SESAME WORKSHOP

Financials

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 June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

1900 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, NY 10023-7004

In care of

% DARYL MINTZ EVP & CFO

Principal officer (990 for 2024)

SHERRI ROLLINS WESTIN, 1900 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, NY 10023

Signed the 990

BRETT ROBINSON, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Phone

(212) 595-3456

Website

WWW.SESAMEWORKSHOP.ORG

Return prepared by

GRANT THORNTON ADVISORS LLC

Mission

SESAME WORKSHOP'S MISSION IS TO HELP KIDS GROW SMARTER, STRONGER AND KINDER. (SEE SCHEDULE O)

Program accomplishments

• CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF EDUCATIONAL MEDIA SESAME WORKSHOP CREATES EDUCATIONAL CONTENT FOR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN AND DISTRIBUTES THAT CONTENT IN THE U.S. AND AROUND THE WORLD, ACROSS VARIOUS MEDIA PLATFORMS INCLUDING TELEVISION, DIGITAL STREAMING, ONLINE, RADIO, PRINT, MOBILE, AND HOME ENTERTAINMENT. THE CONTENT FOLLOWS A WHOLE CHILD CURRICULUM AND IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL, AND HEALTH NEEDS YOUNG CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THOSE VULNERABLE TO EQUAL AND EARLY ACCESS TO PRESCHOOL LEARNING. SESAME WORKSHOP IS MOST WELL-KNOWN FOR ITS FLAGSHIP EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM "SESAME STREET." SESAME STREET'S SEASON 55 CURRICULUM FOCUSES ON HELPING CHILDREN DEVELOP FOUNDATIONAL EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING SKILLS, IN PARTICULAR INCREASING THEIR (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O) EMOTIONAL VOCABULARY. THE STORY NARRATIVES SUPPORT THE NOTICING AND NAMING EMOTIONS, VALIDATING EMOTIONS, AND MODELING A STRATEGY TO REDUCE THE EMOTION SO NOT TO IMPEDE WITH THE CHILD'S ACTIVITIES. AND DO SO IN CELEBRATION OF THEIR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. SEASON 56 EXTENDS PRESCHOOLERS UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR EMOTIONS AND APPLIES THEIR EMOTIONAL REGULATION SKILLS TO SOLVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN ORDER TO SOLVE CONFLICTS WITH PROSOCIAL BEHAVIORS AND INCREASE THEIR SKILLS IN: PERSPECTIVE TAKING, LISTENING, COOPERATION, COLLABORATION, SHARING, AND TURN-TAKING ALL IN SERVICE OF DEVELOPING, MAINTAINING, AND REPAIRING FRIENDSHIPS. THESE STORIES SUPPORT CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT OF A HEALTHY AND POSITIVE SENSE OF WHO THEY ARE, DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF OTHERS, AND MODEL ACTING WITH KINDNESS, FAIRNESS, AND RESPECT. SESAME STREET IS DRIVEN BY A SCHOOL READINESS CURRICULUM WHICH IS TAUGHT THROUGH A PRESCHOOL FRIENDLY TOPIC. THE SHOW CURRENTLY BROADCASTS MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY IN THE U.S. ON THE PUBLIC BROADCASTING SERVICE (PBS), WHICH IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE IN 98% OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH TELEVISIONS. IN ADDITION TO ITS PRESENCE ON PBS AND OTHER TELEVISION AND DIGITAL PLATFORMS, "SESAME STREET" VIDEOS, INTERACTIVE GAMES AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL CONTENT ARE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE FOR USERS ON WWW.SESAMESTREET.ORG, WWW.PBSKIDS.ORG AND WWW.YOUTUBE.COM. INCLUDING ITS DISTRIBUTION ON BROADCAST, STREAMING VOD AND CABLE TV AND ITS PRESENCE ON VARIOUS DIGITAL PLATFORMS. "SESAME STREET" REACHES 11.6 MILLION KIDS AGES 0-8 IN THE U.S. ON A MONTHLY BASIS. ITS CONTINUED POPULARITY PLACES IT AS THE #1 KIDS SHOW ON PBS LINEAR TV FROM JANUARY TO JUNE 2025, REACHING 2.7 MILLION US HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVING 17 MILLION VIEWS. ON HBO MAX IN THE US, SESAME STREET RECEIVED 58 MILLION