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The Scribe Video Center Inc

EIN 23-2358942 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceFair55 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

VIDEO AND FILM PRODUCTION EDUCATION AND MANAGING A NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY RADIO STATION.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
18
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$59,813, executive di

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: 55 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 66% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 55 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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. $814,835 spent. SCRIBE HELD THREE SEASONS OF PROGRAMMING DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE GRANT PERIOD. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED WORKSHOPS (MULTIWEEK, SPECIAL LEARNING SESSIONS, FILM SCHOLARS, DOCUMENTARY HISTORY PROJECT FOR YOUTH), SCREENING SERIES (PRODUCERS' FORUM, STORYVILLE, BODY OF WORK, STREET MOVIES), COMMUNITY PRODUCTION PROGRAMS (PRECIOUS PLACES, MUSLIM VOICES, TENANTS OF LENEPAHOCKING, POWER POLITICS), RADIO PROGRAMMING (ARCHIVAL REVIVAL, LOCAL BROADCASTERS, EVERY VOICE, EVERY VOTE ELECTION COVERAGE, SYNDICATED PROGRAMMING), DISTRIBUTION OF OUR NATIONAL SCREENING SERIES (WE TELL). WE ALSO SUPPORTED REGIONAL ARTISTS IN THE REGION WITH TWO REGRANTING PROGRAMS; THE PHILADELPHIA INDEPENDENT MEDIA FUND AND THE PHILADELPHIA STUDENT MEDIAMAKERS FUND DISTRIBUTING 95,000 PER YEAR TO GRANTEES. THROUGH THESE ACTIVITIES, SCRIBE RE-WRITES THE MEDIA NARRATIVE THAT DEVALUES CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE REGION OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE DOMINANT GROUP. SCRIBE'S WORK IN CREATING ART AND DOCUMENTING CULTURE OFFERS NEW NARRATIVES AND NEW VISIONS TO PROMOTE EQUITY. THE SPECIFIC RESULTS WE ACHIEVE ARE: 1) COUNTER THE HARMFUL MASS-MEDIA-NARRATIVES IN ORDER TO HONOR THE VOICES THAT ARE NOT ALWAYS FOUND IN MAINSTREAM BOOKS, FILMS, OR MUSEUM EXHIBITS. 2) WORK WITHIN NEIGHBORHOODS TO MAKE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CULTURAL EXPERIENCES AND CURRENT-DAY-COMMUNITIES. 3) SHARE MEDIA AND TRAIN PEOPLE TO PRODUCE WORKS THAT ACKNOWLEDGE HARM, FIND VALUE IN LIVES AND CULTURES FROM OUTSIDE THE DOMINANT GROUP, AND PROMOTE GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THESE EXPERIENCES. SCRIBE HELD THREE SEASONS OF PROGRAMMING DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE GRANT PERIOD. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED WORKSHOPS (MULTIWEEK, SPECIAL LEARNING SESSIONS, FILM SCHOLARS, DOCUMENTARY HISTORY PROJECT FOR YOUTH), SCREENING SERIES (PRODUCERS' FORUM, STORYVILLE, BODY OF WORK, STREET MOVIES), COMMUNITY PRODUCTION PROGRAMS (PRECIOUS PLACES, MUSLIM VOICES, TENANTS OF LENEPAHOCKING, POWER POLITICS), RADIO PROGRAMMING (ARCHIVAL REVIVAL, LOCAL BROADCASTERS, EVERY VOICE, EVERY VOTE ELECTION COVERAGE, SYNDICATED