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Brooklyn Film Society Inc

EIN 27-1893622 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OR PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE CORPORATION IS FORMED ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1) TO ADVANCE PUBLIC INTEREST IN AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE FILM ARTS; 2) TO HOLD AN ANNUAL COMPETITIVE FILM FESTIVAL IN BROOKLYN, AND OTHER PERIODIC FILM SHOWCASES; 3) TO DRAW WORLDWIDE ATTENTION TO BROOKLYN AS A CENTER FOR THE ARTS; 4) TO PROVIDE FILMMAKERS WITH A FORUM TO EXPOSE THEIR WORK TO PUBLIC; 5) TO ORGANIZE, SPONSOR AND PRESENT FORUMS, LECTURES, AND DISCUSSIONS RELATED TO THE CREATION OF INDEPENDENT FILMS IN ORDER TO FOSTER A GREATER APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE FILM ARTS BY THE PUBLIC; 6) TO CONDUCT CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW FILMMAKERS AND THE PUBLIC EXHIBITION OF NEW EXISTING WORKS; 7) TO EXPAND THE RICH AND DIVERSE CULTURAL RESOURCES THAT ARE AND WILL BECOME THE HERITAGE OF BROOKLYNCITIZENS, AND TO ENCOURAGE THE RIGHTS OF ALL BROOKLYN RESIDENTS TO ACCESS AND EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF INDEPENDENT FILMMAKING; 8) TO CELEBRATE BROOKLYN'S RICH RANGE OF ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL

Income
$277,920
Spending
$297,813
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 97%
Employees
2

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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.

  • 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 June 30, 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)
  1. PROVIDE FILMAKERS WITH A FORUM TO EXPOSE THEIR WORK TO THE PUBLIC;
  2. $263,575 spent. PROVIDE FILMAKERS WITH A FORUM TO EXPOSE THEIR WORK TO THE PUBLIC; ADVANCE PUBLIC INTEREST IN AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE FILM ARTS;
  3. PROVIDE FILMAKERS WITH A FORUM TO EXPOSE THEIR WORK TO THE PUBLIC; ADVANCE PUBLIC INTEREST IN AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE FILM ARTS;

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 2025.

    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 November 2010.

    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.