VIEWS AND WAS WATCHED FOR 24 MILLION HOURS IN FISCAL YEAR 2025. SESAME STREET'S FREE YOUTUBE CHANNEL RECEIVED OVER 1.4 BILLION VIEWS DOMESTICALLY IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 (AND 3.3 BILLION VIEWS WORLDWIDE). RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT CHILDREN WHO WATCH "SESAME STREET" CONSISTENTLY PERFORM BETTER ACADEMICALLY AT EVERY GRADE LEVEL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND HAVE MORE DEVELOPED SOCIAL SKILLS."SESAME STREET" IS ALSO SEEN IN OVER 150 COUNTRIES THROUGH DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS WITH LOCAL PUBLIC AND COMMERCIAL BROADCASTERS. IN ADDITION, LOCAL ADAPTATIONS OF "SESAME STREET" ARE PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED IN GERMANY, MIDDLE EAST NORTH AFRICA, THE NETHERLANDS, LATIN AMERICA, SOUTH AFRICA, INDIA, BANGLADESH, SOMALIA, ETHIOPIA AND AFGHANISTAN. THE PROGRAM REACHES 150 MILLION KIDS ON A WORLDWIDE BASIS.
  Expenses $83,606,406 · revenue $80,992,641
• HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE PLAY TO LEARN: LAUNCHED IN 2019 AND LED BY SESAME WORKSHOP IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH BRAC, THE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE (IRC), AND NYU GLOBAL TIES FOR CHILDREN, PLAY TO LEARN (PTL) SET OUT TO TRANSFORM HOW THE HUMANITARIAN SECTOR APPROACHES EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT IN CRISIS AND CONFLICT SETTINGS. BY BLENDING DIRECT SERVICES, MASS MEDIA, RIGOROUS RESEARCH, AND STRATEGIC ADVOCACY, THE CONSORTIUM WORKED TO PLACE YOUNG CHILDREN AT THE CENTER OF HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE. OVER SIX YEARS, PLAY TO LEARN REACHED 3,692,465 CHILDREN, CAREGIVERS, AND FACILITATORS ACROSS SIX COUNTRIES - FROM ROHINGYA REFUGEE CAMPS IN BANGLADESH TO URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)IN THE PROGRAM'S FINAL YEAR, 1,191,174 PEOPLE WERE REACHED.AS THE PROGRAM CONCLUDED, ISI PRIORITIZED THE DISSEMINATION OF EVIDENCE AND TOOLS TO BENEFIT THE BROADER HUMANITARIAN FIELD. KEY RESOURCES DEVELOPED INCLUDE THE WATCH, PLAY, LEARN TOOLKIT - AN ADAPTABLE RESOURCE PACKAGE ENABLING FRONTLINE ECD PRACTITIONERS ACROSS SECTORS (PROTECTION, HEALTH, NUTRITION) TO INTEGRATE EVIDENCE-BASED PLAY PROGRAMMING INTO EXISTING WORK - AND THE PLAY TO LEARN RESOURCE HUB, A PLATFORM SHARING PROGRAM AND TECHNICAL RESOURCES, CONTENT, AND IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS FROM BANGLADESH, LEBANON, JORDAN, AND BEYOND. THESE RESOURCES WERE SHARED AT EVENTS INCLUDING THE "PLAY WITH A PURPOSE" ROADSHOW IN BANGLADESH IN JANUARY 2025, WHERE 180 POLICYMAKERS, UN AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES, AND INGO LEADERS ENGAGED WITH SIX YEARS OF PLAY TO LEARN EVIDENCE, DISCUSSED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUSTAINING THE MODEL'S IMPACT, AND AND EXPLORED FIRSTHAND THE MATERIALS AND MODELS DEVELOPED OVER SIX YEARS OF IMPLEMENTATION.AHLAN SIMSIM-IRAQ: DURING YEAR 4 OF THE AHLAN SIMSIM-IRAQ PROJECT, SESAME WORKSHOP ADVANCED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT ACROSS SIX GOVERNORATES IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH USAID, IRAQ'S MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, AND NGO AND PRODUCTION PARTNERS. THE PROGRAM PRIORITIZED ACCESS FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN - INCLUDING DISPLACED POPULATIONS AND MINORITY GROUPS - WITH KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT WEIGHTED TOWARD CHILDREN WITH LOWER IDELA BASELINE SCORES.FEMALE EDUCATORS RECEIVED TRAINING IN EMERGENT LITERACY, NUMERACY, AND ANTI-BIAS PRACTICES. PARENT ENGAGEMENT DEEPENED THROUGH PTA COMMITTEES AND CAREGIVER SESSIONS CENTERED ON LEARNING-THROUGH-PLAY. YOUTH HUBS PROVIDED SAFE SPACES FOR SKILL-BUILDING AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION, WITH YOUNG PEOPLE GAINING SOFT SKILLS AND PRODUCING ORIGINAL FILMMAKING PROJECTS. CONTENT PRODUCTION EXPANDED TO INCLUDE NEW VIDEOS FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND FATHERS, AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS WORKED TO INTEGRATE AHLAN SIMSIM MATERIALS INTO GOVERNMENTAL KINDERGARTEN CURRICULA - A CRITICAL STEP TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY INDEPENDENT OF PROJECT FUNDING.THE PROGRAM CONCLUDED IN FY25 FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF USAID FUNDING. CLOSE-OUT WAS MANAGED RESPONSIBLY AND TRANSPARENTLY: STAFF DEMOBILIZATION COMPLIED WITH IRAQI LABOR LAW, ASSETS WERE DONATED TO LOCAL NGOS, AND PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION WAS COMPREHENSIVELY ARCHIVED. OVER FOUR YEARS, AHLAN SIMSIM DEMONSTRATED THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF CULTURALLY TAILORED PROGRAMMING IN IRAQ - USING BELOVED CHARACTERS, BASMA AND JAD, TO PROMOTE EMPATHY, DIVERSITY, AND RESILIENCE - AND LEAVES A LASTING FOUNDATION FOR EARLY LEARNING AS A MEANS OF HEALING AND CONNECTION IN COMMUNITIES DEEPLY AFFECTED BY DISPLACEMENT AND CONFLICT.WELCOME SESAME: INCLUSION AND BELONGING FOR DISPLACED LEARNERS: WELCOME SESAME, SUPPORTED BY THE HILTON FOUNDATION, IS A GLOBAL SOCIAL COHESION INITIATIVE DELIVERING A 16-SESSION INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE SOCIAL INTEGRATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN COMMUNITIES TRANSFORMED BY MIGRATION. OPERATING IN UGANDA, COLOMBIA, AND ECUADOR, THE PROGRAM ADDRESSES SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL), POSITIVE IDENTITY, AND SENSE OF BELONGING THROUGH BOTH PRINT AND MEDIA CONTENT.IN FY25, THE PROGRAM COMPLETED ITS SECOND IMPLEMENTATION CYCLE AND LAUNCHED ITS THIRD. THE SECOND CYCLE REACHED 5,236 CHILDREN, 4,016 GUARDIANS, AND 218 EDUCATORS ACROSS 185 CLASSROOMS. MONITORING DATA SHOWED MEANINGFUL EDUCATOR GROWTH IN SEL KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE, INCLUDING STRONGER IDENTIFICATION OF POSITIVE EMOTION-REGULATION STRATEGIES AND INCREASED CONFIDENCE IN FOSTERING INCLUSIVE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENTS.AS THE PROGRAM ENTERED ITS THIRD AND FINAL IMPLEMENTATION CYCLE IN JANUARY 2025, SESAME WORKSHOP AND PARTNERS DEEPENED ENGAGEMENT WITH MINISTRIES OF EDUCATION IN ALL THREE COUNTRIES AND COMMITTED TO SCALING TO ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS. THROUGH ITERATIVE REFINEMENT AND STRONG LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS, WELCOME SESAME IS BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE, ADAPTABLE SEL MODEL THAT STRENGTHENS EARLY LEARNING ECOSYSTEMS ACROSS DIVERSE CRISIS-AFFECTED CONTEXTS.TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN UKRAINE: IN FY25, SESAME WORKSHOP LAUNCHED THE UKRAINE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE COUNTRY'S ECD WORKFORCE AMID PROTRACTED CONFLICT AND WIDESPREAD DISRUPTION TO EDUCATION. THE PROGRAM EQUIPS ASPIRING EDUCATORS WITH ROBUST SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, INCLUSIVE, AND PLAY-BASED TEACHING SKILLS ALIGNED WITH UKRAINE'S NATIONAL EDUCATION PRIORITIES.TO GROUND THE PROGRAM IN REAL NEED, SESAME CONDUCTED A COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT ENGAGING 678 SURVEY RESPONDENTS AND 15 IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS TO IDENTIFY URGENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GAPS. A CURRICULUM ADVISORY CONVENING BROUGHT TOGETHER 60 EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS IN LVIV, PRODUCING A VALIDATED DRAFT FRAMEWORK FOR A THREE-MONTH TRAINING PROGRAM TO BE FINALIZED AND IMPLEMENTED IN FY26. SESAME HAS FORMALIZED A PARTNERSHIP WITH IZMAIL UNIVERSITY AND IS ACTIVELY EXPANDING TO ADDITIONAL UNIVERSITIES TO SUPPORT REGIONAL ROLLOUT AND LONG-TERM INSTITUTIONAL ADOPTION OF THE MODEL.
