Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Brattle Film Foundation Inc

EIN 04-3540992 · Cambridge, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO CELEBRATE FILM AS A POPULAR AND FINE ART FORM WITH CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE THAT EXCITES, EDUCATES, AND INSPIRES COMMUNITY. AS THE PREMIER DESTINATION FOR REPERTORY FILM IN GREATER BOSTON, THE BRATTLE FILM FOUNDATION USES AN INTERNATIONAL VIEW OF CINEMA TO: ENHANCE THE MOVIE-GOING EXPERIENCE THROUGH CURATED PROGRAMMING, COMMUNITY BUILDING, EDUCATION, AND THE SHARED LARGE-SCREEN EXPERIENCE; RECOGNIZE FILM AS BOTH POPULAR AND FINE ART WITH IMPORTANT CULTURAL AND HISTORIC VALUE; SHOW A DIVERSE RANGE OF FILMS THAT CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE SHOWN ANYWHERE ELSE; ENSURE CINEMA IS RESPECTED, VIEWED, AND RECOGNIZED ALONGSIDE OTHER GREAT WORKS OF ART; AND ENRICH OUR AUDIENCES UNDERSTANDING OF CINEMA THROUGH DIVERSE FILM PROGRAMMING, EDUCATION, AND INFORMATION IN THE THEATER AND ONLINE.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 48%
Employees
26
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$70,815, director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 86% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (1)
  1. $1.0 million spent. THE BRATTLE'S TRADITION OF REPERTORY FILM PROGRAMMING DATES BACK TO ITS INCEPTION IN THE 1950S. THE ORGANIZATION HAS THE FOLLOWING ANNUAL EVENTS: -BUGS BUNNY FILM FESTIVAL DURING FEBRUARY SCHOOL VACATION WEEK -NEW YEARS DAY MARX BROTHERS MARATHON -OSCAR PARTY -TRAILER TREATS, A SUMMER CELEBRATION -VALENTINES DAY SCREENINGS OF CASABLANCA AT A TIME WHEN ART HOUSES AND INDEPENDENT THEATRES CONTINUE TO BE CONSUMED BY LARGE CONGLOMERATES, THE BRATTLE THEATRE HAS REMAINED SUCCESSFUL AND TRUE TO ITS ROOTS AS A VENUE TO SEE INNOVATIVE AND ESSENTIAL FILMS. STARTING WITH THE PROGRAMMING OF CY HARVEY AND BRYANT HALLIDAY IN 1953, THE BRATTLE HAS BEEN THE UNOFFICIAL FILM SCHOOL FOR BOSTON-AREA RESIDENTS, SHOWING EVERYTHING FROM CASABLANCA TO BREAKING THE WAVES, THE WORKS OF BUSTER KEATON TO WONG KAR-WAI. OVER THE YEARS, THE BRATTLES DIVERSE PROGRAMMING HAS BROUGHT MANY FILMS TO VIEW THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN OR MISSED. THE BRATTLE'S TRADITION OF REPERTORY FILM PROGRAMMING DATES BACK TO ITS INCEPTION IN THE 1950S. THE ORGANIZATION HAS THE FOLLOWING ANNUAL EVENTS: -BUGS BUNNY FILM FESTIVAL DURING FEBRUARY SCHOOL VACATION WEEK -NEW YEARS DAY MARX BROTHERS MARATHON -OSCAR PARTY -TRAILER TREATS, A SUMMER CELEBRATION -VALENTINES DAY SCREENINGS OF CASABLANCA AT A TIME WHEN ART HOUSES AND INDEPENDENT THEATRES CONTINUE TO BE CONSUMED BY LARGE CONGLOMERATES, THE BRATTLE THEATRE HAS REMAINED SUCCESSFUL AND TRUE TO ITS ROOTS AS A VENUE TO SEE INNOVATIVE AND ESSENTIAL FILMS. STARTING WITH THE PROGRAMMING OF CY HARVEY AND BRYANT HALLIDAY IN 1953, THE BRATTLE HAS BEEN THE UNOFFICIAL FILM SCHOOL FOR BOSTON-AREA RESIDENTS, SHOWING EVERYTHING FROM CASABLANCA TO BREAKING THE WAVES, THE WORKS OF BUSTER KEATON TO WONG KAR-WAI. OVER THE YEARS, THE BRATTLES DIVERSE PROGRAMMING HAS BROUGHT MANY FILMS TO VIEW THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN OR MISSED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2002.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.