Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Deadcenter Film Festival Inc

EIN 20-1054302 · Oklahoma City, OK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

INSPIRE, PROMOTE, AND CELEBRATE CREATIVITY AND COMMUNITY THROUGH FILM.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
5
Volunteers
214
Highest pay
$61,285, executive director

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

Financial health

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 July 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)
  1. $820,535 spent. DEADCENTER PRODUCES AN ANNUAL FILM FESTIVAL TO INSPIRE, PROMOTES AND CELEBRATES CREATIVITY AND COMMUNITY THROUGH FILM. IN 2025, THE FESTIVAL SERVED 12,200 ATTENDEES THROUGH FILM SCREENINGS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, AND NETWORKING EVENTS OVER FIVE DAYS THROUGHOUT THE OKLAHOMA CITY METRO. SCREENINGS INCLUDED 187 INDEPENDENT FILMS.DEADCENTER RELIES ON MORE THAN 200 VOLUNTEERS YEAR-ROUND AND DURING THE FESTIVAL FILLING OVER 600 VOLUNTEER SHIFTS. THESE VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT KEY AREAS INCLUDING PROGRAMMING, BOX OFFICE OPERATIONS, VENUE MANAGEMENT, GUEST SERVICES AND MERCHANDISE SALES.
  2. $76,181 spent. DEADCENTER PROVIDES YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMMING TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, ALONG WITH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND TECHNOLOGY CENTERS ACROSS OKLAHOMA. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, STUDENTS RECEIVE RESOURCES AND INSIGHT INTO THE OKLAHOMA FILM INDUSTRY, INCLUDING PATHWAYS FOR STORYTELLING, PRODUCTION, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.IN ADDITION TO ITS ANNUAL FILM FESTIVAL, DEADCENTER HOSTS FREE CONTINUUM PANEL SERIES AND COMMUNITYY SCREENINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. DEADCENTER FILM WORKS TO CREATE A VIRANT, INCLUSIVE CULTURE WHERE EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED FILMMAKERS ARE EMPOWERED TO SHARE BOLD, ORIGINAL STORIES THAT INSPIRE, CHALLENGE, AND UNITE AUDIENCES ACROSS OKLAHOMA AND BEYOND.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 July 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 December 2004.

    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.