Nonprofit · EIN 20-0216168
LION PROJECT
Tax-exempt · DENVER, CO 80205
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $165,975 | $200,064 | -$34,089 | $12,803 | $456,837 | -$444,034 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $209,109 | $219,629 | -$10,520 | $34,316 | $444,261 | -$409,945 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $58,988 | $293,782 | -$234,794 | $41,421 | $396,326 | -$354,905 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $236,482
- Program service revenue
- $105,544
- Investment income
- $1,225
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$66,480
- Net income from sales of inventory
- -$110,896
- Other revenue
- -$177,276
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Other salaries and wages
- $121,820
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $145,085
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Occupancy
- $7,547
- Travel
- $2,142
- Program services (functional)
- $200,064
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $34,316
- Total assets, end of year
- $12,803
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $456,837
- Net assets, end of year
- -$444,034
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $6,888
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- -$444,034
- Gross receipts
- $343,351
- Employees
- 2
- Year formed
- 2003
- State of legal domicile
- CO
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 December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZAK FERRY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 30 | $70,000 |
| DIRK DYKSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TYREE MORRIS | PASTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CHARLES MARR | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MICHELE CIADULLO | CHAIRWOMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| AARON MARSHALL | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BETHANY LATZKO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MARK STRUBEL | TREASURER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KURT HENKEL | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BRIDGETT MBANUSI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| NAOMIE PIERRE-TOUSSAINT | SECRETARY Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 13 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zak Ferry | Executive Director Officer | 30 | $70,000 |
| Chip Wernig | Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 0 | $0 |
| Dirk Dykson | Consultant Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| Tyree Morris | Pastor Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| Charles Marr | Service Project Committee Member Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| Michele Ciardullo | Board Member Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| Aaron Marshall | Board Member Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| Bethany Latzko | Board Member Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| Mark Strubel | Board member Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| Kurt Henkel | Board Member Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| Bridgett Mbanusi | Board Member Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| Emily Mellinger | Board Member Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| Naomie Pierre-Toussaint | Board Member Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 13 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zakery Ferry | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $60,000 |
| Dirk Dykson | Consultant Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Chip Wening | Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Michele Ciardullo | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Ryan Cain | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Tim Stevens | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Tyree Morris | Pastor Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Charles Marr | Service Project Committee Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Kurt Henkel | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Bridgett Mbanusi | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Emily Mellinger | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Naomie Pierre-Toussaint | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Clinton Camp | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1415 PARK AVE W, DENVER, CO 80205-2103
- In care of
- % ZAKERY FERRY
- Signed the 990
- ZAKERY FERRY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (720) 663-8222
- Website
- THELIONPROJECT.ORG
- 990-N for 2014 filed under this EIN
- Most likely by a chapter, club or affiliate (it says receipts are normally $50,000 or less). Officer: Zakery Ferry, 1350 Fillmore st APT 20, Denver CO 80206. Mailing address: 1350 Fillmore st Suite 20, Denver CO 80206. Website: thelionproject.org
- Return prepared by
- Courtney Wagner CPA
Mission
OUR MISSION IS TO ACCELERATE NONPROFIT GROWTH FROM VIDEO STORYTELLING, MARKETING, AND IN-PERSON SERVICE PROJECTS.
Program accomplishments
- THE LION PROJECT IS FOCUSED ON FOOD INSECURITY, SPECIFICALLY, BUILDING FOOD MARKETS FOR TITLE I SCHOOLS IN THE DENVER METRO AREA.Expenses $200,064
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 December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 20-0216168
- 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
- 2008
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Human services (P20)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $12,803
- Income (IRS master file)
- $343,351
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $165,975 | $200,064 | $12,803 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $209,109 | $219,629 | $34,316 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $58,988 | $293,782 | $41,421 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $31,314 | $318,808 | $286,592 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-EZ | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-N for 2014 Officer: Zakery Ferry Filed under this EIN, most likely by a chapter or affiliate | December 31, 2014 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
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 20-0216168).
Questions about LION PROJECT
- What is the EIN of LION PROJECT?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of LION PROJECT is 20-0216168.
- Is LION PROJECT tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2008.
- Are donations to LION PROJECT tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does LION PROJECT 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 LION PROJECT due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did LION PROJECT last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who are the officers and directors of LION PROJECT?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 11 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $70,000 (ZAK FERRY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does LION PROJECT have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $165,975, expenses of $200,064 and total assets of $12,803 at year end.
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