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Traverse City Film Festival

EIN 20-3100410 · Traverse City, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceGood89 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE TRAVERSE CITY FILM FESTIVAL IS COMMITTED TO SHOWING JUST GREAT MOVIES AND HELPING TO SAVE ONE OF AMERICAS FEW INDIGENOUS ART FORMS - THE CINEMA. WE ARE COMMITTED TO SHOWING GREAT MOVIES THAT BOTH ENTERTAIN AND ENLIGHTEN THE AUDIENCE. WE NEED MOVIES THAT SEEK TO ENRICH THE HUMAN SPIRIT AND THE ART OF FILMMAKING, NOT THE BOTTOM LINE. OUR GOAL IS FOR PEOPLE TO LEAVE THE THEATER WITH THE FEELING THAT THEY JUST WATCHED SOMETHING SPECIAL.

Income
$267,583
Spending
$823,153
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 100%
Employees
15
Volunteers
63

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: 48 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 208% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 59% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 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. THE TCFF WEEK-LONG SUMMER FESTIVAL WAS REPLACED WITH A YEAR-ROUND FESTIVAL: TCFF TUESDAYS.
  2. $300,978 spent. TRAVERSE CITY'S STATE THEATRE COMBINES WORLD-CLASS, STATE-OF-THE-ART PRESENTATION, WITH THE CLASSIC HOMETOWN MOVIE PALACE EXPERIENCE. STATE THEATRE IS A YEAR-ROUND, COMMUNITY-BASED, ARTHOUSE THEATRE THAT FOSTERS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND PARTNERS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL SCREENINGS RELEVANT TO STUDENT CURRICULUM.
  3. $214,332 spent. THE BIJOU BY THE BAY IS A 150-SEAT THEATRE ON GRAND TRAVERSE BAY IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN. THE BIJOU OFFERS MOVIE GOERS AFFORDABLE PRICES, FRIENDLY SERVICE, AND IMPECCABLE PROJECTION AND SOUND. THE BIJOU IS TRAVERSE CITY FILM FESTIVAL'S SECOND SCREEN TO STATE THEATRE.

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 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 November 6, 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 February 2006.

    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 November 4, 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.