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Big Sky Film Institute

EIN 20-1937230 · Missoula, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE BIG SKY FILM INSTITUTE IS TO CELEBRATE AND PROMOTE THE ART OF NON-FICTION FILMMAKING, AND TO ENCOURAGE MEDIA LITERACY BY FOSTERING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF DOCUMENTARY FILM.

Income
$523,410
Spending
$472,435
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
23
Volunteers
231
Highest pay
$45,553, executive 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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 56% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (3)
  1. $409,570 spent. BIG SKY DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL - PRESENTED MORE THAN 158 FILMS TO THE PUBLIC IN 2024 WITH APPROXIMATELY 24,409 IN ATTENDANCE. PROMOTED THE UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF NON-FICTION FILM AND VIDEO THROUGH THE BIG SKY DOC SHOP WITH CONFERENCE EVENTS, PANELS, WORKSHOPS AND MORE.
  2. $20,755 spent. YOUTH EDUCATION AND NATIVE FILMMAKER INITIATIVE FILM CLUB THE BIG SKY FILM INSTITUTE (BSFI) DELIVERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE MEDIA LITERACY AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, FILMMAKERS, AND FAMILIES TO ACCESS AND ENGAGE WITH DOCUMENTARY FILM. THROUGH WORKSHOPS, CLASSROOM PROGRAMS, AND VIRTUAL OUTREACH, BSFI HELPS PARTICIPANTS CRITICALLY EVALUATE MEDIA, UNDERSTAND THE DOCUMENTARY FORM, AND TELL THEIR OWN STORIES. THE NATIVE FILMMAKER INITIATIVE FILM CLUB EXTENDS THIS MISSION STATEWIDE BY SCREENING INDIGENOUS-MADE DOCUMENTARY FILMS IN CLASSROOMS ACROSS MONTANA. FOLLOWING EACH SCREENING, FILMMAKERS CONNECT WITH STUDENTS THROUGH INSPIRED CLASSROOM'S VIDEO TECHNOLOGY FOR Q&A SESSIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ALIGNED WITH MONTANA'S INDIAN EDUCATION FOR ALL ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDINGS. THE PROGRAM, FACILITATED BY BSFI IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MONTANA OFFICE OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION'S INDIAN EDUCATION SPECIALIST, MIKE JETTY, FOSTERS DIALOGUE ON CULTURAL REPRESENTATION AND THE ART OF FILMMAKING.
  3. $1,494 spent. THE BIG SKY FILM INSTITUTE PROVIDES FISCAL SPONSORSHIP AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO INDIGENOUS FILMMAKERS AND STORYTELLERS THROUGHOUT MONTANA. THIS PROGRAM ENABLES FILMMAKERS TO SEEK GRANT FUNDING, RECEIVE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS, AND MANAGE PROJECT FUNDS UNDER BSFI'S 501(C)(3) STATUS. THROUGH THIS SUPPORT, BSFI STRENGTHENS THE CAPACITY OF NATIVE ARTISTS TO DEVELOP, PRODUCE, AND DISTRIBUTE DOCUMENTARY FILMS THAT REFLECT INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVES AND COMMUNITIES. BSFI PROVIDES FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, COMPLIANCE OVERSIGHT, AND ACCESS TO INDUSTRY RESOURCES, ADVANCING EQUITY AND REPRESENTATION IN THE DOCUMENTARY FIELD.

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 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.

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