PROGRAMMING), DISTRIBUTION OF OUR NATIONAL SCREENING SERIES (WE TELL). WE ALSO SUPPORTED REGIONAL ARTISTS IN THE REGION WITH TWO REGRANTING PROGRAMS; THE PHILADELPHIA INDEPENDENT MEDIA FUND AND THE PHILADELPHIA STUDENT MEDIAMAKERS FUND DISTRIBUTING 95,000 PER YEAR TO GRANTEES. THROUGH THESE ACTIVITIES, SCRIBE RE-WRITES THE MEDIA NARRATIVE THAT DEVALUES CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE REGION OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE DOMINANT GROUP. SCRIBE'S WORK IN CREATING ART AND DOCUMENTING CULTURE OFFERS NEW NARRATIVES AND NEW VISIONS TO PROMOTE EQUITY. THE SPECIFIC RESULTS WE ACHIEVE ARE: 1) COUNTER THE HARMFUL MASS-MEDIA-NARRATIVES IN ORDER TO HONOR THE VOICES THAT ARE NOT ALWAYS FOUND IN MAINSTREAM BOOKS, FILMS, OR MUSEUM EXHIBITS. 2) WORK WITHIN NEIGHBORHOODS TO MAKE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CULTURAL EXPERIENCES AND CURRENT-DAY-COMMUNITIES. 3) SHARE MEDIA AND TRAIN PEOPLE TO PRODUCE WORKS THAT ACKNOWLEDGE HARM, FIND VALUE IN LIVES AND CULTURES FROM OUTSIDE THE DOMINANT GROUP, AND PROMOTE GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THESE EXPERIENCES.
  2. $14,837 spent. WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE PROGRAMMING OFFERINGS ON WPEB 88.1FM, SCRIBE'S LOCAL RADIO STATION. WE ADD NEW BROADCASTERS MONTHLY. WE CONTINUED THE PROGRAM ARCHIVAL REVIVAL, SCRIBE'S PODCAST AND RADIO SERIES BUILT FROM UNEDITED INTERVIEWS FROM OUR 39 YEAR OLD ARCHIVE. THESE PROGRAMS ARE BROADCAST WEEKLY AND AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD AS PODCASTS. THE SERIES INCLUDES EXTENDED INTERVIEWS WITH LOUISE JAMES (LATE MEMBER OF THE MOVE ORGANIZATION) AND DR. DUBOIS WILLIAMS (GRAND-DAUGHTER OF W.E.B DU BOIS). OTHER GUESTS INCLUDE CHARISSE LILLIE, AUNT CECILIA, WILSON GOODE, JULIE DASH, HERBERT APTHEKER, JOHN HENRICK CLARKE, ESTELLE JAMES, JOHN AKOMFRAH, AND VICKIE GARVIN. WE ALSO BEGAN WEST PHILADELPHIA VOICES, A FORUM TO DISCUSS POLITICAL ISSUES AND VOTING ACCESS DURING THE 2023 LOCAL ELECTION CYCLE. WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE PROGRAMMING OFFERINGS ON WPEB 88.1FM, SCRIBE'S LOCAL RADIO STATION. WE ADD NEW BROADCASTERS MONTHLY. WE CONTINUED THE PROGRAM ARCHIVAL REVIVAL, SCRIBE'S PODCAST AND RADIO SERIES BUILT FROM UNEDITED INTERVIEWS FROM OUR 39 YEAR OLD ARCHIVE. THESE PROGRAMS ARE BROADCAST WEEKLY AND AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD AS PODCASTS. THE SERIES INCLUDES EXTENDED INTERVIEWS WITH LOUISE JAMES (LATE MEMBER OF THE MOVE ORGANIZATION) AND DR. DUBOIS WILLIAMS (GRAND-DAUGHTER OF W.E.B DU BOIS). OTHER GUESTS INCLUDE CHARISSE LILLIE, AUNT CECILIA, WILSON GOODE, JULIE DASH, HERBERT APTHEKER, JOHN HENRICK CLARKE, ESTELLE JAMES, JOHN AKOMFRAH, AND VICKIE GARVIN. WE ALSO BEGAN WEST PHILADELPHIA VOICES, A FORUM TO DISCUSS POLITICAL ISSUES AND VOTING ACCESS DURING THE 2023 LOCAL ELECTION CYCLE.
  3. $711,549 spent. FISCAL SPONSORSHIP.

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 October 1986.

    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.