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Better Angels Society Inc

EIN 45-4587107 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY SUPPORTS OUTSTANDING AMERICAN HISTORY DOCUMENTARIES TO INSPIRE LIFELONG LEARNING, PROMOTE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND ENCOURAGE CIVIL DISCOURSE.THE ORGANIZATION ADVANCES THIS MISSION BY RAISING FUNDS TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL DOCUMENTARY FILMS FOCUSED ON U.S. HISTORY AND CHARACTERIZED BY THOROUGH ARCHIVAL RESEARCH AND ENGAGING STORYTELLING; AWARDING THE ANNUAL LIBRARY OF CONGRESS LAVINE/KEN BURNS PRIZE FOR FILM AND BETTER ANGELS LAVINE FELLOWSHIP TO PROVIDE RESOURCES, RECOGNITION, AND MENTORSHIP TO OUTSTANDING U.S. HISTORY DOCUMENTARIES; AND CREATING PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS TO ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE IN MAKING DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT U.S. HISTORY TO BUILD SKILLS IN CRITICAL THINKING, COMMUNICATIONS, RESEARCH, HISTORY, AND CIVICS.

Income
$9.9 million
Spending
$11.7 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
11.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
7
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$331,900, president and ceo

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $9.5 million spent. THE BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY PROVIDED $9,066,941 IN FUNDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION, AND ASSOCIATED EDUCATIONAL AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS FOR DOCUMENTARY FILMS THAT FOCUSED ON U.S. HISTORY, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE BROADCAST FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND WIDELY AVAILABLE TO MILLIONS OF AMERICANS. IN 2025, THESE FILMS INCLUDED THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, CENTRAL PARK, CRIME & PUNISHMENT IN AMERICA, EMANCIPATION TO EXODUS, HENRY DAVID THOREAU, INSIDE THE OVAL: DECISIONS OF CONSEQUENCE, LBJ & THE GREAT SOCIETY, AND W.E.B. DU BOIS. THROUGH THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS LAVINE/KEN BURNS PRIZE FOR FILM, THE SOCIETY PROVIDED SUPPORT AND NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR OUTSTANDING AMERICAN HISTORY DOCUMENTARIES, SELECTED BY PEER REVIEWERS AND JURIES WITH EXPERTISE IN FILMMAKING, ARCHIVAL RESOURCES, AND U.S. HISTORY.
  2. $1.0 million spent. IN 2025, THE BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY PROVIDED $450,000 TO SUPPORT TRAINING, NETWORKING, AND MENTORSHIP TO ENSURE THAT THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED AND ENGAGING DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY CONTINUE TO BE CREATED. THE SOCIETY LED THE FIFTH YEAR OF THE BETTER ANGELS LAVINE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, A MENTORING PROGRAM FOR DOCUMENTARIES-IN-PROCESS, SELECTED FROM APPLICANTS FOR THE PRIZE FOR FILM. THE SOCIETY ALSO SUPPORTED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT BUILD JUNIOR HIGH, HIGH SCHOOL, AND COLLEGE-AGE STUDENTS' SKILLS IN CRITICAL THINKING, HISTORY, CIVICS, RESEARCH, AND COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF MAKING DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. THESE PROGRAMS, IN COLLABORATION WITH NATIONAL HISTORY DAY AND THE LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL FOUNDATION, PROVIDED FREE TRAINING SESSIONS, MENTORSHIP FROM EXPERTS IN HISTORICAL RESEARCH AND FILMMAKING, AND PUBLIC RECOGNITION TO PROMOTE OUTSTANDING AMERICAN HISTORY DOCUMENTARIES AND INSPIRE PARTICIPATION IN THIS DISCIPLINE. THE SOCIETY ALSO PROVIDED SUPPORT TO FILM FESTIVALS TO HIGHLIGHT OUTSTANDING HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARIES, ENCOURAGE CIVIL DISCOURSE RELATED TO THEM, AND ENCOURAGE BEST PRACTICES IN THEIR CREATION.

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 February 2013.

    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.

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