  Expenses $19,425,172 · grants $6,740,736
• INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL IMPACTSESAME WORKSHOP'S (SW) INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL IMPACT (ISI) GROUP ADVANCES EARLY LEARNING AND CHILD WELL-BEING GLOBALLY IN SERVICE OF OUR CORE MISSION: HELPING KIDS GROW SMARTER, STRONGER, AND KINDER. WORKING ACROSS SOUTH ASIA, SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, THE MIDDLE EAST, LATIN AMERICA, AND CRISIS-AFFECTED CONTEXTS WORLDWIDE, ISI COLLABORATES WITH MINISTRIES OF EDUCATION, NGOS, PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO DELIVER CULTURALLY RELEVANT CONTENT, STRENGTHEN INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY, AND EMBED SUSTAINABLE EARLY LEARNING MODELS WITHIN NATIONAL SYSTEMS. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)FY25 WAS A YEAR OF SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND STRATEGIC ADAPTATION. THE CONCLUSION OF SEVERAL USAID-SUPPORTED INITIATIVES IN BANGLADESH, INDIA, AND IRAQ REQUIRED A THOUGHTFUL REALIGNMENT OF RESOURCES AND PRIORITIES. AS A RESULT OF THE SUDDEN SHIFT IN THE FUNDING LANDSCAPE, WE MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO CLOSE OUR OPERATIONS IN IRAQ AND BANGLADESH. WE ARE FURTHER POSITIONING THE DEPARTMENT FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY AND GROWTH BY SHARPENING OUR THEMATIC FOCUS TO ALIGN MORE CLOSELY WITH CONTENT STRATEGY AND ORGANIZATIONAL PRIORITIES, WHILE MANAGING A STREAMLINED PORTFOLIO OF FUNDED PROJECTS FOR BOTH U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL UPTAKE. WE ARE REPLICATING PROVEN PROGRAM MODELS THROUGH EFFICIENT, COLLABORATIVE DESIGN PROCESSES; RESPONDING TO EVOLVING CHILD AND FAMILY NEEDS USING RESEARCH, DATA, AND PARTNER INSIGHT; AND INVESTING IN TARGETED PILOTS AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO DRIVE INNOVATION, SCALE, AND EXPANDED REACH.ACROSS OUR REGIONAL OFFICES AND GLOBAL PROGRAMS, WE CONTINUED TO EXPAND OUR MULTI-PLATFORM MEDIA CONTENT AND EVIDENCE-BASED DIRECT SERVICES, SUSTAINING STRONG REACH AND MEANINGFUL OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND ENSURING A MORE RESILIENT ORGANIZATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE WORK AHEAD. REGIONAL AND COUNTRY PROGRAMS:BANGLADESH: FOR OVER 20 YEARS, SISIMPUR - SESAME WORKSHOP'S BANGLADESHI CO-PRODUCTION - HAS BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD MEDIA IN THE COUNTRY, REINFORCING FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY, NUMERACY, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, GENDER EQUITY, AND DISABILITY INCLUSION FOR MILLIONS OF CHILDREN. IN FY25, SISIMPUR SEASONS 15 AND 16 AIRED NATIONALLY, GENERATING OVER 249 MILLION YOUTUBE VIEWS AND MORE THAN 13 MILLION CUMULATIVE WATCH HOURS. THE SERIES WILL CONTINUE AIRING ON MULTIPLE BROADCAST CHANNELS THROUGH 2027. THE USAID-FUNDED SISIMPUR DIRECT-SERVICE PROJECT REACHED 34,606 CHILDREN, 1,251 EDUCATORS, AND 11,624 PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS ACROSS 250 SCHOOLS, STRENGTHENING INCLUSIVE TEACHING PRACTICES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AN ADDITIONAL 17,342 STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND TEACHERS PARTICIPATED IN THE INTERNET-SMART GENERATION INITIATIVE, WHICH PROMOTED DIGITAL LITERACY AND SAFE INTERNET PRACTICES THROUGH STRUCTURED CLASSROOM SESSIONS, TEACHER TRAINING, AND CAREGIVER AWARENESS PROGRAMMING.THROUGH THE LEGO FOUNDATION-FUNDED PLAY TO LEARN PROJECT, SESAME WORKSHOP BANGLADESH DEVELOPED AND DISSEMINATED AN "ECD HOMEKIT", CONTAINING PLAY AND LEARNING MATERIALS CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO USE AT HOME, REACHING 