Independent Television Festivalincorporated
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
CATALYST IS A CHAMPION OF INDEPENDENT ARTISTS AND A CURATOR OF NARRATIVE STORIES WHOSE MISSION IS TO ADVANCE ARTISTIC CAREERS, AND AUDIO, VISUAL AND LITERARY WORKS.
- Income
- $74,405
- Spending
- $156,317
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- -61.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 47%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $22,917, ceo/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
Weak: 15 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 2498% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 110% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 57% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% 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
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $78,366 spent. THE 2024 CATALYST CONTENT FESTIVAL TOOK PLACE OCTOBER 2 - OCTOBER 6, 2024. THE 2024 FESTIVAL PARTNERED WITH THE DULUTH SUPERIOR FILM FESTIVAL, MINNESOTA WEBFEST, AND EDU FEST TO BRING AN EXPANDED RANGE OF CONTENT AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES TO THEIR COMBINED AUDIENCES. ATTENDANCE OF CONTENT CREATORS, INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC AUDIENCE TOTALED AT OVER 600. OVER 35 SHOWS WERE SCREENED, 25 SCRIPTS PRESENTED, 25 PITCHES GIVEN, AND 2 PODCASTS PLAYED. IT ALSO INCLUDED 12 EDUCATIONAL PANELS, SEMINARS, AND WORKSHOPS.
- $62,126 spent. EDUCATIONAL COURSES ON A VARIETY OF INDUSTRY TOPICS INCLUDING ACTING, WRITING, DIRECTING, PRODUCING, CINEMATOGRAPHY, AND CREW JOBS WERE HELD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, IN ADDITION TO IN-PERSON CLASSES, PANELS AND NETWORKING EVENTS. THE INSTITUTE HAD OVER 100 INDIVIDUALS PARTAKING IN VARIOUS VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON OFFERINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE EXPANDED OUR OFFERINGS TO NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EROSS STUDIOS AND DILLARD UNIVERSITY. WE ALSO BEGAN OUR FIRST IN-PERSON COURSES INTERNATIONALLY WITH ACTING AND WRITING CLASSES HELD IN TIRANA, ALBANIA.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2006.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.
California's Attorney General lists its registration as revoked as of August 31, 2006. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.
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.