Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service
Public Charity Status and Public Support
Complete if the organization is a section 501(c)(3) organization or a section
4947(a)(1) nonexempt charitable trust.
Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ. See separate instructions.
OMB No. 1545-0047
2010
Open to Public Inspection
Name of the organization
Writers Guild Foundation
Employer identification number
23-7024900
Part I
Reason for Public Charity Status
(All organizations must complete this part.) See instructions
The organization is not a private foundation because it is: (For lines 1 through 11, check only one box.)
1
2
3
4
5
section 170(b)(1)(A)(iv). (Complete Part II.)
6
7
8
9
receipts from activities related to its exempt functions—subject to certain exceptions, and (2) no more than 331/3% of
its support from gross investment income and unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 tax) from businesses
acquired by the organization after June 30, 1975. See section 509(a)(2). (Complete Part III.)
10
11
e
By checking this box, I certify that the organization is not controlled directly or indirectly by one or more disqualified persons other than foundation managers and other than one or more publicly supported organizations described in section 509(a)(1) or section 509(a)(2).
f
If the organization received a written determination from the IRS that it is a Type I, Type II or Type III supporting organization, check this box
..................................................
g
Since August 17, 2006, has the organization accepted any gift or contribution from any of the following persons?
(i) a person who directly or indirectly controls, either alone or together with persons described in (ii)
Yes
No
and (iii) below, the governing body of the the supported organization?
................
11g(i)
(ii)
a family member of a person described in (i) above?
......................
11g(ii)
(iii)
a 35% controlled entity of a person described in (i) or (ii) above?
................
11g(iii)
h
Provide the following information about the supported organization(s).
(i) Name of supported organization
(ii) EIN
(iii) Type of organization (described on lines 1- 9 above or IRC section (see instructions))
(iv) Is the organization in col. (i) listed in your governing document?
(v) Did you notify the organization in col. (i) of your support?
(vi) Is the organization in col. (i) organized in the U.S.?
(vii) Amount of support?
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Total
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the Instructions for Form 990.
Cat. No. 11285F
Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2010
Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2010
Page 2
Part II
Support Schedule for Organizations Described in IRC 170(b)(1)(A)(iv) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (Complete only if you checked the box on line 5, 7, or 8 of Part I or if the
organization failed to qualify under Part III. If the organization fails to
qualify under the tests listed below, please complete Part III.)
Section A. Public Support
Calendar year(or fiscal year beginning in)
(a) 2006
(b) 2007
(c) 2008
(d) 2009
(e) 2010
(f) Total
1
Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") ....
2
Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf.......
3
The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge..
4
Total. Add lines 1 through 3..
5
The portion of total contributions by each person (other than a governmental unit or publicly supported organization) included
on line 1 that exceeds 2% of the amount shown on line 11, column (f)..
6
Public Support. Subtract line 5 from line 4.
Section B. Total Support
Calendar year(or fiscal year beginning in)
(a) 2006
(b) 2007
(c) 2008
(d) 2009
(e) 2010
(f) Total
7
Amounts from line 4..
8
Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources..
9
Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on..
10
Other income. (Explain in Part IV.) Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets..
11
Total support (Add lines 7 through 10).
12
Gross receipts from related activities, etc. (See instructions.)
..................
12
13
First Five Years
If the Form 990 is for the organization's first, second, third, fourth, or fifth tax year as a 501(c)(3) organization,
check this box and stop here..........................................
Section C. Computation of Public Support Percentage
14
Public Support Percentage for 2010 (line 6 column (f) divided by line 11 column (f))
.........
14
15
Public Support Percentage for 2009 Schedule A, Part II, line 14
...............
15
16a
33 1/3% support test—2010.
If the organization did not check the box on line 13, and line 14 is 33 1/3% or more, check this box
and stop here. The organization qualifies as a publicly supported organization
......................
b
33 1/3% support test—2009.
If the organization did not check the box on line 13 or 16a, and line 15 is 33 1/3% or more, check this
box and stop here. The organization qualifies as a publicly supported organization
.....................
17a
10%-facts-and-circumstances test—2010.
