Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy
Smartmeme inc. Dba center for story-based strategy ("css") is a national strategy center dedicated to harnessing the power of narrative for movement building and social change. Css provides social, economic and ecological justice leaders, organizations and alliances the strategic support to reframe issues and win critical campaigns. We use story-based approaches to amplify the impact of grassroots organizing, to communicate transformative possibilities and to re-imagine social change strategy. Through training and consulting, weve supported over 300 nonprofit organizations and 6,000 individual change agents.
Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy at a glance
In short: Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy gave $663K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $110K), mostly in District of Columbia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $662,949
- +713.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $110,492
- +442.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $47,500
- Total assets
- $4,177,120
- -21.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (66% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Frameworks Institute ($438K). Together the top 6 received $663K.
Grant Size Distribution
11 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 8 grants of 11 (73%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $25K (2023) to $663K (2025). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $663K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Frameworks Institute West Washington, DC | Re-grants | $437,949 |
| Center for Policy Initiatives San Diego, CA | Re-grants | $60,000 |
| Social & Environmental Entrep Calabasas, CA | Re-grants | $60,000 |
| Black Organizing Project Oakland, CA | Re-grants | $35,000 |
| Central Valley Movement Build Sacramento, CA | Re-grants | $35,000 |
| Gender & Sexualities Alliance San Francisco, CA | Re-grants | $35,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,177,120 | $2,017,745 | $2,878,224 | $662,949 | 6 | $21,183 |
| 2024 | $5,309,193 | $4,218,156 | $2,036,399 | $81,500 | 4 | $19,879 |
| 2023 | $3,119,879 | $1,678,377 | $1,598,407 | $25,000 | 1 | $10,033 |
| 2022 | $2,961,906 | $1,968,605 | $1,368,806 | — | — | — |
| 2021 | $2,683,742 | $1,981,299 | $1,295,608 | — | — | — |
| 2020 | $1,842,700 | $1,843,727 | $1,239,359 | — | — | $3,584 |
| 2019 | $983,527 | $1,121,149 | $1,195,366 | — | — | $132 |
About Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy
Based on IRS filings
Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy is a public charity focused on Education, based in Los Angeles, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $4.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $663K. Net investment income was $21K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy is led by Angus Maguire, President since 2025 (on filings since 2019); 3 of 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Angus Maguire
President
Committee Manager → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → President, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$61K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Reuben Tihi Hayslett
Interim Executive Director
Board Member → Board President, 2023
Board President → Interim Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$47K (2025)
Nayantara Sen
Executive Director
On filings since 2024
32 hrs/week
$156K (2025)
Jamila Brown
Vice President
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$42K (2025)
Kedar Reddy
Board Member
Treasurer → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Seng So
Secretary
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Iva Torres
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Weidinger
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (21)
- Former: Michael Premo (2019–2024) — Outgng Treasurer
- Former: Yee Won Chong (2019–2024) — Outgngtreasurer
- Former: Dallas Goldtooth (2020–2024) — Outgoing President
- Former: Paul Castro (2023–2024) — Interim Executive Director
- Former: Sara Dillon (2023–2024) — Outgng Secretary
- Former: Ivy Brashear (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Zakiya Scott (2024) — Strategy Director
- Former: Trina Jackson (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Cristobal Lagunas (2023) — Staff Representative
- Former: Bernice Julie Shaw (2019–2022) — Co-Director
- Former: Jennifer Dillon (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Sara Pennington (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Sean Watkins (2019–2022) — Ext Affairs Chair
- Former: Shana McDavis-Conway (2019–2022) — Co-Director
- Former: Mariana Mendoza (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Miya Yoshitani (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Gopal Dayaneni (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Jacqueline Patterson (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Amara Possian (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Celia Alario (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Ratema Uch (2019) — Ops.coordinator
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $156K, to Nayantara Sen (Executive Dir.). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy
How much does Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy give each year?
Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy gave $663K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $82K across 4 grants.
What is Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy's typical grant size?
Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy's median grant in 2025 was $47,500, and its average grant was $110,492, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy give grants?
Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy gives mostly in District of Columbia: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (34%).
Does Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Re-grants" (6 grants).
Who are Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy's largest grantees?
Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy's largest 2025 grantees include The Frameworks Institute ($437,949), Center for Policy Initiatives ($60,000) and Social & Environmental Entrep ($60,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 84% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy?
Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy reported $4.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.0M.
What is Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy?
Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy is a public charity focused on Education, based in Los Angeles, CA. It holds $4.2M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy's EIN?
Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1897585. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 11, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 11, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 20, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Smartmeme DBA Center for Story-based Strategy funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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