Nonprofit · EIN 11-3489379
FIRELIGHT MEDIA INC
Tax-exempt · NEW YORK, NY 10027
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2025 | 990 | $8,301,486 | $7,158,607 | $1,142,879 | $15,288,596 | $751,467 | $14,537,129 |
| September 30, 2024 | 990 | $8,404,441 | $6,760,878 | $1,643,563 | $16,142,188 | $1,597,243 | $14,544,945 |
| September 30, 2023 | 990 (amended) | $6,498,407 | $7,229,195 | -$730,788 | $14,906,498 | $2,039,117 | $12,867,381 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $5,964,723
- Program service revenue
- $2,281,057
- Investment income
- $55,706
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $697,500
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $750,099
- Other salaries and wages
- $1,432,459
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $2,774,785
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $124,471
- Accounting fees
- $52,179
- Occupancy
- $234,062
- Travel
- $163,753
- Depreciation
- $4,499
- Program services (functional)
- $5,501,035
- Management and general (functional)
- $1,322,858
- Fundraising (functional)
- $334,714
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $16,142,188
- Total assets, end of year
- $15,288,596
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $751,467
- Net assets, end of year
- $14,537,129
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $6,949
- Publicly traded securities
- $7,804,220
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $10,109,079
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $4,428,050
- Gross receipts
- $8,301,486
- Employees
- 18
- Volunteers
- 6
- Year formed
- 1998
- State of legal domicile
- NY
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARCIA SMITH | CO-PRESIDENT (UNTIL 12/25) Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $299,627 | $113,375 |
| RAFIAH VITALIS | SR. DIRECTOR, FINANCE & OPS Officer | 40 | $159,004 | $54,140 |
| STANLEY NELSON | LEAD MENTOR Key employee | 40 | $173,314 | $36,057 |
| JUSTIN SEAN SHERWOOD | SR. DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $159,670 | $33,144 |
| MONIKA GARCIA NAVARRO | DIRECTOR, PROGRAM Highest-paid employee | 40 | $126,569 | $50,467 |
| LOIRA LIMBAL | CO-PRESIDENT (FROM 6/25) Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $169,101 | $3,423 |
| FERDINA MENDS | CONTROLLER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $135,704 | $32,298 |
| CHLOE WALTERS-WALLACE | DIRECTOR, PROGRAM Highest-paid employee | 40 | $125,901 | $28,925 |
| LUCY J MUKERJEE | DIRECTOR, PROGRAM Highest-paid employee | 40 | $115,955 | $33,473 |
| ANNE CANTY | BOARD CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| TANI TAKAGI | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CLAIRE AGUILAR | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RASHID SHABAZZ | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MAURINE KNIGHTON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SANDY HARRIS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2024: 12 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARCIA SMITH | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $299,346 | $104,998 |
| STANLEY NELSON | LEAD MENTOR Key employee | 40 | $173,314 | $61,079 |
| RAFIAH VITALIS | SR. DIRECTOR, FINANCE & OPS Officer | 40 | $151,787 | $49,364 |
| MONIKA NAVARRO | PROGRAM DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $152,453 | $30,308 |
| JUSTIN SHERWOOD | SR. DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $127,512 | $47,012 |
| CHLOE WALTERS-WALLACE | PROGRAM DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $125,741 | $27,342 |
| LUCY MUKERJEE | PROGRAM DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $116,178 | $13,261 |
| ANNE CANTY | BOARD CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| TANI TAKAGI | BOARD TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CLAIRE AGUILAR | BOARD SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MAURINE KNIGHTON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RASHID SHABAZZ | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2023: 12 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARCIA SMITH | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $273,364 | $38,631 |
| LETICIA PEGUERO | SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $207,939 | $8,490 |
| STANLEY NELSON | LEAD MENTOR Key employee | 40 | $151,410 | $30,077 |
| RAFIAH VITALIS | FINANCE & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $134,035 | $26,181 |
| MONIKA NAVARRO | PROGRAM DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $117,971 | $32,580 |
| JUSTIN SHERWOOD | COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $131,583 | $15,433 |
| CHLOE WALTERS-WALLACE | PROGRAM DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $116,861 | $12,114 |
| ANNE CANTY | BOARD CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| TANI TAKAGI | BOARD TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CLAIRE AGUILAR | BOARD SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MAURINE KNIGHTON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RASHID SHABAZZ | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 105 W 125TH ST FRNT 1 # 129, NEW YORK, NY 10027-4444
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- LOIRA LIMBAL, 105 WEST 125TH STREET FRONT 1 1290, NEW YORK, NY 10027
- Signed the 990
- LOIRA LIMBAL, PRESIDENT
- Phone
- (212) 222-1068
- Return prepared by
- GELMAN ROSENBERG & FREEDMAN
Mission
FIRELIGHT MEDIA'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE FILMMAKERS MENTORSHIP, FUNDING, AND CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPORT THE CREATION, DISTRIBUTION, AND IMPACT OF DOCUMENTARY MEDIA BY AND ABOUT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN ALL OUR VIBRANCE AND COMPLEXITY.
Program accomplishments
- SINCE ITS INCEPTION, FIRELIGHT MEDIA HAS SUPPORTED 250+ DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS THROUGH OUR FELLOWSHIP AND GRANT PROGRAMS, 100+ DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILMS HAVE BEEN FUNDED THROUGH OUR DOCUMENTARY LAB, 40+ DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILMS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED, AND 15 DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILMS HAVE BEEN CO-PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED FOR PUBLIC MEDIA IN RECENT YEARS.Expenses $5,501,035 · grants $697,500 · revenue $2,281,057
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | September 30, 2026 | February 15, 2027 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | September 30, 2025 | February 16, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | September 30, 2024 | February 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 11-3489379
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2000
- Accounting year ends
- September
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Civil rights, social action and advocacy (R99)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $15,288,596
- Income (IRS master file)
- $8,301,486
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | September 2025 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2023 | $7,880,020 | $7,420,004 | $14,967,738 | IRS |
| 990 | September 2022 | $11,068,950 | $6,298,174 | $14,935,667 | IRS |
| 990 | September 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS publishes only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years appear here as 990.tax collects the monthly files. 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS.
Questions about FIRELIGHT MEDIA INC
- What is the EIN of FIRELIGHT MEDIA INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of FIRELIGHT MEDIA INC is 11-3489379.
- Is FIRELIGHT MEDIA INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2000.
- Are donations to FIRELIGHT MEDIA INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does FIRELIGHT MEDIA INC file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of FIRELIGHT MEDIA INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did FIRELIGHT MEDIA INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of FIRELIGHT MEDIA INC?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names LOIRA LIMBAL.
- Who are the officers and directors of FIRELIGHT MEDIA INC?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 15 people; 9 received compensation from the organization, the highest $299,627 (MARCIA SMITH, CO-PRESIDENT (UNTIL 12/25)).
- How much revenue does FIRELIGHT MEDIA INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $8,301,486, expenses of $7,158,607 and total assets of $15,288,596 at year end.
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