If the organization did not check a box on line 13, 16a, or 16b and line 14
is 10% or more, and if the organization meets the "facts and circumstances" test, check this box and stop here. Explain
in Part IV how the organization meets the "facts and circumstances" test. The organization qualifies as a publicly supported
organization
..................................................
b
10%-facts-and-circumstances test—2009.
If the organization did not check a box on line 13, 16a, 16b, or 17a and line
15 is 10% or more, and if the organization meets the "facts and circumstances" test, check this box and stop here.
Explain in Part IV how the organization meets the "facts and circumstances" test. The organization qualifies as a publicly supported organization
..............................................
18
Private Foundation
If the organization did not check a box on line 13, 16a, 16b, 17a or 17b, check this box and see
instructions
...................................................
Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2010
Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2010
Page 3
Part III
Support Schedule for Organizations Described in IRC 509(a)(2) (Complete only if you checked the box on line 9 of Part I or if the organization
failed to qualify under Part II. If the organization fails to qualify under
the tests listed below, please complete Part II.)
Section A. Public Support
Calendar year(or fiscal year beginning in)
(a) 2006
(b) 2007
(c) 2008
(d) 2009
(e) 2010
(f) Total
1
Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") .
726,118
721,323
601,263
581,156
540,171
3,170,031
2
Gross receipts from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed, or facilities furnished in any activity that is related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose......
12,613
112,405
80,971
129,448
121,045
456,482
3
Gross receipts from activities that are not an unrelated trade or business under section 513..
0
4
Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf...
0
5
The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge..
0
6
Total. Add lines 1 through 5.
738,731
833,728
682,234
710,604
661,216
3,626,513
7a
Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons...
0
b
Amounts included on lines 2 and 3 received from other than disqualified persons that exceed the greater of $5,000 or 1% of the amount on line 13 for the year.
0
c
Add lines 7a and 7b..
8
Public Support (Subtract line 7c from line 6.)
3,626,513
Section B. Total Support
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in)
(a) 2006
(b) 2007
(c) 2008
(d) 2009
(e) 2010
(f) Total
9
Amounts from line 6...
738,731
833,728
682,234
710,604
661,216
3,626,513
10a
Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources..
18,453
58,827
58,733
44,670
180,683
b
Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975.
0
c
Add lines 10a and 10b.
18,453
58,827
58,733
44,670
180,683
11
Net income from unrelated business activities not included in line 10b, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.
0
12
Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part IV.)
66
2,070
2,136
13
Total support (Add lines 9, 10c, 11 and 12.).
738,797
852,181
743,131
769,337
705,886
3,809,332
14
First Five Years
If the Form 990 is for the organization's first, second, third, fourth, or fifth tax year as a 501(c)(3) organization,
check this box and stop here.............................................
Section C. Computation of Public Support Percentage
15
Public Support Percentage for 2010 (line 8 column (f) divided by line 13 column (f))
.........
15
95.200 %
16
Public support percentage from 2009 Schedule A, Part III, line 15
...............
16
96.710 %
Section D. Computation of Investment Income Percentage
17
Investment income percentage for 2010 (line 10c column (f) divided by line 13 column (f))
......
17
4.740 %
18
Investment income percentage from 2009 Schedule A, Part III, line 17
.............
18
3.250 %
19a
33 1/3% support tests—2010.
If the organization did not check the box on line 14, and line 15 is more than 33 1/3% and line 17 is not more than 33 1/3%, check this box and stop here. The organization qualifies as a publicly supported organization
..........
b
33 1/3% support tests—2009.
If the organization did not check a box on line 14 or line 19a, and line 16 is more than 33 1/3% and line 18 is not more than 33 1/3%, check this box and stop here. The organization qualifies as a publicly supported organization
....
20
Private Foundation
If the organization did not check a box on line 14, 19a or 19b, check this box and see instructions
.....
Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2010
Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2010
Page 4
Part IV
Supplemental Information.
Supplemental Information. Complete this part to provide the explanation required by Part II, line 10; Part II, line 17a or 17b; or Part III, line 12. Also complete this part for any additional information. (See instructions).
