DECODING CULTURE FOUNDATION
Cite this
Plain text DECODING CULTURE FOUNDATION. Strategy Studio, nonprofit organization profile, tax years 2023–2025. https://strategystudio.org/org/923025720. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
APA Strategy Studio. (n.d.). DECODING CULTURE FOUNDATION [Nonprofit organization profile; tax years 2023–2025]. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://strategystudio.org/org/923025720
MLA “DECODING CULTURE FOUNDATION.” Strategy Studio, tax years 2023–2025, https://strategystudio.org/org/923025720. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.
Retrieved 2026-10-19; covers tax years 2023–2025. Data: Strategy Studio, CC BY 4.0.
2025 · Form 990 · revenue $226K · expenses $242K · assets $67K
- EIN
- 92-3025720
- Address
- 6557 FIELDMONT MANOR DR, TOBACCOVILLE, NC 27050-9614
- Website
- DECODING-CULTURE.COM
- NTEE code
- W05
- Subsection
- 501(c)(3)
- Ruling year
- 2023
- Cross-check
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Mission
THE DECODING CULTURE FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO THE STUDY OF CULTURAL ENGINEERING, MORE SPECIFICALLY, TO THE INVESTIGATION AND GENERAL DISSEMINATION OF THE MYRIAD WAYS THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY SHAPES PUBLIC ATTITUDES AND VALUES.
Each tax year counts once: when a return was amended, only the latest return for that period is used below (superseded returns stay listed, greyed, under Finances).
People paid by the organization
4 people paid across every filing: current people first, then by total pay from this organization. Organizations counts every nonprofit each person appears on.
| Name | Latest title | Years | Latest year pay | Total pay from here | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brett Carollo | DIRECTOR OF | 2023-2025 | $85,933 | $182,406 | 1 |
| Thomas Millary | PRESIDENT | 2023-2025 | $77,720 | $172,920 | 1 |
| Mariana Najera | OFFICE MANAG | 2024-2025 | $22,950 | $28,269 | 1 |
| John Stroup (former) | HEAD OF EDUC | 2023-2024 | $16,200 | $24,046 | 1 |
People by year
2025 · 3 people listed · 3 paid, $187K · 3 employees
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRETT CAROLLO | DIRECTOR OF | 30 | $65,877 | $0 | $20,056 | $85,933 | 1 |
| THOMAS MILLARY | PRESIDENT | 30 | $72,544 | $0 | $5,176 | $77,720 | 1 |
| MARIANA NAJERA | OFFICE MANAG | 25 | $22,950 | $0 | $0 | $22,950 | 1 |
2024 · 4 people listed · 4 paid, $153K · 4 employees
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRETT CAROLLO | DIRECTOR OF | 40 | $66,312 | $0 | $0 | $66,312 | 1 |
| THOMAS MILLARY | PRESIDENT | 40 | $64,992 | $0 | $0 | $64,992 | 1 |
| JOHN STROUP | HEAD OF EDUC | 20 | $16,200 | $0 | $0 | $16,200 | 1 |
| MARIANA NAJERA | OFFICE MANAG | 29 | $5,319 | $0 | $0 | $5,319 | 1 |
2023 · 3 people listed · 3 paid, $68K
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS MILLARY | PRESIDENT | 40 | $30,208 | - | - | $30,208 | 1 |
| BRETT CAROLLO | DIRECTOR OF | 40 | $30,161 | - | - | $30,161 | 1 |
| JOHN STROUP | HEAD OF EDUC | 20 | $7,846 | - | - | $7,846 | 1 |
Highest-paid independent contractors
No independent contractors reported.
Who gave
Contributor names are not public for this form type.
Public charities filing Form 990 or 990-EZ report large donors on Schedule B, but the IRS withholds their names and addresses from public copies. Private foundations (990-PF) are different: their contributors are public.
Finances
Newest first. Each filing: its name on one row, its figures on the row beneath. Greyed filings are superseded by a later return for the same period and are left out everywhere else on this page.
| Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Net assets | Contributions | Program revenue | Officer pay | Employees | Volunteers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $225,820 | $241,660 | $66,682 | $66,682 | $224,136 | $0 | $161,371 | 3 | - |
| 2024 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $220,607 | $203,775 | $82,522 | $82,522 | $220,000 | $0 | $152,823 | 4 | - |
| 2023 · Form 990EZ | ||||||||
| $150,052 | $84,362 | $65,690 | $65,690 | $150,000 | - | - | - | - |
Funders of this organization
Not reported: no grants to this organization appear in the filings we have (tax years 2010 to 2025).
