First Look Institute Inc
First Look Institute supports fearless investigative journalism, innovative and cinematic nonfiction filmmaking, and press freedom initiatives to protect the right to a free and open society and press.
First Look Institute Inc at a glance
- Total assets
- $1,787,735
- -81.7% vs 2023
- Revenue (2024)
- $1,546,937
- -82.6% vs 2023
- Net investment income (2024)
- $-3,063
- -98.5% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $720,550
- -97.3% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who First Look Institute Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
39 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 27 grants of 39 (69%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
How First Look Institute Inc gives
- Giving grew 7443% from 2020 to 2023. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $108K (2022) to $26.1M (2023). In 2023 it made 4 grants totaling $26.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NewCoNews Inc New York, NY | General support for the Grantee's Operations. | $14,770,250 |
| Field of Vision Inc New York, NY | General support for the Grantee's Operations. | $9,372,941 |
| University of Maryland College Park Foundation College Park, MD | General support for the Grantee's Operations. | $997,000 |
| The Association of the Bar of the City Of NY Fund (dba The Vance Center) New York, NY | General support for the Grantee's Operations. | $957,000 |
Ready to take the next step with First Look Institute Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,787,735 | $1,546,937 | $720,550 | — | — | $-3,063 |
| 2023 | $9,754,402 | $8,914,688 | $26,959,827 | $26,097,191 | 4 | $-206,241 |
| 2022 | $20,286,909 | $36,699,021 | $25,556,941 | $108,000 | 3 | $-555,738 |
| 2021 | $8,923,263 | $13,712,748 | $28,256,941 | $586,000 | 19 | $26,186 |
| 2020 | $20,672,199 | $26,672,210 | $29,277,834 | $346,000 | 13 | $29,508 |
About First Look Institute Inc
Based on IRS filings
First Look Institute Inc is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Los Gatos, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.8M in total assets.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
First Look Institute Inc is led by Michael Bloom, Director, President & CEO since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael Bloom
Director, President & CEO
Director & President → Director, President & CEO, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Alvord
Director & Chair
Director & Vice Chair → Director & Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Patricia L Christen
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ian Stratford
Secretary
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Charlotte Cook (2020–2022) — Executive Producer
- Former: David Bralow (2020–2022) — Secretary, Senior Vice President & Law
- Former: Elizabeth Reed (2020–2022) — Editor in Chief
- Former: James Risen (2020–2022) — Senior National Security Corr
- Former: Jeremy Scahill (2020–2022) — Producer
- Former: Peter Maass (2020–2022) — Senior Editor
- Former: Roger Hodge (2020–2022) — Deputy Editor
- Former: Ryan Grim (2020–2022) — Washington Bureau Chief
- Former: Beth Nathanson (2021–2022) — Chief Philanthropy Officer
- Former: Michael Sherrard (2021–2022) — Department Head
- Former: Shani Boone (2021–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Vanessa M Gezari (2021–2022) — National Security Editor
- Former: Andrew S Wilson (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Pierre Omidyar (2020–2021) — Director & Chair
- Former: Kate Myers (2020) — Executive Director & Revenu
- Former: Kathleen Murray (2020) — Vice President - Law
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about First Look Institute Inc
How large is First Look Institute Inc?
First Look Institute Inc reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.5M.
What is First Look Institute Inc?
First Look Institute Inc is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Los Gatos, CA. It holds $1.8M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does First Look Institute Inc operate?
First Look Institute Inc has awarded grants in Alabama, California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Montana, New York, Ohio, Virginia, Washington.
What is First Look Institute Inc's EIN?
First Look Institute Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 80-0951255. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work First Look Institute Inc funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in First Look Institute Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation
Chicago, IL
The MacArthur Foundation funds work advancing a more just, verdant, and peaceful world, including climate solutions, criminal justice, journalism, technology, and Chicago. In 2024, its grants had a median of $160,000, though awards ranged widely; it generally does not accept unsolicited requests, with possible exceptions for specific open calls or proposals that meet program guidelines.
Assets
$9.3B
Grants
1,086
Total Given
$356.1M
Foundation to Promote Open Society
New York, NY
The Foundation to Promote Open Society funds organizations advancing human rights, civil society, democratic practice, equity, research, and education, with grants spanning the United States and six global regions. In 2024, its grants ranged from $5,000 to $44.9 million, with a median of $257,214. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$10.8B
Grants
738
Total Given
$481.5M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
The Ford Foundation funds organizations and initiatives working to reduce inequality and advance social justice, including work on civic engagement, civil rights, climate justice, disability rights, and technology and society. In 2024, its grants ranged from $45 to $15 million, with a median of $100,000, supporting work in the U.S. and internationally. It says most grants are identified by the foundation and it does not accept unsolicited proposals by mail, email, or phone; limited opportunities may be offered separately.
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
The Heising-Simons Foundation
Los Altos, CA
The Heising-Simons Foundation funds climate and clean energy, science, early learning, and human rights, with 2024 grants concentrated in California, Washington, DC, New York, Massachusetts, and Virginia. Its 671 grants ranged from $2,492 to $3.6 million, with a median of about $148,000. It makes grants to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests, though it occasionally announces open requests for proposals.
Assets
$810.5M
Grants
671
Total Given
$149.6M
Open Society Institute
New York, NY
The Open Society Institute funds organizations and individuals advancing democracy, human rights, equity, and justice, including work on civic engagement, independent media, and digital rights. Its 2024 grants had a median of $15,000, though awards ranged widely, and it supports work nationally and globally. Application processes vary by program; most grants go to groups approached directly, and the Latin America and Caribbean program rarely funds unsolicited proposals.
Assets
$5.4B
Grants
559
Total Given
$146.9M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from First Look Institute Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
First Look Institute Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?