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Charlotte Film Society

EIN 27-3319192 · Charlotte, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceWeak35 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Charlotte Film Societys primary mission is to bring arthouse foreign and independent films to Charlotte and to educate, enable and engage the community through film. The Independent Picture House, and is open year around.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
-14.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 39%
Employees
22
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$92,350, executive dir.

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

Financial health

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 58% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 46 cents.

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

Governance

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep 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

    0 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 December 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)
  1. $1.1 million spent. The Charlotte Film Society (CFS) operates a four-screen cinema for motion pictures, The Independent Picture House (IPH). IPH presents foreign, arthouse, and independent films for all community members to enjoy throughout the year. The mission of IPH is to educate, engage, and enable individuals through the powerful medium of film. This is done through various film series, special screenings by filmmakers throughout the region, and post-screening discussions during which patrons connect with film and subject area experts to learn more about the process of the movie and/or the subject it explores.
  2. $48,473 spent. The Charlotte Film Festival (CFF) is an annual 6-day long Festival held primarily at IPH. Typically CFF will present over 130 films from independent, foreign, and/or emerging filmmakers. The festival usually sees approximately 2,000 patrons coming to the cinema to enjoy new and remastered works and includes post-screening discussions, free panel discussions about the film industry known as 'Daily Talks, and networking opportunities for filmmakers visiting the area for the festival.
  3. $19,041 spent. CFS/IPH is committed to keeping cinema accessible, affordable, and informative for the public. This is primarily done through community-oriented events such as the Community Impact Film Series (CIFS) and Indie on Wheels (IoW). CIFS is an on-going free event series that rotates on issues the community is facing. In 2025, these subjects included: human trafficking, womens health, environmental justice, mental health, immigration reform, animal welfare, invisible/visible disabilities, and housing insecurity/homelessness. Each CIFS event includes a film screening, panel discussion, resource fair, and some form of activation (volunteer opportunity, movement class, artistic reaction, etc.). IoW is a film series in which IPH removes the barrier of transportation by bringing movies out into the community. Most of these events occur in libraries, rec centers, and public spaces due to ASCs Culture Blocks Grant support. In 2025, IPH presented 12 IoW events that are free to the public.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 October 13, 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 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 October 2016.

    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 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.