GOLD2023

Reel Earth Films

A nonprofit wildlife film organization

Phoenix, AZ   |  https://reelearthfilms.org

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Mission

It is the mission and purpose of Reel Earth Films to produce and distribute films about the natural world that educate, raise awareness, and ultimately work to protect the environments, species, and habitats our films focus upon and highlight. Reel Earth Films brings a voice to these countless species that are in dire need of public awareness and education. MISSION STATEMENT “To inspire people to fall in love with nature through dynamic and compelling films” VISION STATEMENT “To be a world leading force in producing natural history programming that creates a better future for the planet” VALUES We tell real and authentic stories We give back to conservation We strive for excellence We are building a future for all life on earth We empower people to take action for nature

Ruling year info

2023

Executive Director

Alan Lacy

Main address

20816 N 20th Ave Ste 5

Phoenix, AZ 85027 USA

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EIN

88-3896598

NTEE code info

Film, Video (A31)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990-N.

Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Our physical world is rapidly changing in front of our eyes - climate change, habitat loss and destruction, endangered species going extinct, and the list goes on and on. Our organization aims to explore the critical space between these issues and the human element and how we can work towards changing the current trajectory towards creating a better future for wildlife and nature and our human race. Film is one of the most powerful tools we know of that can change the mindset and hearts of people towards caring for nature, because if you can learn about nature, you can understand it, and if you can understand it, you can learn to care for it, and if you care for it, you learn how to love and take care of it. Films have the power to facilitate change. This is our mission, to inspire millions of people around the globe to fall in love with nature all over again through the powerful films we produce.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Films

Reel Earth Films will engage in producing films, from initial concept through development, production, post production, and distribution. This is the major portion of our operation, with nearly 80% or more of our time and resources dedicated to this program.

Funding for this program will consist mainly from grants and public donations. Our staff will oversee the entirety of each production. As the nature in the film industry is to hire independent freelancers, we plan to work with talented filmmakers, camera operators, editors, musicians, directors, producers, and other film industry professionals. We will contract with them, thereby minimizing our expenses while maximizing our storytelling capabilities. Wherever possible we will endeavor to keep as much as possible in-house as to minimize expenses. Each film we produce will focus on critical conservation issues in the natural world that we seek to remedy. We call this an Action Goal. Every film will incorporate an Action Goal.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Children and youth
Ethnic and racial groups
Activists
Artists and performers

Our secondary program is focused on impact and outreach. Each film that we produce, will be accompanied by an Impact Campaign. These Impact Campaigns will be used to maximize and boost each film’s respective Action Goal. The Impact Campaign of each film will focus on finding measurable outcomes that can be achieved, using the film to first bring attention to the issues, and then presenting the methods in which communities can take part in the film’s Action Goal. In some instances, providing funding assistance to local on the ground conservation will help boost the conservation message of the film, and is a necessary and important function of our Impact Campaigns.

Population(s) Served
Ethnic and racial groups
Activists
Artists and performers
Adults
Children and youth

Where we work

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Our planet is changing rapidly, and it cannot speak for itself. Many of the world’s iconic species are either threatened with extinction, or face threats from environmental factors and loss of habitat. As reported by the IUCN Red List of Threatened species, 41,000 species face the threat of extinction, roughly just over a quarter (28%) of the assessed species on earth. The power of film coupled with highly engaging stories can propel messages of hope and inspire action amongst humankind for the future of our planet. Reel Earth Films is dedicated to producing high quality and impactful films about the natural world that will inspire and connect world-wide audiences to the beauty and wonder of our planet, and engage them to be involved in its conservation and preservation.

Reel Earth Films brings a voice to these countless species that are in dire need of public awareness and education. Through our network of filmmakers and storytellers, we will create compelling films that reach global audiences, working towards generating the critical awareness some of these rare and imperiled species require in order to gain a foothold towards recovery.

MISSION STATEMENT
“To inspire people to fall in love with nature through dynamic and compelling films”

VISION STATEMENT
“To be a world leading force in producing natural history programming that creates a better future for the planet”

VALUES
We tell real and authentic stories
We give back to conservation
We strive for excellence
We are building a future for all life on earth
We empower people to take action for nature

We are a fun and creative group of filmmakers, conservationists, and biologists who are passionate about the natural world, and use our skills and talents towards making this world a better place for wildlife and nature through our compelling films. We strive to follow our mission to inspire people to fall in love with nature through dynamic and compelling films and are driven by our vision statement to be a world leading force in producing natural history programming that creates a better future for the planet. As an organization, we live by our values in telling real and authentic stories that give back to conservation, while striving for excellence in our craft and building a future for all life on earth by empowering them to take action for nature.

Our team is a dynamic mix of conservation professionals, both in and out of the film industry, with years of experience working in wildlife conservation and telling important stories of the wild.

Reel Earth Film is raising funding to tackle these questions and produce films that address these issues. Our strategy is simple - raise funding and produce films that achieve our mission and goals of changing the hearts and minds of people around the world to fall in love with nature.

As an organization, our five year financial goal is to raise one million dollars consistently each fiscal cycle in order to cover our administrative expenses, but more importantly to produce the films that will bring about and facilitate the changes we are working towards. As a film organization committed to changing the hearts and minds of people to fall in love with nature, our films will be hard hitting, and impactful.

We are a fun and creative group of filmmakers, conservationists, and biologists who are passionate about the natural world, and use our skills and talents towards making this world a better place for wildlife and nature through our compelling films. We strive to follow our mission to inspire people to fall in love with nature through dynamic and compelling films and are driven by our vision statement to be a world leading force in producing natural history programming that creates a better future for the planet. As an organization, we live by our values in telling real and authentic stories that give back to conservation, while striving for excellence in our craft and building a future for all life on earth by empowering them to take action for nature.

Our team is a dynamic mix of conservation professionals, both in and out of the film industry, with years of experience working in wildlife conservation and telling important stories of the wild.

We are uniquely positioned to carry our our mission and strategy based off of the connections we have in our industry, and being a nonprofit, our ability to reach further than normal methods of natural history filmmaking, we can truly make an impact with measurable outcomes.

Reel Earth Films was only recently organized in 2022, so we are only just now getting started towards achieving our goals and outcomes we seek to create. Our first film has already screened at several film festivals, and has picked up several awards, and is making a difference for wolverine conservation in the State of Oregon.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.
  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback

Financials

Reel Earth Films
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Reel Earth Films

Board of directors
as of 06/29/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Bert Castro

Phoenix Zoo

Term: 2022 - 2025

Jake Willers

9 Caribou Productions, LLC

Jo Ellen Doornbos

Stella Miller

Chris Morgan

Wildlife Media

David H Johnson

Global Owl Project

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 6/29/2023

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

No data

Gender identity

No data

 

No data

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 06/28/2023

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.