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Trilith Institute Inc

EIN 92-0820697 · Atlanta, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceFair60 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE TRILITH INSTITUTE IS DEDICATED TO THE DISCOVERY, DEVELOPMENT, AND PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT OF GREAT STORYTELLERS WHO INSPIRE THE WORLD. BY PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AGES AND CAREER STATUSES, TRILITH INSTITUTE SEEKS TO CULTIVATE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR WRITERS, DIRECTORS, PRODUCERS, PERFORMERS, AND ARTS EDUCATORS TO BECOME A DRIVING FORCE OF CULTURAL IMPACT IN GEORGIA.

Income
$4.4 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
9.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
15
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$408,500, chairman & president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $705,271 spent. THE SCRIPT-TO-SCREEN SUMMER CAMP OFFERED AN EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ASPIRING FILMMAKERS IN GRADES 6 THROUGH 12. THROUGH AN IMMERSIVE, HANDS-ON CAMPS SPANNING 6 WEEKS, STUDENTS LEARNED THE ART OF SCREENWRITING, FILM PRODUCTION, AND EDITING. THESE CAMPS WERE DESIGNED AND LED BY ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS. THROUGHOUT THE 5 WEEKS OF PROGRAMMING, STUDENTS HEARD FROM 12 GUEST SPEAKERS, EACH CAMPER WENT ON A STUDIO TOUR, ONE LUCKY GROUP TOURED THE LUX VOLUME STAGE, TRILITH FOUNDATION PROVIDED FIVE WEEKLY WELLNESS DAYS, AND THE CAMPERS CREATED FOUR SHORT FILMS AND 12 ADDITIONAL SCRIPTS. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDED PARTICIPANTS WITH A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT TO LEARN THE CREATIVE, COOPERATIVE, AND COLLABORATIVE SKILLS CRUCIAL TO FUTURE SUCCESS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.
  2. $798,660 spent. THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AREA SAW A PERIOD OF RAPID GROWTH AND EXPANSION THANKS TO PREVIOUS WORK DONE IN STRATEGIC ANALYSIS, DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF LONG-FORM, CREATIVE, INDUSTRY-FOCUSED PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION COURSES. THE DEPARTMENT PARTNERED WITH INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING THOSE AT THE ALLIANCE THEATER, DAD'S GARAGE, AND MISFIT ADVENTURES TO DEVELOP A SPECIALIZED CURRICULUM FOR ADULT LEARNERS. SKILLS-BASED COURSES WERE OFFERED IN FOUNDATIONS OF FILMMAKING, INTRODUCTION TO SCREENWRITING, TELEVISION WRITING, INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL EFFECTS AND COMPUTER ANIMATION, THE BUSINESS OF INDEPENDENT FILMMAKING, ACTING FOR CAMERA, CINEMATIC STORYBOARDING, AND NARRATIVE DIRECTING FOR THE SCREEN. COURSES WERE OFFERED IN A VARIETY OF FORMATS, INCLUDING ONLINE, AND LASTED FROM 6 TO 15 WEEKS. ADDITIONALLY, STUDENTS PRESENT THEIR WORK EACH SEMESTER AT THE STUDENT SHOWCASE, WHERE THEY NETWORK WITH INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS, PITCH PROJECTS, AND GAIN REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE IN APPLYING WHAT THEY LEARNED.
  3. $781,591 spent. THE EMERGING CREATIVE RESIDENCY PROGRAM ADVANCED FROM CONCEPT TO TANGIBLE IMPACT, DELIVERING BOTH COMPLETED WORKS AND MEANINGFUL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THE YEAR SAW THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY FOR A MESS OF MEMORIES, THE PROGRAM'S FIRST FEATURE-LENGTH PRODUCTION, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A POLISHED PITCH PACKAGE FOR ANIMATION PROJECT JUNIOR DETECTIVES. BOTH PROJECTS SERVED AS EVIDENCE OF THE PROGRAM'S MISSION TO GENERATE ORIGINAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FROM GEORGIA-BASED CREATIVES, FURTHER ANCHORING TALENT WITHIN THE TRILITH COMMUNITY. A CENTRAL ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR WAS THE CREATION OF PAID STUDENT CREW POSITIONS, DESIGNED TO PAIR EMERGING PROFESSIONALS WITH SEASONED INDUSTRY EXPERTS IN A TRULY HANDS-ON LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THESE OPPORTUNITIES NOT ONLY STRENGTHENED GEORGIA'S CREATIVE WORKFORCE PIPELINE BUT ALSO ENSURED THAT STUDENTS GAINED REAL-WORLD PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE WITHIN A PROFESSIONAL STUDIO FRAMEWORK.