Facts And Circumstances Test
Explanation
Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2010
Additional Data
Software ID:
10000105
Software Version:
2010v3.2
-
TIN:
SCHEDULE O (Form 990 or 990-EZ)
Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service
Supplemental Information to Form 990 or 990-EZ
Complete to provide information for responses to specific questions on
Form 990 or to provide any additional information.
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
OMB No. 1545-0047
2010
Open to Public Inspection
Name of the organization
Writers Guild Foundation
Employer identification number
23-7024900
Identifier
Return Reference
Explanation
Statement A, Item C
SEMINARS AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTSThe Foundation continued its expanded program of events in 2010-11 and held a total of 32 seminars, classes and speaker events.The Foundation's popular monthly seminar series Writers on Writing continued to attract good audiences throughout the year. Each session featured an outstanding screen or TV writer, (or in some cases a panel of writers) interviewed by a knowledgeable journalist or academic, with an audience Q & A to follow. A total of seven individual writers appeared in this series over the year, and a further 11 took part in panel discussions, one on Family Guy (June 1, 2010) and one on Writing for Children and Young People (September 23, 2010).On June 16, 2010, the Foundation offered a seminar called 'Clearance and Copyright - An Update', a seminar on clearance and copyright issues for writers and filmmakers led by Michael C. Donaldson Esq.On June 26 the Foundation presented For Love or Money: The Passion Project, an all day seminar on screenwriting featuring 14 prominent writers plus several agents and producers.Between July 1 - 29 the Foundation offered Writers on Genre, a series of five evenings featuring leading writers in a variety of genres: Action Adventure and Thriller, Horror, Drama and True Stories, Science Fiction and Fantasy, and Comedy and Romantic Comedy. On July 31 the Foundation presented Writing for Television, 2010: What You Need to Know, an all-day seminar devoted to writing for television in a changing world, featuring 19 prominent television writers and a variety of producers, executives and agents. Between October 14 - November 18 the Foundation offered Notes on Craft, a series of six evenings hosted by Daniel Petrie Jr. with prominent writers discussing various aspects of the screenwriting craft, featuring 18 prominent writers.On March 24, 2011 the Foundation held an evening to celebrate the work of Diane English, the 2010 winner of the Writers Guild of America's Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television.In the spring of 2011, the Foundation once again offered Anatomy of a Script, an in-depth weekly evening seminar series led by Robin Schiff and Winnie Holzman following the development of six projects from first idea to finished film or program, with emphasis on the writing process. On August 26, 2010, the Foundation presented Sublime Prime Time, a panel of Emmy nominated writers at WGA On February 18, 2011, it presented Beyond Words, a panel with WGA and Academy nominated writers. During 2010 -11 the Foundation began a program of live video streaming; tapes of the finished events are available for viewing on the internet.All of the Foundation's events are open to the public, with special provision for students and military veterans. These programs and the expenses involved are critical to the Foundation's goals of public outreach and advancing the profession of writing.VETERANS' WRITING WORKSHOPOver the weekend of April 16-17, 2011 the Writers Guild Foundation hosted its second two-day writing workshop for military service personnel and veterans. A follow-up group continues to meet with mentors monthly at the WGA, along with several members of the 2010 intake. The 2011 project has involved over 30 mentor/instructors and 53 veterans and members of the military. The project speaks to the Foundation's goal of writers serving the community and is the Foundation's fastest-growing program.THE WRITER SPEAKSDuring 2010 - 11, the Foundation continued its Writer Speaks program, a series of oral history interviews with distinguished writers of film and television. Six (6) new interviews were taped during the 2010/11 financial year and several previously stockpiled interviews were transferred to DVD, edited and placed in the Shavelson-Webb Library, where they are now available for viewing.BOOK AND SCRIPT PUBLISHINGIn April 2011 the Foundation participated in the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. It also participated in the UCLA Writers Faire, held on campus in the early fall.
