Visual Communications Media
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO DEVELOP AND SUPPORT THE VOICES OF ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER FILMMAKERS AND MEDIA ARTISTS WHO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES AND CHALLENGE PERSPECTIVES.
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 10.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 280
- Highest pay
- $100,500, executive dir.
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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 25% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 71% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (6)
- $592,179 spent. FISCAL SPONSORSHIP - THE ORGANZIATION SUPPORTS FILM PROJECTS AND PRODUCTIONS, PROVIDING ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND OVERSIGHT TO THE ACTIVITIES OF ARTISTS AND INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN WORK THAT FURTHERS THE MISSION.
- $366,989 spent. FILM FEST (PRESENTATION) - THE LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL IS AN 8-DAY SHOWCASE OF ASIAN AMERICAN FILMMAKERS THAT TAKES PLACE EVERY MAY IN LOS ANGELES AND SCREENS OVER 150 FILMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
- $234,933 spent. PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL PHOTOS - THE ORGANIZATION HOLDS AN EXTENSIVE REPOSITORY OF ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHS AND MOVING IMAGE ARCHIVES.
- $45,764 spent. ARMED WITH A CAMERA (TRAINING) - THE "ARMED WITH A CAMERA" FELLOWSHIP IS A 7-MONTH TRAINING PROGRAM FOR UP TO 10 EMERGRING FILMMAKERS PER YEAR DEDICATED TO HELPING THEM PRODUCE A 5-MINUTE ORIGINAL SHORT FILM.
- $31,548 spent. C3 CONFERENCE - IS AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE DEDICATED TO EXPLORING THE CHANGING NATURE OF ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA AND ALLOWS AUDIENCES TO CONNECT WITH ASIAN AMERICAN TALENT THROUGH PANELS AND SEMINARS.
- $14,093 spent. DIGITAL HISTORIES - IS A MECHANISM FOR ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN (APA) SENIORS TO USE THEIR UNIQUE VOICES AND PERSPECTIVE IN SHARING STORIES WITH THE GENERATIONS TO COME. THIS PROGRAM SEEKS TO ENGAGE THE UNDER- AND MISREPRESENTED POPULATION OF ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICANS IN MAINSTREAM MEDIA IN A VISIBLE WAY. IT ALLOWS FOR THE EXHIBITION OF THESE FILMS TO EDUCATE VIEWERS ABOUT APA HISTORY IN CALIFORNIA AND TO ILLUMINATE HOW IT HELPS SHAPE IDENTITY AND COMMUNITY.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1972.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
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.