Nonprofit · EIN 92-0820697
TRILITH INSTITUTE INC
Tax-exempt · ATLANTA, GA 30342
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $4,430,352 | $4,030,354 | $399,998 | $3,833,565 | $74,141 | $3,759,424 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $5,015,751 | $1,740,605 | $3,275,146 | $3,275,146 | $0 | $3,275,146 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $4,279,152
- Program service revenue
- $112,783
- Investment income
- $37,310
- Other revenue
- $1,107
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $474,669
- Other salaries and wages
- $1,507,726
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,713,042
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $276,753
- Occupancy
- $19,800
- Travel
- $26,619
- Depreciation
- $54,588
- Program services (functional)
- $3,478,699
- Management and general (functional)
- $551,655
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $3,275,146
- Total assets, end of year
- $3,833,565
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $74,141
- Net assets, end of year
- $3,759,424
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $607,483
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $3,759,424
- Gross receipts
- $4,430,352
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 0
- Year formed
- 2022
- State of legal domicile
- GA
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, 2024, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | From related orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEFFREY STEPAKOFF | CHAIRMAN & PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 30 | $306,500 | $102,000 |
| JOSH LEE | VICE CHAIR, VP & TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 30 | $187,085 | $77,000 |
| MITCHELL KUPSTAS | DIR. OF STRATEGY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $141,750 | $42,000 |
| AMANDA MCCOWAN | SR. DIR. OF OPERATIONS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $163,836 | $0 |
| DANIEL SEITH | DIR. OF OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $135,577 | $0 |
| AMANDA RAY | DIR. OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING K-12 Highest-paid employee | 40 | $105,324 | $0 |
| LAUREN SPAULDING | SECRETARY Officer | 1 | $5,516 | $0 |
| DAN CATHY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ROSS CATHY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| AMI MCBAY | SECRETARY Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 5 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | From related orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEFFREY STEPAKOFF | CHAIRMAN & PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 30 | $103,766 | $124,167 |
| JOSH LEE | VICE CHAIR, VP & TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 30 | $69,430 | $88,333 |
| LAUREN SPAULDING | SECRETARY Officer | 1 | $45,451 | $7,500 |
| DAN CATHY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ROSS CATHY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 3880 STRATFORD PARK DR NE, ATLANTA, GA 30342-4301
- In care of
- % JEFFREY STEPAKOFF
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- JEFFREY STEPAKOFF, 461 SANDY CREEK ROAD 2107, FAYETTEVILLE, GA 30214
- Signed the 990
- JEFFREY STEPAKOFF, CHAIR
- Phone
- (404) 881-4296
- Website
- TRILITHINSTITUTE.ORG
- Return prepared by
- MSTILLER LLC
Mission
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.
Program accomplishments
- 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.Expenses $705,271 · revenue $49,590
- 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.Expenses $798,660 · revenue $35,639
- 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.Expenses $781,591
- 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.Expenses $1,193,177 · grants $474,669 · revenue $28,661
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 | Not 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
- 92-0820697
- 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
- 2023
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Arts, culture and humanities (A20)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $3,833,565
- Income (IRS master file)
- $4,430,352
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | $4,430,352 | $4,030,354 | $3,833,565 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $5,015,751 | $1,740,605 | $3,275,146 | XML |
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 92-0820697).
Questions about TRILITH INSTITUTE INC
- What is the EIN of TRILITH INSTITUTE INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of TRILITH INSTITUTE INC is 92-0820697.
- Is TRILITH INSTITUTE INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2023.
- Are donations to TRILITH INSTITUTE INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does TRILITH INSTITUTE 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 TRILITH INSTITUTE INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did TRILITH INSTITUTE INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
- Who is the principal officer of TRILITH INSTITUTE INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names JEFFREY STEPAKOFF.
- Who are the officers and directors of TRILITH INSTITUTE INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 10 people; 7 received compensation from the organization, the highest $306,500 (JEFFREY STEPAKOFF, CHAIRMAN & PRESIDENT).
- How much revenue does TRILITH INSTITUTE INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $4,430,352, expenses of $4,030,354 and total assets of $3,833,565 at year end.
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