THE BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

THE BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY INC

EIN 45-4587107 · Film & Video (A31)

What they do

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.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $89.70 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2025The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders21 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

106.46%of revenue went to mission work89.7% of expenses · Program services

3.86%of revenue went to fundraising3.3% of expenses

$118.63spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

8.31%of revenue went to management and office costs7.0% of expenses

$1.72in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

92.7%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $1,839,475 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $331,900 for KATHERINE MALONE-FRANCE (PRESIDENT AND CEO). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2025

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$9,876,301

Mission workProgram services$10,514,040106.46% of revenue89.7% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$820,3478.31% of revenue7.0% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$381,3893.86% of revenue3.3% of expenses

Total expenses$11,715,776118.63% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2025CurrentExpense mix: 89.7% mission · 7.0% management · 3.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 118.63% of revenue

2024Expense mix: 93.4% mission · 4.3% management · 2.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 149.33% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 93.9% mission · 4.6% management · 1.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 120.66% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 94.5% mission · 4.1% management · 1.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 117.94% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 95.5% mission · 2.7% management · 1.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 81.88% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 94.0% mission · 4.4% management · 1.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 109.48% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 90.3% mission · 7.8% management · 1.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 51.02% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 95.2% mission · 3.0% management · 1.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 129.96% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$9,876,301

Expenses$11,715,776

Annual shortfall $1,839,475 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$10,514,040 · 89.7% of expenses

Management and office costs$820,347 · 7.0% of expenses

Fundraising$381,389 · 3.3% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$9,876,301

Expenses$11,715,776

Assets$20,131,014

Income$25,692,430

Contributions$9,153,992

Mission work (program services)$10,514,040

Fundraising$381,389

Grants given$83,265,995

Average grant$1,343,000

Management and general$820,347

Stocks and bonds$5,254,628

Accounting fees$38,664

Investing fees$20,041

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2025

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

KATHERINE MALONE-FRANCEPRESIDENT AND CEO · 40 hrs/week $331,900Base $288,750 · Other $43,150

BEE NANCECFAO · 30 hrs/week $175,170Base $141,581 · Other $33,589

REBECCA DANIELSSR DIR, PHILANTHROPIC OPS & PLAN · 40 hrs/week $140,928Base $120,000 · Other $20,928

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (21)

KATHERINE MALONE-FRANCEPRESIDENT AND CEO

BEE NANCECFAO

REBECCA DANIELSSR DIR, PHILANTHROPIC OPS & PLAN

TRACY FRISTMEMBER

PHIL KENTVICE CHAIR

PETER THORENMEMBER

PATRICK BUTLERMEMBER

NANCY J CABLEMEMBER

MICHAEL MULLENMEMBER

MEREDITH DEWITTSECRETARY

LAURA ROOSEVELTMEMBER

LARRY WASSERMANMEMBER

JOSEPH EVANGELISTIMEMBER

JASON SCHLESINGERMEMBER

HAL BRIERLEYMEMBER

GREG LAUTREASURER

GREG GOLKINMEMBER

ERIC OBENGMEMBER

CAPPY MCGARRMEMBER

BRIAN CONWAYMEMBER

BOBBY STEINCHAIR

About this charity

Recognized since: January 2013
Location: 5185 MACARTHUR BLVD, WASHINGTON, DC 20016-3341
County: District of Columbia
In care of: % COURTNEY CHAPIN
Primary officer: KATHERINE MALONE-FRANCE, PRESIDENT AND CEO

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emaildmelecki@betterangelssociety.org Phone(202) 809-9976

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2025
Tax period began: January 1, 2025
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: CBIZ ADVISORS LLC
NTEE classification: Film & Video (A31)
IRS tax category: Film & Video
Grant-giving organization: Yes