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Behind the Scenes Foundation

EIN 38-3715781 · Lakeville, CT

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BEHIND THE SCENES PROVIDES GRANTS TO ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS IN NEED DUE TO SERIOUS ILLNESS, INJURY, OR NATURAL DISASTER AND FOR COUNSELING OR ADDICTION REHAB. THE ORGANIZATION'S MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE PROVIDES TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY WORKERS AND PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS.

Income
$416,691
Spending
$543,778
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
58.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
3
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$104,820, executive di

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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 58.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 36 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 97% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 21 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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)
  1. $319,166 spent. BEHIND THE SCENES ("BTS") PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS, OR THEIR IMMEDIATE DEPENDENT FAMILY MEMBERS, WHO ARE SERIOUSLY ILL OR INJURED. GRANTS ARE AWARDED WHICH MAY BE USED FOR BASIC LIVING AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. ANYONE WHO HAS EARNED THEIR LIVING IN THE INDUSTRY FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS, WHETHER BEHIND THE CURTAIN BEHIND THE CAMERA, ON THE ROAD, OR FOR ONE OF THE COMPANIES WHO MANUFACTURE AND SUPPLY ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES MAY APPLY FOR A GRANT. SINCE THE FIRST GRANT IN 2006, BEHIND THE SCENES HAS AWARDED OVER 1,700,000 TO PAY NECESSITIES SUCH AS RENT/MORTGAGE, UTILITIES, MEDICATIONS, DOCTOR VISITS, AND HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS. BEHIND THE SCENES BRINGS HELP AND HOPE TO OUR COLLEAGUES IN THEIR DARKEST HOURS. THE BTS COUNSELING FUND PROVIDES GRANTS TO ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS THAT MAY BE USED TO INITIATE OR SUPPORT ONGOING COUNSELING OR TO PARTICIPATE IN AN IN-PATIENT OR OUT-PATIENT RECOVERY PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE THOSE DEALING WITH DEPRESSION, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OTHER ISSUES TO SEEK HELP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE BTS NATURAL DISASTER RELIEF FUND ASSISTS THOSE SEVERELY IMPACTED BY A NATURAL DISASTER WITH A SMALL GRANT FOR IMMEDIATE BASIC NECESSITIES SUCH AS FOOD, CLOTHING, MEDICATION OR TOILETRIES. THE BTS MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE PROVIDES TOOLS AND RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY WORKERS TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS. BEHIND THE SCENES ("BTS") PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS, OR THEIR IMMEDIATE DEPENDENT FAMILY MEMBERS, WHO ARE SERIOUSLY ILL OR INJURED. GRANTS ARE AWARDED WHICH MAY BE USED FOR BASIC LIVING AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. ANYONE WHO HAS EARNED THEIR LIVING IN THE INDUSTRY FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS, WHETHER BEHIND THE CURTAIN BEHIND THE CAMERA, ON THE ROAD, OR FOR ONE OF THE COMPANIES WHO MANUFACTURE AND SUPPLY ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES MAY APPLY FOR A GRANT. SINCE THE FIRST GRANT IN 2006, BEHIND THE SCENES HAS AWARDED OVER 1,700,000 TO PAY NECESSITIES SUCH AS RENT/MORTGAGE, UTILITIES, MEDICATIONS, DOCTOR VISITS, AND HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS. BEHIND THE SCENES BRINGS HELP AND HOPE TO OUR COLLEAGUES IN THEIR DARKEST HOURS. THE BTS COUNSELING FUND PROVIDES GRANTS TO ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS THAT MAY BE USED TO INITIATE OR SUPPORT ONGOING COUNSELING OR TO PARTICIPATE IN AN IN-PATIENT OR OUT-PATIENT RECOVERY PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE THOSE DEALING WITH DEPRESSION, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OTHER ISSUES TO SEEK HELP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE BTS NATURAL DISASTER RELIEF FUND ASSISTS THOSE SEVERELY IMPACTED BY A NATURAL DISASTER WITH A SMALL GRANT FOR IMMEDIATE BASIC NECESSITIES SUCH AS FOOD, CLOTHING, MEDICATION OR TOILETRIES. THE BTS MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE PROVIDES TOOLS AND RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY WORKERS TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS.

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

  1. 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 October 13, 2026.

  2. 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 21, 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.