1430 ROHINGYA CHILDREN AND 570 CHILDREN FROM THE HOST COMMUNITY. SESAME WORKSHOP BANGLADESH ALSO DEVELOPED AND DISTRIBUTED 20 NEWLY DEVELOPED ROHINGYA STORYBOOKS THAT WERE INTEGRATED INTO PROGRAMS OF 11 PARTNERS AND INTO 62 GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS. FINALLY, IN THE REPORTING PERIOD, SESAME WORKSHOP BANGLADESH PARTNERED WITH SAVE THE CHILDREN TO INTEGRATE SW CONTENT INTO THE MYANMAR KG CURRICULUM FOR ROHINGYA CHILDREN IN 20 LEARNING CENTERS OF ROHINGYA CAMPS, REACHING AROUND 795 KG-GRADE STUDENTS.THE CONCLUSION OF USAID FUNDING HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE BANGLADESH OFFICE'S FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY. FOLLOWING CAREFUL REVIEW, SESAME WORKSHOP MADE THE DECISION TO WIND DOWN ITS BANGLADESH COUNTRY OFFICE IN FY26. THE TEAM CONCLUDED ITS WORK HAVING DELIVERED MEASURABLE IMPACT AND EXPANDED ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL MEDIA ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ALL DEVELOPED MATERIALS REMAIN ACCESSIBLE THROUGH BROADCAST AND DIGITAL PLATFORMS, ENSURING CONTINUED BENEFIT TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BEYOND OUR OPERATIONAL PRESENCE.INDIA: IN FY25, SESAME WORKSHOP INDIA OPERATED ACROSS 8 STATES, DIRECTLY REACHING OVER 446,000 CHILDREN AND ENGAGING 9 MILLION INDIVIDUALS THROUGH DIGITAL PLATFORMS - ALL WHILE NAVIGATING A SIGNIFICANT FUNDING TRANSITION. A USAID-FUNDED GRANT FOCUSED ON FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS AND WASH BEGAN IN AUGUST 2024 AND CONCLUDED EARLY IN JANUARY 2025, PROMPTING A REASSESSMENT OF THE INDIA OFFICE'S FUNDING MODEL AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY. DURING THIS PERIOD, LOCAL PHILANTHROPY GREW 13% YEAR-ON-YEAR, WITH 68% OF FUNDING MOBILIZED THROUGH DOMESTIC CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY SOURCES.PROGRAMMING SPANNED EDUCATION, WELL-BEING, HEALTH AND HYGIENE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THE CHALO! SESAME STREET LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT APP ACHIEVED OVER 100,000 DOWNLOADS, 11,000 REGISTERED USERS, AND A 26% MONTHLY RETENTION RATE, REFLECTING STRONG ADOPTION AND SUSTAINED ENGAGEMENT AMONG CAREGIVERS AND YOUNG LEARNERS. NATIONAL CAMPAIGNS AND HIGH-VISIBILITY EVENTS EXTENDED BRAND REACH TO OVER 50 MILLION PEOPLE.A MAJOR INSTITUTIONAL MILESTONE WAS ACHIEVED WHEN THE INTEGRATED EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT (ECD) PACKAGE - COMPRISING OVER 100 CONTENT RESOURCES ACROSS FIVE LANGUAGES - WAS FORMALLY LAUNCHED BY THE HONORABLE CHIEF MINISTER OF MEGHALAYA, REFLECTING SESAME WORKSHOP'S ROLE AS A TRUSTED PARTNER IN INDIA'S EARLY LEARNING ECOSYSTEM.SOUTH AFRICA: SESAME WORKSHOP'S SOUTH AFRICA OFFICE CONTINUED TO DELIVER INTEGRATED EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMMING THROUGH TAKALANI SESAME, ITS LOCALLY CO-PRODUCED SERIES, ALONGSIDE DIGITAL PLATFORMS AND COMMUNITY-BASED INITIATIVES. BROADCAST AND DIGITAL CONTENT, REINFORCING FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY, NUMERACY, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, HEALTH, AND INCLUSION THEMES, REACHED AN AVERAGE OF 18.6 MILLION VIEWERS MONTHLY, GENERATING 35.8 MILLION DIGITAL VIEWS AND OVER 915,000 HOURS OF WATCH TIME ACROSS FIVE LOCAL LANGUAGES.DIRECT-SERVICE PROGRAMMING REACHED 18,083 CHILDREN AND 350 EDUCATORS ACROSS UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN FIVE PROVINCES, STRENGTHENING SCHOOL READINESS AND EARLY LEARNING ECOSYSTEMS. STRUCTURED TRAINING AND CAPACITY-BUILDING SESSIONS ENGAGED 1,081 ADULTS - INCLUDING ECD PRACTITIONERS, CAREGIVERS, AND SECTOR PARTNERS - IN PLAY-BASED PEDAGOGY, SAFEGUARDING PRACTICES, AND CURRICULUM-ALIGNED APPROACHES. A WHATSAPP CHATBOT DELIVERED STRUCTURED LEARNING PROMPTS AND