY2024$26,500
Rock Salt Media INCFY2024$25,000
Ohina LabsHI · FY2024$25,000
Island Soldier LLCFY2024$25,000
Grace Film LLCFY2024$25,000
Unitemized GrantFY2024$22,733
Essential Islanders LLCFY2024$20,000
Hawaii Women in FilmmakingHI · FY2024$18,000
See all 124 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$37K
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Money outPt IX
$2.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.8M
Managementcol C$489K
Fundraisingcol D$74K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.2M
Total assetsLn 16$5.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b9
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$37K
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Gains on assetsLn 7$24K
Total revenueLn 12$2.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$557K
SavingsLn 2$2.7M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$667K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$159K
Other assetsLn 15$254K
Total assetsLn 16$5.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.3M
Net assetsLn 32$1.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 59
VolunteersI 69
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$831K$3.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$600K$667K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$190K$159K
Total assetsLn 16$5.3M$5.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.5M$3.3M
Net assetsLn 32$1.8M$1.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$773K$773K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$23K$23K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$75K$75K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$137K$34K$69K$34K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$424K$293K$107K$24K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$7K$5K$1K$92
Other employee benefitsLn 9$55K$36K$15K$4K
Payroll taxesLn 10$101K$59K$31K$10K
Legal feesLn 11b$36K$36K
Accounting feesLn 11c$19K$19K
Investment management feesLn 11f$7K$7K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$9K$7K$1K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$52K$42K$10K
Office expensesLn 13$43K$20K$23K
OccupancyLn 16$95K$46K$50K
TravelLn 17$159K$104K$55K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$7K$3K$3K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$32K$16K$16K
InsuranceLn 23$14K$9K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$262K$228K$34K
All other expensesLn 24e$17K$17K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.3M$1.8M$489K$74K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $2.3M$2.3M−$78K$1.8M 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.9M$1.7M$209K$1.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.9M$1.7M$195K$1.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.7M$1.4M$306K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.3M$1.3M$55K$1.0M 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.4M$1.3M$114K$975K 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 F · Foreign O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,269,967 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,895,708$2,231,333
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $13,166$36,824
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $6,408$1,810
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,915,282$2,269,967
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $475,000$870,758
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $642,911$723,581
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $588,649$753,252
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,706,560$2,347,591
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $208,722−$77,624
Part VI · Governance 9 of 9 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members9
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 $2,269,967 across 6 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $99 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,231,333
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,231,333
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $12,792$12,792
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $1,711$1,711
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $24,032$24,032
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $99 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $38,535$2,269,967
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,347,591 across 21 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $773,025$773,025
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $22,733$22,733
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $75,000$75,000
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $34,320 · Management $68,639 · Fundraising $34,319$137,278
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $292,769 · Management $107,343 · Fundraising $23,692$423,804
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $5,141 · Management $1,308 · Fundraising $92$6,541
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $35,838 · Management $15,423 · Fundraising $4,186$55,447
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $59,372 · Management $31,088 · Fundraising $10,051$100,511
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $36,470$36,470
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $19,110$19,110
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $6,907$6,907
IX-11g Other fees for servicesManagement $7,442 · Fundraising $1,473$8,915
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $42,232 · Management $9,932$52,164
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $19,976 · Management $23,119$43,095
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $45,765 · Management $49,631$95,396
IX-17 TravelPrograms $103,962 · Management $55,401$159,363
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $3,460 · Management $3,460$6,920
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $15,826 · Management $15,826$31,652
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $9,486 · Management $4,240$13,726
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $228,475 · Management $33,946$262,421
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $17,113$17,113
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,784,493 · Management $489,285 · Fundraising $73,813$2,347,591
Part X · Balance sheet $5,034,871 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $462,055$557,263
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $368,889$2,692,456
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $3,353,526$677,791
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $22,501$3,700
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $1,569$1,560
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $33,825$22,490
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $190,237$158,585
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $599,803$667,023
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $282,419$254,003
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $5,314,824$5,034,871
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $99,751$68,476
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $3,123,371$2,947,416
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $298,238$265,502
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,521,360$3,281,394
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,627,946$1,564,612
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $165,518$188,865
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,793,464$1,753,477
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $5,314,824$5,034,871
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,753,477 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,269,967
XI-2 Total expenses$2,347,591
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$77,624
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,793,464
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$37,637
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,753,477

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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