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American Conservation Film Festival Inc

EIN 04-3720399 · Shepherdstown, WV

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN CONSERVATION FILM FESTIVAL PROMOTES OUTSTANDING FILMS AND THE ARTS TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE PEOPLE TO BECOME ENGAGED IN CONSERVATION ISSUES.

Income
$101,712
Spending
$102,226
Reserves
10.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%

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

Financial health

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

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

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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. $85,950 spent. THE AMERICAN CONSERVATION FILM FESTIVAL WAS HELD AT THE 400 SEAT FRANK CENTER ON THE SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY CAMPUS. THE EVENT OFFERED 28 FILMS (INCLUDING ONE OSCAR-NOMINATED SHORT) IN TEN SCREENINGS ACROSS A FOUR-DAY WEEKEND IN MARCH. EVERY FILM HAD OPEN-CAPTIONS IN ORDER TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING COMMUNITIES. THE FESTIVAL BROUGHT IN FIFTEEN SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS AND FIVE AWARDS WERE GIVEN TO FILMMAKERS ALONG WITH CASH PRIZES. AUDIENCE ATTENDANCE RETURNED TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS. DURING THE FESTIVAL, ACFF WORKED TO PROMOTE A SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY TO RECONNECT AFTER THE PANDEMIC. TO START, ACFF HELD A FREE, GUIDED HIKE AT A LOCAL NATURE PRESERVE FOLLOWED BY A FREE LECTURE ON APPALACHIAN BIODIVERSITY AND RESILIENCY IN THE MOUNTAIN STATE. A LARGE ROOM ADJACENT TO THE THEATER WAS RENTED AND AREA CONSERVATION NONPROFITS CAME TO SET UP EXHIBITS TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC. AS A CULMINATING EVENT FOR THE FESTIVAL, SPECIAL GUESTS AND AUDIENCE MEMBERS JOINED TOGETHER FOR A COMMUNITY DINNER AT THE APPALACHIAN RESTAURANT, ALMA BEA AND WERE ENCOURAGED TO DISCUSS THEIR FAVORITE FILMS. ACFF CREATES SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES TO FOSTER YOUTH ENGAGEMENT DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR, AS WELL AS AT THE FESTIVAL. IN THE FALL, LOCAL CONSERVATION FILMMAKERS DESIGNED AND TAUGHT A FREE, NEXT GEN FILMMAKER WORKSHOP FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 5-9 AT THE SHEPHERDSTOWN LIBRARY. THIS ALLOWED THEM TO GAIN VALUABLE SKILLS TO CREATE AND ENTER A SHORT FILM IN ACFFS NEXT GENERATION CAPTURE CONSERVATION CONTEST. THE CONTEST GRANTED FOUR AWARDS TO STUDENT FILMMAKERS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 ALONG WITH CASH PRIZES TOTALING 550. THE WINNING HIGH SCHOOL TEAM GOT TO HAVE THEIR FILM SCREENED DURING THE FESTIVAL. ADDITIONALLY, ALL FESTIVAL SCREENINGS ARE MADE FREE FOR STUDENTS 18 AND UNDER AND COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH ID. ACFF STAFF WORKED WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT OF SHENANDOAH UNIVERSITY TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO REVIEW FESTIVAL FILMS AND PUT ON A BEST OF FEST EVENT IN OCTOBER FOR STUDENTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE ALSO SCREENED FILMS AT THE BARNS OF ROSE HILL IN BERRYVILLE, VA, AT THE OAK SPRING GARDEN FOUNDATION IN UPPERVILLE, VA, AT DOCWEEK MIDDLEBURG IN VA AND MORE LOCALLY AT THE NATIONAL CONSERVATION TRAINING CENTER, THE SHEPHERDSTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND MORGAN GROVE PARK

Source: Form 990EZ 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.