POSITIVE CAREGIVING SUPPORT TO 8,891 CAREGIVERS, EXTENDING PROGRAM REACH INTO THE HOME.FY25 WAS ALSO A YEAR OF SIGNIFICANT RECOGNITION FOR SESAME WORKSHOP SOUTH AFRICA. THE BIG FEELINGS SPECIAL EARNED A TELLY AWARD AND AN ANTHEM AWARD AND RECEIVED NOMINATIONS FOR BOTH A SAFTA AND AN INTERNATIONAL EMMY. THE BOND THROUGH PLAY CAMPAIGN, WHICH PROMOTES STRENGTHENING FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH PLAY, RECEIVED A 2025 WEBBY AWARD. MOST NOTABLY, SESAME WORKSHOP SOUTH AFRICA WAS APPOINTED AS A STRATEGIC PARTNER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BASIC EDUCATION FOR THE NATIONAL BANA PELE ("LET'S PUT CHILDREN FIRST") CAMPAIGN, CONDUCTING ROADSHOWS AND COMMUNITY CLINICS ALONGSIDE THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION ACROSS FIVE PROVINCES. THIS PARTNERSHIP STRENGTHENED NATIONAL VISIBILITY OF THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, EARLY LEARNING AND STIMULATION, AND REINFORCED SESAME'S ROLE AS A TRUSTED CONTRIBUTOR TO EDUCATION POLICY DIALOGUE AND COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION.LATIN AMERICA: ISI'S LATIN AMERICA PORTFOLIO SPANNED SEVEN COUNTRIES - BRAZIL, COLOMBIA, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, ECUADOR, HONDURAS, AND MEXICO - DELIVERING PROGRAMMING IN THREE LANGUAGES: SPANISH, PORTUGUESE, AND MAYA K'ICHE'. PROGRAMMING WAS CENTERED ON SIX THEMATIC AREAS: HEALTHY HABITS, WASH, STEM, DIGITAL WELL-BEING, SOCIO-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND SOCIAL COHESION, IMPLEMENTED IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH MINISTRIES OF EDUCATION AND LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS. IN FY25, PROGRAMS DIRECTLY REACHED OVER 495,000 CHILDREN, CAREGIVERS, AND TEACHERS THROUGH IN-CLASSROOM SESSIONS, FAMILY PLAY WORKSHOPS, TEACHER TRAININGS, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. EDUCATIONAL CONTENT REACHED AN ADDITIONAL 7.2 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH SESAME'S MEDIA AND DIGITAL PLATFORMS.
  Expenses $19,199,730 · grants $2,003,820 · revenue $247,341
• U.S. SOCIAL IMPACTIN ADDITION TO DISTRIBUTING ITS EDUCATIONAL CONTENT ON MASS MEDIA PLATFORMS, SESAME WORKSHOP CREATES AND DISTRIBUTES, WITH PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT, BILINGUAL MULTIMEDIA EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES AND RESOURCES THAT SERVE THE MAJORITY OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHILE INTENTIONALLY REACHING THOSE WHO ARE MOST UNDER-RESOURCED OR WHO FACE SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL NEEDS. IN FY 2025, SESAME WORKSHOP CONTINUED TO ADDRESS EMERGING AND PERSISTENT CHALLENGES FACING MARGINALIZED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.EMOTIONAL WELL-BEINGBUILDING UPON SESAME WORKSHOP'S ONGOING, ORGANIZATIONAL-WIDE COMMITMENT RESPONDING TO THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, IN FY 2025, WE LAUNCHED NEW RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES AND PROVIDERS TO HELP CHILDREN BUILD A FOUNDATION OF EMOTIONAL WELLNESS. IN AUGUST 2024, SESAME WORKSHOP LAUNCHED FIVE MINDFUL MONSTERS PODCAST EPISODES, ACCOMPANIED BY TWO PRINTABLE GUIDES OFFERING STRATEGIES FOR INCORPORATING MINDFULNESS PRACTICES INTO EVERYDAY ROUTINES IN BOTH EARLY CHILDHOOD CLASSROOMS AND HOME-BASED SETTINGS. ACROSS THE FIVE EPISODES, SESAME STREET MUPPETS GUIDE CHILDREN THROUGH DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE MINDFULNESS STRATEGIES SUCH AS WHOLE-BODY LISTENING, BODY SCANS, AND BUBBLE BREATHING BODY LISTENINGAS OF FEBRUARY 2026, THE PODCASTS HAVE A COMBINED 47 MILLION YOUTUBE VIEWS, INCLUDING: - WHOLE BODY LISTENING WITH ELMO - 8.5M VIEWS - SELF-LOVE MANTRAS WITH GROVER - 5.3M VIEWS LOVE MANTRAS WITH GROVER - BUBBLE BREATHING WITH ABBY - 5.2M