The Better Angels Society Inc
The Better Angels Society supports outstanding American history documentaries to inspire lifelong learning, promote civic engagement, and encourage civil discourse.the organization advances this mission by raising funds to support individual documentary films focused on U.S. history and characterized by thorough archival research and engaging storytelling; awarding the annual library of congress lavine/ken burns prize for film and better angels lavine fellowship to provide resources, recognition, and mentorship to outstanding U.S. history documentaries; and creating partnership programs to engage young people in making documentaries about U.S. history to build skills in critical thinking, communications, research, history, and civics.
The Better Angels Society Inc at a glance
In short: The Better Angels Society Inc gave $9.1M across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $1.0M), mostly in Virginia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $9,131,941
- -24.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- +12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,014,660
- -32.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $20,131,014
- -12.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Virginia (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Better Angels Society Inc
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from The Better Angels Society Inc
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film
The Better Angels Society Inc
Amount
$200,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Next Generation Angels Awards
The Better Angels Society Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
The Better Angels/Lavine Fellowship
The Better Angels Society Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Better Angels Society Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association Inc ($8.6M). Together the top 9 received $9.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
44 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 44 (45%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Better Angels Society Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−1%). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $8.0M (2019) to $12.1M (2024). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $9.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association Inc Arlington, VA | Support for Production of Documentary Films, Outreach, Education | $8,632,443 |
| Lincoln Presidential Foundation Springfield, IL | Recognition Awards for Student Documentary Films | $188,000 |
| WGBH Educational Foundation Boston, MA | Support for Production of Documentary Films, Outreach, Education | $139,500 |
| Wnet New York, NY | Support for Production of Documentary Films, Outreach, Education | $65,100 |
| National History Day College Park, MD | Recognition Awards for Student Documentary Films | $40,000 |
| Central Park Film Project Inc New York, NY | Support for production of documentary films, outreach, education, fiscal sponsors | $32,500 |
| Adams County Historical Society Gettysburg, PA | Gettysburg Film Festival Sponsors | $15,000 |
| DCDOX Washington, DC | DC/DOX Festival Sponsors | $10,000 |
| Hindsight Film Festival Savannah, GA | Hindsight Film Festival Fiscal Sponsors | $9,398 |
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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 | $20,131,014 | $9,876,301 | $11,715,776 | $9,131,941 | 9 | $698,202 |
| 2024 | $22,940,273 | $9,536,917 | $14,241,451 | $12,068,108 | 8 | $589,828 |
| 2023 | $27,649,766 | $11,000,879 | $13,274,082 | $11,370,184 | 6 | $379,896 |
| 2022 | $29,814,085 | $9,108,547 | $10,742,249 | $9,264,060 | 10 | $159,839 |
| 2021 | $31,631,125 | $13,197,616 | $10,806,242 | $9,738,173 | 11 | $65,477 |
| 2020 | $29,324,402 | $13,133,295 | $14,378,595 | $11,980,881 | 10 | $129,185 |
| 2019 | $30,635,915 | $20,356,296 | $10,386,594 | $8,041,862 | 4 | $178,074 |
About The Better Angels Society Inc
Based on IRS filings
The Better Angels Society Inc is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Washington, DC. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $20.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $9.1M. Net investment income was $698K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Better Angels Society Inc is led by Katherine Malone-France, President & CEO on every filing since 2023; 3 of 21 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Katherine Malone-France
President & CEO
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$103K (2023) → $289K (2025)
Bobby Stein
Chair
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Daniels
Senior Director, Philanthropic Ops & Plan
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$107K (2024) → $120K (2025)
Bee Nance
Cfao
Cfao - → Cfao, 2025
On filings since 2024
30 hrs/week
$53K (2024) → $142K (2025)
Cappy McGarr
Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Greg Golkin
Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hal Brierley
Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason Schlesinger
Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Roosevelt
Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meredith Dewitt
Secretary
Member → Secretary -, 2021
Secretary - → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Mullen
Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy J. Cable
Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Butler
Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phil Kent
Vice Chair
Member → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Thoren
Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Obeng
Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Evangelisti
Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Greg Lau
Treasurer
Member → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Conway
Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tracy Frist
Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Larry Wasserman
Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Amy Margerum Berg (2019–2023) — President -
- Former: Courtney Chapin (2019–2023) — Executive Director -
- Former: David Pfeil (2019–2023) — Member
- Former: John Debs (2019–2023) — Member
- Former: John Fullerton (2019–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Anthony Foxx (2021–2023) — Member
- Former: Bonnie McCloskey (2021–2023) — Member -
- Former: Henry Gomez (2021–2022) — Member -
- Former: Jeannie Lavine (2019–2021) — Member -
- Former: Ronald Moultrie (2019–2021) — Secretary -
- Former: Don Baer (2019–2020) — Member -
- Former: Michelle Smith (2019–2020) — Member -
- Former: Craig Impink (2019) — Member -
- Former: Ken Rosenthal (2019) — Member -
- Former: Lillian Giornelli (2019) — Member -
- Former: Robert Sweeney (2019) — Member -
- Former: Walter Isaacson (2019) — Member -
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 $289K, to Katherine Malone-France (President and CEO). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Better Angels Society Inc
How much does The Better Angels Society Inc give each year?
The Better Angels Society Inc gave $9.1M across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $12.1M across 8 grants.
What is The Better Angels Society Inc's typical grant size?
The Better Angels Society Inc's median grant in 2025 was $40,000, and its average grant was $1,014,660, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Better Angels Society Inc give grants?
The Better Angels Society Inc gives mostly in Virginia: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (2 grants).
Does The Better Angels Society Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on The Better Angels Society Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Better Angels Society Inc's largest grantees?
The Better Angels Society Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association Inc ($8,632,443), Lincoln Presidential Foundation ($188,000) and WGBH Educational Foundation ($139,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 98% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Better Angels Society Inc?
The Better Angels Society Inc reported $20.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.9M.
What is The Better Angels Society Inc?
The Better Angels Society Inc is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Washington, DC. It holds $20.1M in total assets as of 2025.
What is The Better Angels Society Inc's EIN?
The Better Angels Society Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4587107. 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 5, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 18, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Better Angels Society Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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