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Moving Picture Institute

EIN 20-3237801 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE IS A NONPROFIT PRODUCTION COMPANY AND TALENT INCUBATOR THAT CREATES HIGH-IMPACT FILMS DESIGNED TO ENTERTAIN, INSPIRE, AND EDUCATE AUDIENCES WITH CAPTIVATING STORIES ABOUT HUMAN FREEDOM.

Income
$8.1 million
Spending
$5.3 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
11.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
25
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$526,707, president

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 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 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 (2)
  1. $2.9 million spent. RISING FILMMAKER PROGRAM: MPI'S RISING FILMMAKER PROGRAM (RFP) IDENTIFIES, TRAINS, AND SUPPORTS FREEDOM-ORIENTED PRODUCERS, DIRECTORS, AND SCREENWRITERS. WE STRATEGICALLY INVEST IN LIKE-MINDED FILMMAKERS AT KEY POINTS IN THEIR CAREERS. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF SEVERAL COMPONENTS: THE HOLLYWOOD CAREER LAUNCH PROGRAM, THE SHORT FILM LAB, THE DOCUMENTARY STORYTELLING WORKSHOP, THE PRODUCTION LAB, MPI NETWORKING EVENTS, THE RISING EXECUTIVE PROGRAM, THE ADVANCED FILMMAKER SUMMIT, THE PRODUCER'S PLAYBOOK SEMINAR AND THE MPI COLLABORATION FILMMAKERS CHALLENGE. THE RFP OFFERS FINANCIAL SUPPORT, TRAINING, MENTORING, AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO FREEDOM-ORIENTED FILMMAKERS. WE REGULARLY ROTATE OFFERINGS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR FILMMAKERS. WE CURRENTLY OFFER THE FOLLOWING WORKSHOPS: MPI SCREENWRITING WORKSHOPS, THE MPI DIRECTING WORKSHOP, AND THE MPI DOCUMENTARY STORYTELLING WORKSHOP. MPI'S RISING FILMMAKER PROGRAM HAS SUPPORTED 678 FILMMAKERS WITH A TOTAL OF 1,064 FELLOWSHIPS SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2006-AND NOW SUPPORTS APPROXIMATELY 80 FILMMAKERS EACH YEAR. WE ARE LAUNCHING THE CAREERS OF A GENERATION OF FILMMAKERS BY OFFERING THEM EXCEPTIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, ENABLING THEM TO ESTABLISH INDUSTRY CREDIBILITY, AND EMPOWERING THEM TO BECOME ECONOMICALLY SELF-SUFFICIENT. THEIR FUTURE SUCCESS IS THEIR OWN-BUT, AS THEY OFTEN REMARK, MPI MAKES IT POSSIBLE BY PROVIDING KEY SUPPORT.
  2. $1.8 million spent. MPI PRODUCTIONS: MPI ORIGINAL FILMS USE THE POPULAR AND ACCESSIBLE MEDIUM OF VISUAL STORYTELLING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT FREEDOM IS AND WHY IT MATTERS. WE REACH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS BY DISTRIBUTING OUR FILMS TO THEATERS AND DIGITAL STREAMING PLATFORMS SUCH AS NETFLIX, APPLE TV, AMAZON PRIME VIDEO, STARZ, HULU, GOOGLE PLAY, TUBI, AND BET+. MPI'S NONPARTISAN APPROACH ATTRACTS THE ATTENTION OF PROMINENT MEDIA OUTLETS, AND OUR FILMS AND FILMMAKERS WIN MAJOR AWARDS AND SCREEN AT TOP-TIER FILM FESTIVALS SUCH AS THE TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL AND SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST. MPI'S IN-HOUSE PRODUCTION TEAM CONTINUALLY WORKS TO DEVELOP MPI'S SLATE OF FILMS-SECURING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FROM BOOKS AND ARTICLES, ACQUIRING LIFE STORY RIGHTS TO ADAPT INTO SCREENPLAYS, AND HIRING WRITERS TO DEVELOP ORIGINAL SCREENPLAYS. THESE PROJECTS ARE THEN PRODUCED BY MPI FOR WIDE DISTRIBUTION WITH TWO GOALS IN MIND-TO CHANGE MINDS AND INSPIRE ACTION. THE 2024 MPI ORIGINAL MOTHERLAND, WHICH WILL BE RELEASED IN 2025 IS A CASE STUDY FOR HOW OUR INTEGRATED PROGRAMS WORK. THE FILM WAS WRITTEN BY AN MPI FILMMAKER, DIRECTED BY ANOTHER FILMMAKER FROM OUR NETWORK, AND ALLOWED FOR OUR FILMMAKERS TO WORK ON SET IN A VARIETY OF CAPACITIES FROM PRODUCTION ASSISTANT TO DIRECTOR'S SHADOW. MOTHERLAND PREMIERED AT THE OMAHA FILM FESTIVAL AND CONTINUES ITS FESTIVAL RUN WHERE IT IS EARNING ACCOLADES LIKE BEST ACTRESS AT THE VERMONT FILM AND FOLKLORE FESTIVAL. MPI SECURED DISTRIBUTION WITH VERTICAL, AND A LIMITED THEATRICAL RELEASE FOLLOWED BY AVAILABILITY ON STREAMING PLATFORMS IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 2025. MPI ALSO PROVIDES OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS COMPLIMENTARY ACCESS TO ITS FILM LIBRARY AND ENCOURAGES THEM TO USE THEIR FILMS AS A TOOL TO EDUCATE THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES ABOUT ISSUES RELATED TO HUMAN FREEDOM AND INSPIRE THEM TO TAKE ACTION. MPI'S CURRENT PRODUCTION SLATE INCLUDES EIGHTEEN ACTIVE FILM PROJECTS.

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 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 January 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 October 21, 2026.

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