Stone Soup

What Stone Soup does

Stone Soup Productions is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Executive Director Andrea Kalin that produces documentary films, podcast series, virtual reality experiences, and educational web platforms on civil rights, healthcare, mental health, cultural diplomacy, and the arts. Its core technology stack spans documentary filmmaking, VR production (El 48 with the National Museum of Costa Rica and UXR Tech), audio storytelling (The People's Recorder, DECODED), and interactive web platforms (humanities.games, The Search for Harmony). The organization also operates youth-facing programs such as Camp Good Life, Color My World, and the Celebration of Excellence at the Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy.

Stone Soup's portfolio includes documentary titles such as Partners of the Heart, No Evidence of Disease, First Lady of the Revolution, Soul of a People, Red Lines, Klandestine Man, Scattering CJ, and Public Defender (2024 Mountainfilm premiere), supported by sustained national impact campaigns that convert broadcasts into scholarships ($500,000 Vivien T. Thomas scholarship with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation), healthcare outreach (NAMI, AFSP, AAS, GOG partnerships), and educational programming (American Library Association, state humanities councils). Distribution spans PBS American Experience, WORLD Channel, Smithsonian Channel, Regal Cinemas theatrical releases, Vimeo-On-Demand, embassy screenings, and 23+ countries internationally.

The business model is grant- and donation-driven: primary funding flows from federal entities (NEH, NEA, CPB, PBS), state humanities councils in 10+ states and DC, the Library of Congress, Smithsonian Network, the US Embassy in Tunisia, and individual tax-deductible donors, supplemented by DVD/VOD sales, screening-event revenue, and corporate partnerships (e.g., GlaxoSmithKline Healthy Communities). The organization operates with 1-10 employees and has accumulated over 100 major industry awards, including a Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe and WGA nominations.

Name

Stone Soup

Legal name

Stone Soup Productions

Website

https://stonetosoup.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stone Soup Productions is a Washington, D.C. nonprofit that produces award-winning documentary films, podcasts, VR experiences, and educational web platforms on civil rights, healthcare, and the arts, serving broadcasters, libraries, schools, and healthcare-advocacy partners across 23+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Documentary Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Media Arts & Performance (Film, Stagecraft, Lighting, Sound) (EDAMAAAJ)

Keywords

• Documentary film production
• Nonprofit media production
• Social impact campaigns
• Educational media programs
• Public television broadcasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Government Grants: Stone Soup receives funding from government entities including NEH, NEA, CPB, PBS, NBPC, state humanities councils, and US Embassy in Tunisia, as well as foundation grants from organizations like the Alabama Humanities Foundation and Maryland Humanities.
2. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible contributions from individual donors support documentary production and impact campaigns.
3. DVD and Content Sales: Documentary films sold on DVD through own storefront (BigCartel) and VOD platforms (Vimeo-On-Demand). Companion books sold through retailers like Amazon.
4. Theatrical and Event Screenings: Partnership screenings with Regal Cinemas (47 theaters on World Cancer Day 2015) and ticket/revenue-generating screening events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Stone Soup Productions is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that produces award-winning documentary films on civil rights, healthcare, arts, and social justice, alongside national impact campaigns that extend the films' influence through educational programming, scholarships, and community engagement. Its portfolio also includes podcast series, virtual reality experiences, and web-based educational platforms such as humanities.games.