  4. $1.2 million spent. WORKSHOPS - WORKSHOPS WERE DEVELOPED TO SUPPORT AND CULTIVATE CREATIVE TALENT AT ALL AGES. K-12 LEARNERS HAD ACCESS TO WORKSHOPS COVERING TOPICS FROM WRITING IN A WEEKEND WRITERS' WORKSHOP TO PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP TAUGHT BY PROFESSIONAL ACTORS, TO GEAR DEMONSTRATIONS, CAMERA AND GRIP, AND ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT DEMONSTRATIONS FROM LEADERS IN THE FILM INDUSTRY. OTHER K-12 WORKSHOPS INCLUDED: SILENT FILM, TRADITIONAL STORYBOARDING, BABIES OFF BOOK AND FAMILY STORYTELLING. ADULT LEARNERS AND ASPIRING FILMMAKERS PARTICIPATED IN WORKSHOPS TO SHARPEN THEIR DISTRIBUTION SKILLS IN THE PREPPING FOR FILM FESTIVAL WORKSHOP. WE HOSTED A VARIETY OF OTHER WORKSHOPS INCLUDING A PA SERIES IN WHICH ATTENDEES LEARNED HOW TO SURVIVE THE FIRST DAYS AS AN OFFICE, SET, OR POST PA. OTHER WORKSHOPS INCLUDED: SOUND DESIGN, PERFECT THE PITCH WITH WIFTA, COMEDY WRITING, ACTING FOR CAMERA, IMPROV, VOICE ACTING, AND OUR TWO PART DIRECTING WORKSHOPS.UTOPIAN - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED A GRANT TO UTOPIAN ACADEMY FOR THE ARTS TRILITH, WHICH PROVIDES AN ACADEMICALLY RICH EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT WITH CREATIVE DIGITAL ARTS PATHWAYS. THIS GRANT ALLOWED THE UTOPIAN ACADEMY OF THE ARTS TO LEASE FACILITIES NEAR TRILITH, ALLOWING STUDENTS TOEXPERIENCE STUDIO TOURS, EXPERT GUEST SPEAKERS, AND FILM EQUIPMENT DEMONSTRATIONS FROM TRILITH INSTITUTE INDUSTRY PARTNERS.WRG - AFTER HIRING A PART-TIME CONSULTANT TO SERVE AS PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE WRITERS ROOM OF GEORGIA (WRG), OUR MEMBERS GAINED NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOWCASE THEIR WRITING AND CONNECT IN PERSON AT A HOLIDAY MIXER. WITH THE PROGRAM MANAGER'S SUPPORT, WE UPDATED OUR BUSINESS PLAN TO BETTER SERVE WRG MEMBERS AND CONTINUED BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN THE TELEVISION AND FILM INDUSTRY. WE ALSO EXPANDED OUR ONLINE PRESENCE THROUGH ENHANCED WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA EFFORTS AND LAUNCHED A DISCORD SERVER TO FOSTER VIRTUAL COLLABORATION. THESE INITIATIVES HAVE HELPED US GROW TO APPROXIMATELY 316 MEMBERSLOCAL GEORGIA WRITERS WHOSE CREATIVITY AND TALENT CONTINUE TO THRIVE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.STUDENT EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE - THE ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED AN INTEGRATED EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE COLLABORATIVE AT TRILITH DESIGNED TO ENRICH THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS ACROSS ALL LEVELS OF LEARNING, FROM K12 THROUGH MFA PROGRAMS. THIS DEDICATED TEAM LEAD STRATEGIC ANALYSIS, DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INITIATIVES TO FACILITATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. THIS WORK INCLUDED WORKING WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES, FORMING PARTNERSHIPS, AND BUDGETING FOR LONG-TERM EXECUTION.THROUGH THE COLLABORATIVE, THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS EDUCATIONAL ENTITIES ACCESS TO RESOURCES, FACILITIES, PROGRAMMING, GUEST SPEAKERS, AND TOURS THAT CONNECT LEARNING DIRECTLY TO THE FILM AND TELEVISION INDUSTRY. FOR EXAMPLE, MFA STUDENTS RECEIVED EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO NETWORK WITH WORKING TELEVISION DIRECTORS, HEADS OF PRODUCTION, AND OTHER INDUSTRY LEADERS, GAINING MENTORSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL INSIGHT WHILE COMPLETING THEIR THESIS PROJECTS. MEANWHILE, MORE THAN 2,000 STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS PARTICIPATED IN FIELD TRIPS AT TRILITH, WHERE SUBJECT-MATTER EXPERTS LEAD TALKS AND DEMONSTRATIONS PROVIDING HANDS-ON EXPOSURE TO POTENTIAL CAREER PATHS IN ENTERTAINMENT. TOGETHER, THESE INITIATIVES FOSTER A SUPPORTIVE AND PURPOSE-DRIVEN ENVIRONMENT THAT PREPARES STUDENTS AT EVERY LEVEL FOR SUCCESS IN CREATIVE INDUSTRIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2023.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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