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Reel Stories Teen Filmmaking Inc

EIN 20-0936377 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak13 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

REEL WORKS MENTORS, INSPIRES AND EMPOWERS UNDERSERVED NYC YOUTH TO SHARE THEIR STORIES THROUGH FILMMAKING, CREATING A SPRINGBOARD TO SUCCESSFUL CAREERS IN MEDIA AND BEYOND.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$6.7 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
-1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 39%
Employees
273
Volunteers
142
Highest pay
$218,964, chief prgm o

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 13 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 61% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 71% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 55% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 38 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 (5)
  1. $1.2 million spent. REEL WORKS' AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS PROVIDE INTENSIVE, YEAR-ROUND WORKSHOPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND YOUNG ADULT FILMMAKERS WHO ARE PAIRED 1:1 WITH PROFESSIONAL FILMMAKER-MENTORS TO TELL THEIR STORIES AND HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD THROUGH POWERFUL, ORIGINAL SHORT DOCUMENTARIES AND NARRATIVE FILMS. OVER 300 YOUTH TRAVEL FROM PARTNER SCHOOLS ACROSS BROOKLYN TO REEL WORKS' FILMMAKING LAB NEAR DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN TO BUILD A COMMUNITY OF ACTIVE LEARNERS AND MEDIA MAKERS WHOSE WORK HAS BEEN SEEN BY TENS OF MILLIONS OF VIEWERS WORLDWIDE SINCE REEL WORKS' FOUNDING IN 2001.
  2. $643,706 spent. REEL WORKS IN SCHOOLS BRINGS REEL WORKS' AWARD-WINNING WORKSHOPS INTO MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS IN BROOKLYN, QUEENS AND THE BRONX. REEL WORKS PARTNERS WITH EDUCATORS TO PROVIDE FREE AFTER SCHOOL FILMMAKING PROGRAMS THAT CELEBRATE AND ELEVATE STUDENT VOICES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
  3. $2.7 million spent. MEDIAMKRS IS A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT PARTNERS WITH MEDIA COMPANIES, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND LABOR UNIONS TO TRAIN, CREDENTIAL AND PREPARE YOUNG NEW YORKERS FOR CAREERS IN MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT. OUR CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAM PLACES HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS INTO PAID INTERNSHIPS AT MEDIA COMPANIES ACROSS NYC. OUR CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TRAINS RISING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS FOR CAREERS IN PRODUCTION AND POST PRODUCTION
  4. $438,292 spent. THE STUDIO AT REEL WORKS IS A YOUTH-LED PRODUCTION COMPANY THAT TEACHES PROFESSIONAL AND ENTREPENEURIAL SKILLS TO YOUTH PRODUCERS AS THEY CREATE ORIGINAL VIDEOS FOR CLIENTS. TWENTY YOUTHS PARTICIPATE ANNUALLY AND ARE PAID MINIMUM WAGE FOR 10-15 HOURS PER WEEK AND RECEIVE ONGOING TRAINING AND BUILD PROFESSIONAL RESUMES.
  5. THE STUDIO AT REEL WORKS IS A YOUTH-LED PRODUCTION COMPANY THAT TEACHES PROFESSIONAL AND ENTREPENEURIAL SKILLS TO YOUTH PRODUCERS AS THEY CREATE ORIGINAL VIDEOS FOR CLIENTS. TWENTY YOUTHS PARTICIPATE ANNUALLY AND ARE PAID MINIMUM WAGE FOR 10-15 HOURS PER WEEK AND RECEIVE ONGOING TRAINING AND BUILD PROFESSIONAL RESUMES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, 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 August 2025.

    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 January 2005.

    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.