Product overview

Stone Soup Productions is a nonprofit documentary production company that crafts award-winning documentary films, podcast series, virtual reality experiences, and educational web platforms. The portfolio includes documentary films (Public Defender, Scattering CJ, Partners of the Heart, First Lady of the Revolution, No Evidence of Disease, Red Lines, Soul of a People, Klandestine Man, Last of the Lions), podcast series (The People's Recorder, Decoded), virtual reality experiences (El 48), web-based educational platforms (humanities.games, The Search for Harmony), youth programs (Camp Good Life, Color My World, The Celebration of Excellence), mental health initiatives (The Comfort Zone), and global education initiatives (Media & Arts for Peace). The company also develops impact campaigns and outreach programming alongside its media productions to extend the influence of its films beyond initial release.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Defender Documentary film exploring what happens when a liberal public defender represents right-wing January 6th defendants, examining U.S. democracy and political division. Produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting.
• The People's Recorder Immersive podcast series exploring how history is recorded, inspired by the WPA's Federal Writers' Project, examining its legacy and what it means for Americans today.
• Decoded 5-part podcast series exploring the future of communication across species, signals, and code, investigating how emerging AI tools unlock insights into the natural world and animal communication.
• Last of the Lions Documentary collaboration with Clarence B. Jones on his acclaimed autobiography about his life and participation in civil rights movements from the 1950s to present.
• Media & Arts for Peace (MAP) Global education initiative working with artists and media professionals from diaspora communities, providing online and on-site courses and training workshops on strategic application of media and arts.
• Scattering CJ Meditative documentary about a mother's mission to prevent suicides and change conversations on mental health, inspired by her son CJ Twomey's death and subsequent online community movement.
• humanities.games Web platform enabling students to learn through creating educational games, with minigame templates where teachers and students can customize games with their own research and artwork for classroom use.
• #Likes4Lucas Independent TV pilot exploring the redemption of a fictional YouTube star, designed to help at-risk teens struggling with digital addiction and social media mental health issues.
• El 48 Interactive virtual reality experience recreating the moment President Figueres dismantled the Costa Rican military, produced in partnership with the National Museum of Costa Rica.
• Partners of the Heart Documentary narrated by Morgan Freeman about Vivien Thomas, a Black carpenter's apprentice who partnered with Dr. Alfred Blalock to pioneer heart surgery for Blue Baby Syndrome, changing medical history.
• The Celebration of Excellence Semi-annual special event at the Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy featuring film screenings and career discussions to inspire underserved youth pursuing medical careers.
• First Lady of the Revolution Documentary about Henrietta Boggs who married Costa Rican leader José Figueres, chronicling her journey from Southern belle to revolutionary first lady and the abolition of Costa Rica's military.
• Klandestine Man Documentary about Stetson Kennedy, who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan and exposed their leaders through the Superman radio show, chronicling his lifelong fight against racial inequality.
• No Evidence of Disease Documentary following six GYN cancer surgeons who form a rock band to raise awareness about gynecologic cancers, featuring over 2,500 television broadcasts and 200+ worldwide screenings.
• Camp Good Life Free sleep-away camp for at-risk youth providing media production, technology and communication workshops, and outdoor activities for historically underserved communities.
• Red Lines Documentary following two Syrian activists Razan Shalab-al-Sham and Mouaz Moustafa as they work to establish democracy in Syria during the early civil war years.
• Soul of a People Documentary exploring the WPA Writers' Project during the Great Depression, featuring interviews with alumni and chronicling how unemployed writers documented America through guidebooks and oral histories.
• The Search for Harmony Web-based educational game where players help Maestro find his lost friend Harmony by rebuilding musical bridges, teaching multicultural influences on classical music.
• Color My World Youth-run organization recycling crayons from restaurants into art supplies for shelters and schools while teaching children about recycling and reducing waste.
• Global Leaders Assembly Foundation (GLAF) Foundation reimagining global leadership through stakeholder dialogues on important issues, reaching global audiences with conversations about contemporary challenges.