Similar organizations
Ranked without any AI: same NTEE code first, then the same NTEE group; then revenue within 2x, 5x or 10x; then the same state; then similar name and mission text. Same state only · More (100)
| Organization | State | NTEE | Latest revenue | Latest expenses | Top-paid title | Top pay | Why similar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OMEGA LABS INC | NC | W05 | $170,000 | $0 | DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x, same state |
| IAM FOUNDATION | AZ | W05 | $176,430 | $93,426 | Director, Vice President | $36,000 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| COMMON SENSE FOR OREGON FOUNDATION | OR | W05 | $446,673 | $384,257 | Director | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR AMERICAN POLICY | VA | W05 | $367,322 | $401,891 | EXECUTIVE DI | $261,323 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| CYBER CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOUNDATION | CA | W05 | $225,000 | $225,016 | CHAIRMAN & PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| STATE LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION | DC | W05 | $250,000 | $10,472 | President - Treasurer - Secretary - Director | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATION FOUNDATIONS INC | MD | W05 | $426,957 | $435,159 | AT LG DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| DRIVING OHIO FORWARD | OH | W05 | $318,600 | $67,169 | PRESIDENT & ASSISTANT SECR | $634,792 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| FORWARD MOTION SOCIAL JUSTICE INSTITUTE | CA | W05 | $197,712 | $236,860 | Chairman | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| TEXAS UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST JUSTICE MINISTRY EDUCATION NETWORK | TX | W05 | $231,843 | $203,168 | Chairman | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| ORIGINS COUNCIL | CA | W05 | $254,582 | $259,121 | SECRETARY/TR | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| UNITE NY EDUCATION FUND | NY | W05 | $449,663 | $422,159 | Former Exec Director | $141,681 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| THE AMERICAN CAUSE | VA | W05 | $132,746 | $67,853 | DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| ALASKANS FOR POSTERITY INC | AK | W05 | $210,003 | $252,963 | DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| DELTA GAMMA CHAPTER OF ALPHA GAMMA DELTA FRATERNITY HOUSE ASSOCIATION | MT | W05 | $221,756 | $73,908 | President | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| CAMPAIGN FOR LIBERTY | TX | W05 | $440,242 | $489,040 | Executive Director | $145,200 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| FINANCIAL POLICY COUNCIL INC | NY | W05 | $307,488 | $332,701 | CHAIRMAN AND PRESIDENT | $297,897 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| MISSISSIPPI CIVIL DEFENSE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION INC | MS | W05 | $139,965 | $133,111 | ASSOC SEC/TREASURER | $2,400 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| SOCRATUS COLLECTIVE WISDOM CORPORATION | MA | W05 | $240,545 | $745,440 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| CENTER FOR FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY FOUNDATION | VA | W05 | $190,416 | $134,466 | Treasurer | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| WAY TO FREEDOM | TX | W05 | $166,825 | $158,382 | DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| CITIZENS FOR LOCAL POWER INC | NY | W05 | $435,324 | $411,305 | FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | $80,000 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| CUSTOMERS FIRST COALITION INC | WI | W05 | $241,722 | $230,906 | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/DIRECTO | $162,950 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| ADOPTION PROJECT INC | TN | W05 | $371,099 | $534,689 | PRESIDENT | $275,980 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON INITIATIVE INC | DC | W05 | $192,686 | $172,342 | Director President Treasurer | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
Who funds organizations like this
Grantors that funded the 100 most similar organizations. Ranked by total given to them. Foundations (990-PF) and donor-advised fund sponsors only. Same matching as Funders above (by EIN, or by name for foundations).
The full list · all similar organizations
Where the money went
Every expense line on each return, biggest first: Form 990 Part IX (with its program, management and fundraising columns), 990-EZ Part I, or 990-PF Part I. Event marks lines the organization itself describes as events. “Events” in each summary adds those lines, conferences and meetings, and the direct costs of fundraising events. Unusual is not the same as improper. Many of these patterns have ordinary explanations. Check the filing.
2025 · Form 990 · $241,660 spent · pay $174,451 · grants $0 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other salaries and wages | $162,054 | $162,054 | - | - | 67.1% | |
| Insurance | $32,680 | $32,680 | - | - | 13.5% | |
| Fees: legal | $16,381 | - | $16,381 | - | 6.8% | |
| Payroll taxes | $12,397 | $12,397 | - | - | 5.1% | |
| Information technology | $8,661 | $8,661 | - | - | 3.6% | |
| Fees: other services | $5,615 | $5,615 | - | - | 2.3% | |
| Office expenses | $3,735 | $2,304 | $1,431 | - | 1.5% | |
| Travel | $100 | $100 | - | - | 0.0% | |
| Depreciation and depletion | $37 | $37 | - | - | 0.0% | |
| Total | $241,660 | 100% |
2024 · Form 990 · $203,775 spent · pay $166,277 · grants $450 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other salaries and wages | $152,823 | $152,823 | - | - | 75.0% | |
| Insurance | $16,510 | $16,510 | - | - | 8.1% | |
| Payroll taxes | $13,454 | $13,454 | - | - | 6.6% | |
| Fees: other services | $8,120 | $8,120 | - | - | 4.0% | |
| Fees: legal | $3,500 | - | $3,500 | - | 1.7% | |
| Office expenses | $3,155 | $1,734 | $1,421 | - | 1.5% | |
| Travel | $3,146 | $3,146 | - | - | 1.5% | |
| Information technology | $2,555 | $2,555 | - | - | 1.3% | |
| Grants to US organizations and governments | $450 | $450 | - | - | 0.2% | |
| Depreciation and depletion | $62 | $62 | - | - | 0.0% | |
| Total | $203,775 | 100% |
2023 · Form 990EZ · $84,362 spent · pay $73,479 · grants $0 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salaries, other pay and benefits | $73,479 | 87.1% | |
| Other expenses (detail on Schedule O) | $8,776 | 10.4% | |
| Fees to independent contractors | $2,107 | 2.5% | |
| Total | $84,362 | 100% |