VIEWS - LOOK AND NOTICE WITH COOKIE MONSTER - 15M VIEWS - BODY SCAN WITH BIG BIRD - 13M VIEWSWE ALSO PUBLISHED TWO NEW ARTICLES ON SESAMEWORKSHOP.ORG - ONE AN INTERVIEW WITH FOUR NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI) PSYCHIATRISTS ABOUT ANXIETY IN YOUNG CHILDREN (WHAT MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS WANT PARENTS TO KNOW ABOUT ANXIETY), AND ONE FOR PARENTS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR YOUNG CHILD'S MENTAL HEALTH (WHEN YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S MENTAL HEALTH). THE INTERVIEW INCLUDED FOUR CHILD MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS: DEVIKA BHUSHAN, MD, CHRISTINE CRAWFORD, MD, NEHA NAVSARIA, PHD, AND MARIAN WILLIAMS, PHD, ABOUT CHILDHOOD ANXIETY. THE ARTICLES LAUNCHED ON OCTOBER 1, 2024, IN ADVANCE OF WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY ON OCTOBER 10TH, 2024. THE ARTICLES RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 255 SESSIONS AND 1,637 SESSIONS, RESPECTIVELY, ON OUR WEBSITE. DURING FY 2025, SESAME WORKSHOP ALSO DEVELOPED TWO ORIGINAL WEBINARS ON EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS, INCLUDING EDUCATORS, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, ETC. THE FIRST WEBINAR, COMPONENTS OF COMMUNITY: CREATING SOCIAL CONNECTIONS TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH, LAUNCHED ON OCTOBER 21, 2024, AND FEATURED DR. JULIE RADLAUER-DOERFLER LMHC WHO IS A LEADING EXPERT IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS. THE WEBINAR EXPLORED THE WAYS SOCIAL FACTORS AFFECT OUR EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AND PROVIDED HANDS-ON TOOLS AND INTERVENTIONS TO BUILD KINDNESS AND RESILIENCE IN CHILDREN. AS OF JUNE 30, 2025, 1,434 USERS HAVE LAUNCHED 1,984 SESSIONS OF THE WEBINAR. OUR SECOND WEBINAR, COMPONENTS OF COMMUNITY: THE SCIENCE OF KINDNESS, WAS HELD ON MAY 12, 2025, WITH DR. JULIE RADLAUER-DOERFLER AND DR. KELLI HARDING, WHO COVERED THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS. THIS DISCUSSION EXPANDED UPON TOPICS AND STRATEGIES FROM THE FIRST WEBINAR, EMPHASIZED COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION, AND EXPLORED WAYS TO CONNECT AND FOSTER KINDNESS IN EVERYDAY LIFE. AS OF JUNE 30, 2025, 562 USERS HAVE LAUNCHED 722 SESSIONS OF THE WEBINAR. THE EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING TOPIC PAGE HAD A TOTAL OF 153,202 TOTAL SESSIONS AND 148,403 TOTAL USERS DURING FY 2025 AND WAS THE NUMBER ONE TOPIC PAGE ACROSS ALL OF SESAMEWORKSHOP.ORG.TOUGH TOPICSIN FY 2025, SESAME WORKSHOP EXPANDED ITS LONG STANDING COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES NAVIGATING PARENTAL ADDICTION. WITH SUPPORT FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR OPIOID RESPONSE EFFORTS (FORE) AND THE DAVID R. CLARE AND MARGARET C. CLARE FOUNDATION, NEW BILINGUAL RESOURCES WERE LAUNCHED BEGINNING IN JANUARY AND MAY 2025. ACROSS FY 2025, THESE RESOURCES WERE VIEWED 59,543 TIMES BY 40,747 USERS ON SESAMEWORKSHOP.ORG.IN JANUARY 2025, THE FORE LAUNCH INCLUDED TWO NEW PRINTABLES TO HELP EQUIP CHILDREN WITH WAYS TO REACH OUT TO THE ADULTS IN THEIR CIRCLE OF CARE WHEN THEY NEED HELP, COMFORT, OR SUPPORT, AND USE PLAY AS A TOOL FOR FOSTERING CONNECTION AND JOY. THIS LAUNCH ALSO INCLUDED A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSE, HAND IN HAND: SUPPORTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY PARENTAL ADDICTION, FOR PROVIDERS THAT INTEGRATES EXISTING AND NEW PRINTABLE MATERIALS AS WELL AS VIDEO INTERVIEWS WITH REAL PROFESSIONALS SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES AND EXPERTISE. THIS COURSE IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT IS CREATED FOR PROVIDERS AND PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN (AGES 2-8) AND THEIR