By Kids Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BYKIDS PAIRS TALENTED YOUNG STORYTELLERS WITH SEASONED FILMMAKERS TO CREATE POWERFUL DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT THEIR LIVES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PBS AND EDUCATION INNOVATORS, WE SHARE THE FILMS AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO 200 MILLION PEOPLE TO HELP MAKE GLOBAL ISSUES FEEL PERSONAL, RELEVANT AND ACTIONABLE. OUR WORK IGNITES IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS IN THE CLASSROOM, INSPIRING A NEW GENERATION OF SOCIAL ACTIVISTS.
- Income
- $460,085
- Spending
- $337,469
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 11.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 17
- Highest pay
- $90,000, board member and executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 105% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $243,247 spent. BYKIDS PRODUCED FOUR NEW FILMS IN SOUTH AFRICA, CUBA, COLORADO AND HOUSTON AS PART OF SEASON FIVE OF FILMS BYKIDS ON PUBLIC TELEVISION. THROUGH FILM PRODUCTION, EDUCATIONAL EXPANSION AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, THE ORGANIZATION DEEPENED ITS IMPACT WHILE STRENGTHENING THE FOUNDATION FOR LONG-TERM GROWTH. BYKIDS AMPLIFIED YOUTH VOICES GLOBALLY, WITH 17 YOUTH-MADE FILMS REACHING 83 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS THROUGH PBS AND ENGAGING 45 MILLION STUDENTS VIA DISCOVERY EDUCATION. MORE THAN 50,000 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED DIRECTLY THROUGH SCREENINGS, VIRTUAL Q&AS AND CLASSROOM USE, EXTENDING THE REACH OF AUTHENTIC YOUTH STORYTELLING. IN CLASSROOMS, BYKIDS RESOURCES WERE USED BY OVER 4 MILLION EDUCATORS NATIONWIDE. NINETY-TWO PERCENT OF TEACHERS REPORTED INCREASED STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, UNDERSCORING THE POWER OF YOUTH-DRIVEN STORIES TO RECONNECT STUDENTS WITH LEARNING. THE BYKIDS FILM ACADEMY EXPANDED WITH WORKSHOPS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND THE UNITED STATES, WITH A DIGITAL VERSION IN DEVELOPMENT FOR 2026 TO BROADEN ACCESS. THE ACADEMY WAS RECOGNIZED WITH A GOLD ANTHEM AWARD. BYKIDS ALSO GREW ITS NATIONAL AND GLOBAL PRESENCE, PRESENTING AT THE GLOBAL PHILANTHROPIC LEADERS SUMMIT AND FORMING NEW PARTNERSHIPS. ITS FILMS CONTINUED TO GAIN RECOGNITION, WITH RETURN DATE: UNKNOWN FEATURED AT MAJOR INTERNATIONAL FORUMS AND AGAINST THE CURRENT WINNING THE AUDIENCE AWARD AT THE SHINING MOUNTAINS FILM FESTIVAL, DRIVING NEW EDUCATIONAL COLLABORATIONS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2007.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.