Statement A, Item B
LITERACY PROGRAMS AND ACADEMIC OUTREACHThe Foundation continues in its academic outreach efforts, principally to instructors and department chairs in film/television and creative writing departments of colleges throughout the US and abroad. A bi-annual outreach effort to more than 1,000 faculty members around the country invites requests for professional writers to serve as visiting guest speakers in classrooms or at seminars, conferences and other academic occasions, giving schools the option to host the writer on their campus in person or via videoconference. In fiscal year 2010/2011 a total of 92 writers were recruited from among active members of the Writers Guild to make such appearances for various colleges, high schools, and film festivals, including one in Australia. Approximately 50% of these appearances were conducted via videoconference, teleconference or Skype from the Writers Guild premises to campuses across the U.S, as well as to Nairobi, Kenya. The Foundation continued its literacy efforts with its two-week screenwriting workshop to groups of at-risk high school students in Los Angeles schools ranked among the lowest in student academic achievement in the State. The Foundation held seven (7) two-week screenwriting workshops in LAUSD high schools involving 187 students during the 2010/11 financial year. Six scholarships towards college tuition were awarded to outstanding students from the program.The Foundation also partnered with other local non-profits on their literacy programs and recruited writer-mentors for the Young Storytellers, Write Girl and Wonder of Reading programs. In recent years the Foundation Book Drive has concentrated on collecting children's books, which are in greater demand. During 2010/11 we donated over 200 children's books to The Children's Bureau. The Foundation's educational efforts are important to the Foundation's goals of promoting excellence in writing, and fostering an appreciation and understanding of the writer's role in the collaborative arts of film and television.
Statement A, Item A
THE WRITERS GUILD FOUNDATION SHAVELSON-WEBB LIBRARY & ARCHIVE Between June 2010 and May 2011 the Writers Guild Foundation library continued to increase its holdings, primarily through donations of screenplays, teleplays, and other materials, including books, audiovisual materials, and miscellaneous items. A total of 2,548 items were cataloged into the collection during 2010/11 as follows: 1508 television scripts, 246 film scripts, 162 books, 18 radio scripts, 590 audiovisual items (including VHS tapes, CDs and DVDs), 23 New Media titles and 1 new periodical title. In May 2011 the library staff consisted of one full-time librarian, and two full-time assistants. In May 2011 our annual script binding order - 102 items -- was sent to Kater-Crafts Bindery. Most of the titles were WGA, Academy Award, and Humanitas Prize-honored film and television works. Many scripts are now being stored digitally, and over 1700 scripts are now stored and accessible in this way.This fiscal period saw 6,494 visitors and users, both in person and via telephone. This figure was represented by 455 WGA members and 6,039 non-members, including WGA staff. During the year, 5,669 television scripts were used, and 1,150 feature film scripts were requested. 305 audio-visual items were viewed. The library was open for 239 business days. At the end of FY 2010-11 the library's awards database and catalog contained a total of 26,838 cataloged items and complete awards data (in the writing category) for the WGA Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Academy Awards, and Emmy Awards.During 2010-11 we continued our academic internship program and hosted two library science interns from San Jose State University's School of Library and Information Science.Several major exhibits were featured in the library during that period: War Movies; Holiday movies; Summer Blockbusters; and an exhibit featuring the 2010 winners of the WGA career laurel awards, Steven Zaillian and Diane English. The library is the Foundation's largest and most visible program. Because it focuses on collecting award nominated scripts, it is critical to the Foundation's aim of preserving and promoting excellence in writing and advancing the recognition of the writer's unique contribution to the art of film and television.
Form 990, Part VI, Line 19
Form 990, Part VI, Line 19: Other Organization Documents Publicly Available
Documents are available on written request to the organization.
Form 990, Part VI, Line 12c
Form 990, Part VI, Line 12c: Explanation of Monitoring and Enforcement of Conflicts
Board members are annually advised of the organization's policy and directed to disclose any conflicts of interest.
Form 990, Part VI, Line 11
Form 990, Part VI, Line 11: Form 990 Review Process
Form 990 is provided to all board members in draft form prior to being finalized and filed.
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the Instructions for Form 990 or 990-EZ.