Perspective Media Initiatives Inc
Perspective Media Initiatives Inc is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its website, under the name Perspective Fund, describes support for documentary storytelling and related initiatives that connect the documentary sector with the broader social justice ecosystem.
Key facts about Perspective Media Initiatives Inc
In short: Perspective Media Initiatives Inc gave $8.0M across 92 grants in 2024 (avg $87K), top state New York. 12% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 87-4236519
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $8,013,815
- Grants made (2024)
- 92
- Average grant
- $87,107
- Median grant
- $57,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (6 of 52, 2024)
- Total assets
- $21,118,322
- Primary geography
- New York (38% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The website says there are no deadlines for submitting an inquiry.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$21.1M
+83.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$8.0M
+1.6% YoY
Grant Count
92
+53.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$87K
-33.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Perspective Media Initiatives Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Perspective Media Initiatives Inc open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 52 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $83K; repeat grants $163K. How we count
Medians: $88K first-time, $95K repeat.
- 79% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
Perspective says it provides storytellers and journalists with funding, tools, and strategy-driven support for stories about equity and justice that generate action. It aims to support creative work that can expand public understanding, shape culture, or drive systems change, as well as field-building that makes the documentary sector more equitable and sustainable.
For organizational support, the funder prioritizes increasing access and capacity, removing barriers to sustainability, fostering collaboration, centering communities, and strengthening systemic change in the documentary impact field. Its listed grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports: Firelight Media describes its mission as supporting documentary media by and about communities of color through mentorship, funding, and creative development; Cinema Tropical says it promotes Latin American cinema through exhibition; and Potential Energy Coalition says it uses communications strategies to educate the public about climate change and clean energy.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 92 grants totaling $8,013,815. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $500,000, with a median of $57,500. It reported 60 grants totaling $7,890,238 in 2023 and 35 grants totaling $5,092,259 in 2022.
Review Cycle
The website says there are no deadlines for submitting an inquiry.
Ready to take the next step with Perspective Media Initiatives Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The funder says it has no geographic requirements and evaluates geographic considerations case by case. In 2024, reported grant dollars went primarily to recipients in New York (38%), California (19%), Massachusetts (10%), and Washington, DC (7%); a further 5% was listed with the state unspecified.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 92 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5.1M (2022) to $8.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 92 grants totaling $8.0M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Women Make Movies ($530K across 6 grants). Together the top 10 received $4.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
187 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 65 grants of 187 (35%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Potential Energy Coalition Inc New York, NY | General Operating Support | $500,000 |
| Cinema Tropical New York, NY | Marketing Interventions Fund | $350,000 |
| Firelight Media New York, NY | William Greaves and Impact Campaign Funds | $255,000 |
| Accelerate Change Boston, MA | Operating Support | $250,000 |
| Denver Film Society Denver, CO | Exposure Lab's Organizational Capacity | $250,000 |
| Represent Justice Los Angeles, CA | Operating Support ($100,000); Capacity Building ($150,000) | $250,000 |
| Represent Justice Los Angeles, CA | Core Support for Storytelling Programs | $250,000 |
| Doc Society Brooklyn, NY | Global Impact Producers Alliance Project | $225,000 |
| American University Washington, DC | State of the Documentary Field Study | $224,533 |
| Women Make Movies New York, NY | Multitude Films General Operating Support | $215,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant total | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $21,118,322 | $20,453,951 | $7,834,146 | $8,013,815 | 92 |
| 2023 | $11,539,425 | $15,842,995 | $13,172,423 | $7,890,238 | 60 |
| 2022 | $5,157,905 | $10,888,503 | $5,802,148 | $5,092,259 | 35 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $21,118,322 | $11,539,425 | $5,157,905 |
| Revenue | $20,453,951 | $15,842,995 | $10,888,503 |
| Expenses | $7,834,146 | $13,172,423 | $5,802,148 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $11,023,378 | $9,458,055 | $5,730,598 |
| Net Investment Income | $942,501 | $342,995 | $38,503 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,074,081 | $657,081 | $355,436 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jacob Taylor as chief executive officer and chair, and Eliana Kraus Piper as chief operating officer and treasurer. Other listed officers and directors are Meskerem Taylor, Jennifer Reynoso, C Frederick Taylor, John Taylor, and Michael Hirschhorn, who is listed as foreign grants officer.
Perspective Media Initiatives Inc is led by Jacob Taylor, Chief Executive Officer & Chair since 2024 (on filings since 2022); 3 of 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jacob Taylor
Chief Executive Officer & Chair
Chief Executive Officer & Board Member → Chief Executive Officer & Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$11K (2023) → $28K (2024)
Eliana Kraus Piper
Chief Operating Officer & Treasurer
Chief Operating Officer → Chief Operating Officer & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$98K (2022) → $260K (2024)
Michael Hirschhorn
Foreign Grants Officer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$1K (2023) → $2K (2024)
Jennifer Reynoso
Secretary
Board Secretary & Board Member → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Taylor
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Meskerem Taylor
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
C. Frederick Taylor
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Fred Taylor (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Josh Taylor (2022–2023) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2024. "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 $260K, to Eliana Kraus Piper (Chief Operating Officer, Treasurer). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 1441 Broadway 5029, New York, NY 10018
Phone: (929) 746-9956
Website: https://www.perspectivefund.org
Frequently asked questions about Perspective Media Initiatives Inc
How much does Perspective Media Initiatives Inc give each year?
Perspective Media Initiatives Inc gave $8.0M across 92 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $7.9M across 60 grants.
What is Perspective Media Initiatives Inc's typical grant size?
Perspective Media Initiatives Inc's median grant in 2024 was $57,500, and its average grant was $87,107, across 92 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Perspective Media Initiatives Inc that year got $83K on average.
Where does Perspective Media Initiatives Inc give grants?
Perspective Media Initiatives Inc's top state is New York, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (19%) and Massachusetts (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (16 grants), Los Angeles, CA (10 grants), Brooklyn, NY (9 grants) and Detroit, MI (6 grants).
Does Perspective Media Initiatives Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 28% of Perspective Media Initiatives Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 92) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Perspective Media Initiatives Inc's largest grantees?
Perspective Media Initiatives Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Women Make Movies ($530,000 across 6 grants), Represent Justice ($520,000 across 3 grants) and Potential Energy Coalition Inc ($500,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Perspective Media Initiatives Inc?
Perspective Media Initiatives Inc reported $21.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $11.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Perspective Media Initiatives Inc fund?
Perspective says it provides storytellers and journalists with funding, tools, and strategy-driven support for stories about equity and justice that generate action. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Perspective Media Initiatives Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Perspective Media Initiatives Inc's EIN?
Perspective Media Initiatives Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-4236519. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
Does Perspective Media Initiatives Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Perspective Media Initiatives Inc by hand.
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