FAMILIES. TAKING A STRENGTHS-BASED, TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH, THE COURSE OFFERS TALKING POINTS, STRATEGIES, AND RESOURCES AIMED AT BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND AND COPE WITH THE IMPACTS OF PARENTAL ADDICTION, NOURISH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES' EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, AND BUILD HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. IN FY 2025, THE COURSE HAD 22,766 SESSIONS AND 20,418 TOTAL USERS. THE SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN FOR THIS LAUNCH FEATURED EACH OF THESE RESOURCES, PROMOTED RECOGNITION FOR CHILDREN OF ADDICTION (COA) AWARENESS WEEK, AND GARNERED 281,383 IMPRESSIONS. PAID MEDIA CAMPAIGNS FOR THIS LAUNCH GARNERED 490,355 IMPRESSIONS.IN MAY 2025, THE CLARE FOUNDATION LAUNCH CONTINUED TO EXPAND THE PARENTAL ADDICTION TOPIC AND FEATURED RESOURCES DESIGNED TO PROVIDE PRACTICAL ADVICE AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO BOTH CHILDREN AND PARENTS, HELPING THEM NAVIGATE THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE JOURNEY OF RECOVERY AND REUNIFICATION, FILLING A UNIQUE GAP IN RESOURCES THAT ARE NOT TYPICALLY AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES NAVIGATING RECOVERY. THESE RESOURCES INCLUDED A NEW DIGITAL STORYBOOK, ALL ABOUT KARLI: A STORY ABOUT RECONNECTING, ABOUT 6 -YEAR-OLD MUPPET KARLI AND HER MOM AS THEY GROW AND RECONNECT IN MEANINGFUL WAYS AFTER HER MOM'S TIME AWAY GETTING HELP FOR HER ADDICTION. THE STORYBOOK HAD 1,174 TOTAL SESSIONS AND 1,095 TOTAL USERS ON SESAME.ORG DURING FY 2025.WE WERE ABLE TO DESIGN PRINT-READY FILES OF THE STORYBOOK AS WELL FOR FUTURE PRINTING. IN ADDITION, WE LAUNCHED TWO ARTICLES, THREE PRINTABLES, AND A WEBINAR TITLED, SUPPORTING WHOLE FAMILY RECOVERY WITH SESAME STREET, WHICH RECEIVED 596 SESSIONS AND 496 TOTAL USERS FROM MAY-JUNE 2025. THE SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN FOR THIS LAUNCH FEATURED EACH OF THESE RESOURCES AND GARNERED 641,283 IMPRESSIONS.
  Expenses $11,720,786 · grants $30,000 · revenue $540,861

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 June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

13-2655731

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

1970

Accounting year ends

June

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Arts, culture and humanities (A320)

Assets (IRS master file)

$584,866,720

Income (IRS master file)

$366,188,226

Filing history

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 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 (search EIN 13-2655731).

Questions about SESAME WORKSHOP

What is the EIN of SESAME WORKSHOP?

The employer identification number (EIN) of SESAME WORKSHOP is 13-2655731.

Is SESAME WORKSHOP tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1970.

Are donations to SESAME WORKSHOP tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does SESAME WORKSHOP 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 SESAME WORKSHOP due?

The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did SESAME WORKSHOP last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.

Who is the principal officer of SESAME WORKSHOP?

The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names SHERRI ROLLINS WESTIN.

Who are the officers and directors of SESAME WORKSHOP?

The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 32 people; 14 received compensation from the organization, the highest $1,099,259 (SHERRIE ROLLINS WESTIN, PRESIDENT & CEO).

How much revenue does SESAME WORKSHOP have?

On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $180,674,492, expenses of $169,692,246 and total assets of $584,866,720 at year end.

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