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Twin Cities International Film Festival

EIN 26-4185895 · St Louis Park, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak42 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • 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

TWIN CITIES FILM FESTS MISSION IS TO BUILD, SUPPORT, AND ENHANCE OUR VISUAL ARTS COMMUNITY THROUGH PROVIDING LOCAL FILM ARTISTS WITH EDUCATION, TRAINING, NETWORKING, AND DISTRIBUTION, AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THE DETAILED FULL MISSION STATEMENT IS AVAILABLE ON SCHEDULE O.

Income
$728,034
Spending
$717,359
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
4
Volunteers
80
Highest pay
$114,500, founder executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 110% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 37% 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 March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 March 31, 2025, 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 (4)
  1. $455,945 spent. THE MISSION OF THE TWIN CITIES FILM FEST IS TO SHOWCASE EXCEPTIONAL INDEPENDENT FILMS AND INDEPENDENT ARTISTS. WE PROMOTE INDUSTRY TALENT, PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL, NETWORKING AND DISTRIBUTION OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN EXPAND CAREERS AND SUPPORT THOUGHT PROVOKING CONTENT. OUR PROGRAM SHOWCASES AND PREMIERES WELL OVER 120 FILMS EACH YEAR WITH OVER 80 FILMMAKERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY VISITING OR PARTICIPATING WITH THEIR FILMS. THE FILMMAKERS PART-TAKE IN A DISCUSSION WITH THE AUDIENCES AFTER THEIR SCREENINGS AS WELL AS INVITED TO SPEAK IN AN INDUSTRY PANEL DISCUSSION THAT IS COMPLIMENTARY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ATTEND.
  2. $94,989 spent. WITH YEAR ROUND PROGRAMMING AND SPECIAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, TCFF IS THE PERFECT PLATFORM FOR INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS. OUR MONTHLY INSIDER SERIES SHOWCASES INDEPENDENT FILMS FROM ACROSS THE REGION AS WELL AS MINNESOTA, WHILE SPOTLIGHTING PHENOMENAL INDEPENDENT ARTISTS. OUR GOAL IS TO GIVE A NATIONAL VOICE TO LOCAL ARTISTS THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES. WITH GRANT SUPPORT FROM THE MINNESOTA STATE ARTS BOARD AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM PRIVATE DONORS AND SPONSORS, WEVE BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
  3. $82,323 spent. EACH YEAR, TCFF PICKS A SPECIFIC CAUSE DURING OUR CHANGEMAKER INITIATIVE. FROM EDUCATION, POVERTY, HUNGER PREVENTION, BULLYING AND SEX TRAFFICKING, HOMELESS YOUTH AND VETERAN SUPPORT, TCFF HAS BEEN ON THE FOREFRONT OF HIGHLIGHTING SOCIAL CAUSES VIA SPECIALTY PROGRAMMING. SHOWCASING DOCUMENTARIES ON THE SELECTED CAUSE, HOLDING PANEL DISCUSSIONS AS WELL AS GIVING THE ANNUAL CHANGEMAKER AWARD TO A DESERVING COMMUNITY LEADER, TCFF IS TRULY GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND PUTTING THE FOCUS ON GREAT WORK BEING DONE LOCALLY IN THE CAUSE SPACE.
  4. DETAILED FULL MISSION STATEMENT: TWIN CITIES FILM FESTS MISSION IS TO BUILD, SUPPORT, AND ENHANCE OUR VISUAL ARTS COMMUNITY THROUGH PROVIDING LOCAL FILM ARTISTS WITH EDUCATION, TRAINING, NETWORKING, DISTRIBUTION, AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES; PROVIDE ART ENTHUSIASTS AND ADVOCATES WITH ACCESS TO REGIONAL AND NATIONAL FILM TALENT FORGING A RICH SOCIAL DIALOGUE THROUGH FILM; AND PROVIDE THE STATE WITH A VEHICLE THROUGH WHICH FILM PRODUCTION AND EXHIBITION CAN SUSTAIN THE LOCAL FILM INDUSTRY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2009.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.