Define American
Donations deductibleDefine American's network
5 people2 organisationsi5 people and 2 organisations on this map.The large node is the subject of this page. Solid lines are what the register itself records (5). Violet dotted lines (2) are likely: the same full name sits on the current board of another organisation in the same register and region. Form 990 filings give names without a person identifier; SEC insider filings carry a CIK. It may be a different person.The board
5 listediTime on the board is observed from the annual filings: the IRS files no appointment date, so the bar counts years from the first filing the person appears on - a lower bound, not a filed start date. Names are exactly as filed. The IRS publishes no person identifier, so this edition does not yet link a person across organisations in the tables. The network map shows same-name matches as likely links only, never as confirmed.Tenure and departures are observed across annual filings. Observed tenure is a lower bound - a member may have joined before the first year on record. The organisation reported 5 voting members of its governing body on its latest Form 990 Part VI, which matches the board listed here.| Name | Role as filed | Since | On the board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicco Mele Chair | Chair | 2020 | 6 yrs |
| Jose Antonio Vargas | Founder | 2020 | 6 yrs |
| Kristina Villarini | Board Member | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| Peter Perl | Company secretary | 2022 | 4 yrs |
| Yscaira Jimenez | Treasurer | 2023 | 3 yrs |
Under 5 years5 to 6 years6 years or more
Officers and senior leadership
15 listediNamed in Part VII as officers, key employees or highest-compensated staff - not board members, shown for completeness.| Name | Title as filed | On the filings |
|---|---|---|
| Alicia Wade | COO | since 2020 |
| Amina Barnes | Operations Director | since 2022 |
| Bich Ngoc Quach CAO | COO | since 2018 |
| Charlene Jimenez | Director of Entertainment | since 2021 |
| Elizabeth Grizzle Voorhees | Chief of STR | 2020 |
| Elizabeth Grizzlie Voorhees | Cheif Strategy Officer | 2021 |
| Elizabeth Robbins | Director of Journalism | 2022 |
| Jacqueline GOH | Development Director | since 2018 |
| Leezia Dhalla | Director of Communications | 2023 |
| Michael Corrente | Director of Strategic Growth | since 2021 |
| Ryan Eller | Executive Director | since 2018 |
| Rebecca Davis | Associate Director of Digital | 2024 |
| Rebecca Neuwirth | Executive Director | 2023 |
| Sarah E Lowe | Director of Research & Evaluat | since 2022 |
| Shauna H Siggelkow | Vice President of Programs | since 2020 |
Pay and hours
year to 31 December 2024iFrom Part VII of the Form 990: compensation reported for each officer, director, trustee, key employee and highest-paid staff member, and the average hours a week they report. Most board members are unpaid; a blank means nothing was reported. Pay from related organisations is shown separately.| Name | Title as filed | Hours a week | Pay from the organisation | Related organisations | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shauna H Siggelkow | Vice President of Programs | 40 | $144k | $18k | |
| Sarah E Lowe | Director of Research & Evaluat | 40 | $130k | $18k | |
| Rebecca Davis | Associate Director of Digital | 40 | $106k | $9k | |
| Jose Antonio Vargas | Founder | 5 | $0 | ||
| Peter Perl | Secretary | 5 | $0 | ||
| Nicco Mele | Chair | 5 | $0 | ||
| Yscaira Jimenez | Treasurer | 5 | $0 | ||
| Kristina Villarini | Board Member | 5 | $0 |
Colorado roster
7 listediOfficers, directors and trustees from the latest filing with the Colorado Secretary of State (document 20233036961). Titles are as filed; some entries are registered agents or custodians of records rather than board members. Source: data.colorado.gov, public domain.| Name | Title as filed |
|---|---|
| Nicco Mele | Treasurer |
| Amina Barnes | |
| Michael Corrente | Director of Strategic Growth |
| Jenn Bender | Managing Director |
| Amina Barnes | Director of Operations |
| Rebecca Neuwirth | Executive Director |
| Peter Perl | Secretary |
About
- Legal name
- Define American
- EIN
- 464610491
- Address
- 453 S Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90013-2013
- State
- California
- Mission
- Define american is a media and culture change organization that humanizes the conversation about immigrants and citizenship in a changing america. We advocate for more positive and accurate portrayal of immigrants in media in order to create a more inclusive culture to improve public perception toward immigrants. (as filed on the Form 990)
- Activity (NTEE)
- P84 Human services
- IRS classification
- 501(c)03 (tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) where shown)
- Classified purpose
- Human Services
- Size band
- 6 (IRS master file code)
- Formed
- 2014
- Principal officer
- Nicco Mele (as named on the Form 990)
- IRS ruling date
- 1 January 2015
- Status
- Code 01 (unconditional exemption)
- Form 990 filings on record
- 7, latest 2024
- IRS Publication 78
- PC (contributions deductible)
Most connected
Longest observed on the filings
≥6years on the filingsNicco Mele
≥6years on the filingsJose Antonio Vargas
≥4years on the filingsPeter Perl
≥3years on the filingsKristina Villarini
Latest return
year to 31 December 2024iFigures from the newest Form 990 or 990-EZ in the IRS e-file releases of 2025 and 2026, for the year ending 31 December 2024. US dollars, as filed.- Total assets
- $3m
- Total liabilities
- $129k
- Net assets or fund balances
- $2.8m
- Contributions and grants received
- $1.6m
- Program service revenue
- $455k
- Employees
- 24
- Volunteers
- 5
Filed finances
1 yeariTotals as filed on the IRS Form 990 (revenue and expenses), by tax year.| Tax year | Total revenue | Total expenses | Surplus or deficit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2.1m | $4.1m | Deficit $2m |
As filed on the IRS Form 990. US dollars.