Quantifiable outcome

• $500,000 scholarship created in honor of Vivien T. Thomas
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Pulitzer Center for Crisis ReportingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic Defender documentary produced in partnership with Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting, exploring democracy and public defense.
• MountainfilmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMountainfilm Commitment Grant recipient and premiere venue for Public Defender documentary.
• GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Healthy CommunitiesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners of the Heart became centerpiece of GSK's Healthy Communities campaign combining free screenings with community health fairs. Partnership created $500,000 Vivien T. Thomas scholarship for African American students.
• Congressional Black Caucus FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create $500,000 scholarship in honor of Vivien T. Thomas for African American high school graduates interested in health, medicine or biomedical research.
• American Library AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoul of a People became centerpiece of special library initiative celebrating 75th anniversary of New Deal, screened in 35+ libraries and 80 museums.
• Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpanding No Evidence of Disease screening initiatives to underserved communities in coordination with GOG.
• Regal CinemascoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership screening No Evidence of Disease in 47 theaters in U.S. and Canada on World Cancer Day 2015 with talkbacks.
• National Museum of Costa RicaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose partnership on El 48 VR experience recreating Costa Rican military abolition. First VR exhibit in Costa Rica. Also partnered on First Lady of the Revolution VR exhibit.
• Glenda Umaña ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producing El 48 interactive VR project with Glenda Umaña Productions and UXR Tech.
• UXR TechcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner for El 48 VR experience production.
• American Association of Suicidology (AAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerField-tested mental health boot camp following Scattering CJ premiere at Camden International Film Festival.
• American College Counseling AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational mental health organization partner for Scattering CJ outreach campaigns.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal chapters host live and virtual screenings of Scattering CJ across the U.S.
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity mental health and suicide prevention partner hosting Scattering CJ screenings.
• Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilitary-focused mental health outreach partner for Scattering CJ impact campaign targeting military bases.
• Smithsonian NetworkflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSoul of a People broadcast partner with regular broadcasts on Smithsonian Channel. Major funding provided by Smithsonian Network.
• AlQatibacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal partner in Tunisia for Media and Arts for Peace project, co-developing and publishing creative projects.
• Library of CongressflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerVivien T. Thomas scholarship announced at Library of Congress event attended by members of Congress. Soul of a People produced in association with Library of Congress.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Florentine Films: Ken Burns' documentary production company, comparable as a long-running nonfiction shop that monetizes through PBS broadcast, educational licensing, and accompanying humanities-grade impact work.
• Fork Films: Abigail Disney's socially engaged documentary production outfit behind The Armor of Light and PBS releases, comparable as a mission-driven doc producer using impact campaigns and foundation grants.
• ITVS (Independent Television Service): Public-broadcasting-funded nonprofit that commissions, produces, and distributes independent documentaries for PBS, sharing Stone Soup's reliance on CPB funding and same distribution pipe (Independent Lens).
• Mylan Media: Impact documentary and educational media producer known for PBS distribution and grant-funded nonfiction (Facing Fear, On Her Shoulders), directly aligned with Stone Soup's mission-driven slate.
• Kartemquin Films: Chicago-based nonprofit documentary production company behind Hoop Dreams and The Interrupters, with a similar impact-campaign-driven model supported by foundation grants, public TV broadcast, and educational distribution.
• Participant Media: Impact-driven narrative film and documentary producer (An Inconvenient Truth, Food, Inc.) whose social-mission slate mirrors Stone Soup's emphasis on measurable societal outcomes alongside theatrical/broadcast release.
• Actual Films: Independent documentary producer behind PBS-broadcast, foundation-funded nonfiction (Minding the Gap) that uses impact campaigns and educational distribution — same operational shape as Stone Soup.

Broad incumbents

• Vulcan Productions: Late Paul Allen's large-scale impact documentary producer (Racing Extinction, Mercury 13) operating with significantly greater capital; overlap is the social-issue documentary + impact-campaign thesis, though at much larger budget scale.
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS): National public broadcaster and Stone Soup's primary distribution partner for films like Partners of the Heart and N.E.D.; not a competitor but the dominant channel defining the addressable audience for the company's work.

Others

• The Film Collaborative: Nonprofit film distribution and fiscal sponsorship organization serving independent and documentary filmmakers; comparable as a 501(c)(3) platform adjacent to Stone Soup's fiscal sponsorship mission and self-distribution (Vimeo-OD, BigCartel) work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@peoplesrecorder

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stone Soup