Comic Relief Inc Dba Comic Relief Us
Comic Relief Inc., operating as Comic Relief US, is a 501(c)(3) public charity headquartered in New York City. The organization specializes in using the power of entertainment to drive positive change and operates the annual nation-wide fundraising campaign, Red Nose Day. Comic Relief US is an independent sister organization to the UK charity Comic Relief and is not connected to the former American charity Comic Relief USA.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$33.5M
-31.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.7M
-78.3% YoY
Grant Count
8
-70.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$458K
-26.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Comic Relief US envisions a just world free from poverty. The organization invests in nonprofit and community-led organizations with programs focused on tackling the root causes and consequences of poverty and social injustice, with particular emphasis on childhood poverty. The organization supports initiatives and policies that advance economic opportunity.
Primary funding areas include:
- Healthcare services
- Education support
- Safety and housing support
- Economic and leadership opportunities
- Youth empowerment
Grantmaking
Comic Relief US has announced new rounds of grants for next-generation changemakers and youth empowerment initiatives. Recent grant activity includes a $410,000 grant awarded to the Posse Foundation.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Comic Relief US funds organizations operating in the United States, with particular emphasis on addressing childhood poverty affecting nearly 12 million children annually in the U.S.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2023:
- Revenue: $47.5 million
- Expenses: $39.6 million
- Total Assets: $48.7 million
- Total Liabilities: $18.9 million
The organization maintains a 100% four-star rating based on accountability and finance metrics.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $33,508,639 | $48,676,610 | $40,884,512 |
| Revenue | $10,075,693 | $47,477,210 | $53,328,304 |
| Expenses | $20,261,695 | $39,583,286 | $40,354,443 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,678,758 | $1,487,957 | $366,540 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
105 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include City Year Inc ($950,000), Laureus Sport for Good Foundation ($650,000), Start Early ($600,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF AMERICA ATLANTA, GA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $400,000 |
| CITY YEAR INC BOSTON, MA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $950,000 |
| JUMPSTART FOR YOUNG CHILDREN INC BOSTON, MA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $500,000 |
| LAUREUS SPORT FOR GOOD FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $650,000 |
| ROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS INC NEW YORK, NY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $48,000 |
| START EARLY CHICAGO, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $600,000 |
| THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH FUND NEW YORK, NY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $510,000 |
| YOUTH OUTRIGHT WNC INC ASHEVILLE, NC | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $7,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Michele Ganeless - Chief Executive Officer (appointed January 15, 2025). Ganeless is a highly respected entertainment executive with extensive experience in the non-profit sector and was a long-time board member prior to her appointment.
Lauren Spitzer - Chief Strategy and Impact Officer (promoted March 2, 2026)
Jordan Kurzweil - Chief Creative Officer (promoted March 2, 2026)
Alison Moore - Former CEO who transitioned to a board member role in January 2025
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RANDY NEWCOMB | BOARD CHAIR | 1 | — |
| RICHARD CURTIS | FOUNDER | 1 | — |
| RICHARD HOFSTETTER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| AUSTYN BIGGERS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MICHELE GANELESS | SECRETARY/INCOMING CEO (JAN 2025) | 1 | — |
| DAVID HORNE | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| YVONNE MOORE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NATALYE PAQUIN LEFT JAN 2024 | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| IDA REZVANI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ALIA LAMBORGHINI JOINED AUG 2024 | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| EVAN SEGAL JOINED AUG 2024 | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ALISON MOORE NON-VOTING | CEO - OUTGOING (JAN 2025) | 40 | $442,069 |
| WILLIAM KEHOE | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 20 | $140,240 |
| MARY CORIGLIANO | SVP OF BRAND & MARKETING | 40 | $250,659 |
| LAUREN SPITZER | SVP OF FUNDRAISING & DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $248,336 |
| LISA GADSON-CLARK | SVP OF HR & OPERATIONS | 40 | $210,566 |
| AYODELE ROACH | SVP OF GRANTS | 40 | $216,284 |
| MARY CATHERINE BURDINE | VP OF PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $177,940 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Comic Relief US has demonstrated significant growth and strategic expansion:
Comic Relief US Awards Posse $410K Grant | The Posse Foundation**January 2025**: Michele Ganeless appointed as new CEO
**March 2026**: Promotions of Lauren Spitzer and Jordan Kurzweil to Chief Officer roles, signaling alignment of creative and strategic leadership to engage the public in fighting childhood poverty
**Youth Empowerment Initiative**: Launched youth empowerment as a new pillar of Red Nose Day grantmaking
Comic Relief \u2014 Comic Relief US Launches Youth Empowerment as a New\**Recent Grants**: Awarded $410,000 to the Posse Foundation
Comic Relief US Awards Posse $410K Grant | The Posse FoundationThe organization reports having helped over 50 million children and families to date, with specific impact metrics including 34.3 million provided with health services, 1.1 million given education support, and 2.2 million connected to safety and housing support.
Contact Information
Address: Comic Relief 120 Broadway, 22nd Floor New York, NY 10271
Mailing Address for Checks: Comic Relief PO Box 419828 Boston, MA 02241-9828
Phone: 844-488-5246 or 332-333-1824
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.comicrelief.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Comic Relief Inc Dba Comic Relief Us fund?
Comic Relief US envisions a just world free from poverty. The organization invests in nonprofit and community-led organizations with programs focused on tackling the root causes and consequences of poverty and social injustice, with particular emphasis on childhood poverty. The organization supports initiatives and policies that advance economic opportunity. Primary funding areas include: • Healthcare services • Education support • Safety and housing support • Economic and leadership opportunit…
How do I apply for a grant from Comic Relief Inc Dba Comic Relief Us?
Comic Relief US has announced new rounds of grants for next-generation changemakers and youth empowerment initiatives. Recent grant activity includes a $410,000 grant awarded to the Posse Foundation. The organization has launched youth empowerment as a new pillar of Red Nose Day grantmaking, expanding its focus beyond traditional poverty alleviation programs.
Where does Comic Relief Inc Dba Comic Relief Us make grants?
Comic Relief US funds organizations operating in the United States, with particular emphasis on addressing childhood poverty affecting nearly 12 million children annually in the U.S.
What size grants does Comic Relief Inc Dba Comic Relief Us award?
In 2024, Comic Relief Inc Dba Comic Relief Us awarded 8 grants totaling $3.7M — an average of about $458K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Comic Relief Inc Dba Comic Relief Us's EIN?
Comic Relief Inc Dba Comic Relief Us's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0885377. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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