Montclair Film Festival Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MONTCLAIR FILM CONNECTS GLOBAL FILMMAKERS WITH AUDIENCES IN A DIVERSE, CULTURALLY VIBRANT COMMUNITY BY PRESENTING FILMS AND YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS THAT ENGAGE, ENTERTAIN, AND EDUCATE THROUGH THE POWER OF VISUAL STORYTELLING.
- Income
- $4.9 million
- Spending
- $4.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- -0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 44%
- Employees
- 70
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $152,758, 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
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 24 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 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 (3)
- $2.9 million spent. EXHIBITION: THE ORGANIZATIONS EXHIBITION PROGRAMS INCLUDE ITS SIGNATURE ANNUAL FILM FESTIVAL HELD IN OCTOBER, FEATURING 150+ FILM SCREENINGS, REACHING TYPICALLY 25,000+ PATRONS OVER 10 DAYS. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION LEASES AND OPERATES THE CLAIRIDGE, A SIX SCREEN MOVIE THEATER WITH OVER 590 SEATS, AND PRESENTS NEW THEATRICIAL RELEASES, INDEPENDENT, NON-FICTION, STUDIO, AND CLASSIC FILMS TO OUR COMMUNITY 365 DAYS A YEAR. MONTCLAIR FILM ALSO OPERATES A 65-SEAT THEATER CALLED CINEMA505, WHICH HOSTS PERFORMANCES, CONVERSATIONS, TELEVISION TAPINGS, SCREENINGS, CLASSES, AND MORE. CINEMA505 IS LOCATED IN THE HOME AND HEADQUARTERS FOR THE ORGANIZATION.
- $661,858 spent. EDUCATION: THE ORGANIZATION'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE: YEAR-ROUND WORKSHOPS, CLASSES, AND SEMINARS ABOUT THE CRAFT OF FILMMAKING, STORYTELING, AND NEW MEDIA;CAREER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES; FILMMAKING AND SCREENWRITING COMPETITIONS FOR YOUNG FILMMAKERS; SUMMER FILMMAKING ACADEMY CLASSES; FILM CLUB FOR SPECIAL NEEDS AUDIENCES; SPECIAL SCREENINGS AT THE CLAIRIDGE FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO GENERATE A DISCUSSION ABOUT SOCIAL ISSUES; AND FILMMAKING AND OTHER STORYTELING COURSES AT MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS TO THOSE IN NEED TO ENSURE THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL.
- $328,594 spent. FORUMS: THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE STORYTELLER SERIES OF CONVERSATIONS WITH FILM AND TELEVISION INDUSTRY INSIDERS; PANEL DISCUSSIONS; MASTER CLASSES; STORYTELLING AND IMPROV PROGRAMS INVITING THE AUDIENCE TO PARTICIPATE; AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT USE FILM AS A SPRINGBOARD TO EXPLORE TOPICS AND ENCOURAGE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
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
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 October 13, 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 March 2026.
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 October 2010.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.