Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ENTERTAIN, INFORM, AND ENGAGE - BUILDING A VITAL COMMUNITY THROUGH FILM CULTURE.
- Income
- $9.0 million
- Spending
- $8.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- -0.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 64%
- Employees
- 76
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $205,340, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 41% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 33 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $7.5 million spent. THE COOLIDGE CORNER THEATRE FOUNDATION, INC. IS AN INDEPENDENT ART HOUSE CINEMA, COMMUNITY ASSET AND CULTURAL INSTITUTION THAT HAS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE AND THE GREATER BOSTON AREA SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1933.IN ADDITION TO SCREENING THE BEST OF FIRST RUN INDEPENDENT NARRATIVE AND DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILMS, THE COOLIDGE OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF SPECIAL PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING: SCIENCE ON SCREEN, THE SOUNDS OF SILENTS, BIG SCREEN CLASSICS, AFTER MIDNITE, PANORAMA, REWIND, CINEMA JUKEBOX, SHAKESPEARE REIMAGINED, KIDS' SHOWS, BOX OFFICE BABIES, BROADCASTS OF PRODUCTIONS FROM LONDON'S NATIONAL THEATRE, OPERAS AND DANCE PERFORMANCES FROM ACCLAIMED THEATRES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, PRE- AND POST-SCREENING DISCUSSIONS WITH FILMMAKERS AND OTHER TALENT, AND FILM EDUCATION COURSES. THE COOLIDGE ALSO PRESENTS OUTDOOR SCREENINGS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER NONPROFIT ENTITIES.
- $334,589 spent. SCIENCE ON SCREEN PAIRS POPULAR FILMS WITH DISCUSSIONS BY NOTABLE FIGURES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE. IN 2010, THE COOLIDGE RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM NATIONALLY THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. SINCE 2010, SLOAN HAS AWARDED THE COOLIDGE $5.6 MILLION TO DEVELOP AND ADMINISTER SCIENCE ON SCREEN PROGRAMS AROUND THE US.THE COOLIDGE HAS IN TURN AWARDED GRANTS TOTALING OVER $3 MILLION TO 140 FILM AND SCIENCE-FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS IN 45 STATES (PLUS WASHINGTON, DC) ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO CREATE AND PRESENT THEIR OWN SCIENCE ON SCREEN PROGRAMS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending October 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1989.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.