Forward Impact
Represent justice turns stories into action to change the justice system, while building the capacity of system-impacted communities. Our vision is a fair legal system, dignity for system-impacted communities, and an end to extreme sentencing and mass incarceration.
Forward Impact at a glance
In short: Forward Impact gave $23K across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $23K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $23,000
- +170.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $23,000
- +170.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $23,000
- Total assets
- $3,404,509
- +79.4% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Forward Impact funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Life Life LLC ($23K).
Grant Size Distribution
39 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 30 grants of 39 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Forward Impact gives
- Giving fell 77% from 2021 to 2024. 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $9K (2023) to $2.6M (2020). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $23K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Life Life LLC Los Angeles, CA | Finding the Light Film Project | $23,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,404,509 | $5,025,009 | $3,585,362 | $23,000 | 1 | $15,169 |
| 2023 | $1,897,705 | $3,793,149 | $2,773,973 | $8,500 | 1 | $185 |
| 2022 | $1,109,059 | $2,909,620 | $2,792,445 | $25,000 | 1 | $62 |
| 2021 | $1,099,494 | $2,810,551 | $2,740,352 | $100,000 | 4 | $299 |
| 2020 | $1,908,396 | $1,138,673 | $7,937,588 | $2,621,000 | 32 | $2,779 |
About Forward Impact
Based on IRS filings
Forward Impact is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Los Angeles, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $3.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $23K. Net investment income was $15K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Forward Impact is led by Daniel Forkkio, Chief Executive Officer & Treasurer since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 5 of 14 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Daniel Forkkio
Chief Executive Officer & Treasurer
Chief Executive Officer → Chief Executive Officer & Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$193K (2020) → $295K (2024)
Julio Marcial Board Chair
President -
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carla Fleisher
Vice President, Films & Series Impact
Vice President & Impact Distribution → Vice President, Films & Series Impact Campaigns, 2023
Vice President, Films & Series Impact Campaigns → Vice President, Films & Series Impact, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$107K (2020) → $160K (2024)
Jamie Dobie
Chief Operating Officer
Vice President & Development → Chief Operating Officer, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$116K (2021) → $178K (2024)
Denise Beek
Vice President, Advocacy & Partnersh
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$156K (2024)
Leo Blumberg-Woll
Development & Operations Manager
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$104K (2024)
Liesl Copland
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Gilpin
Board Member -
Board Member → Board Member -, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Harris
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anika Warren Wood
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denae Peters
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janna Pea
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Harris
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tyra Patterson
Board Member -
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Julio Marcial (2020–2023) — Board Chair & President
- Former: Scott Budnick (2020–2023) — Board Member -
- Former: Shaka Senghor (2020–2023) — Board Member -
- Former: Marshan Allen (2021–2023) — Vice President, Advocacy & Partnerships
- Former: Gretel Truong (2020–2022) — Vice President & Impact Campaigns
- Former: Heidi Nel (2020–2022) — Board Member -
- Former: Angela Mwanza (2020) — Board Member
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $295K, to Daniel Forkkio (Chief Executive Officer & Treasurer). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Forward Impact
How much does Forward Impact give each year?
Forward Impact gave $23K across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $9K across 1 grant.
How large is Forward Impact?
Forward Impact reported $3.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.0M.
What is Forward Impact?
Forward Impact is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Los Angeles, CA. It holds $3.4M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does Forward Impact operate?
Forward Impact has awarded grants in Alabama, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia.
What is Forward Impact's EIN?
Forward Impact's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-1501685. 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 22, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 18, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Forward Impact funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Forward Impact's focus areas in our free grants database
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Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in California
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Forward Impact'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.
Forward Impact down — hundreds of funders to go?