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Fresh Films

EIN 32-0246706 · Rock Island, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FRESH FILMS' (THE ORGANIZATION) MISSION IS TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF UNDERSERVED YOUTH THROUGH ENGAGING THEM IN THE CREATIVE AND TECHNICAL PROCESSES OF FILMMAKING; FILMMAKING IS OUR VEHICLE FOR MENTORSHIP, LEADERSHIP, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AMONG TEENS. THE PROGRAM SERVES DIVERSE UNDERSERVED TEENS OF ALL ETHNICITIES, GENDERS, BACKGROUNDS, AND EXPERIENCE LEVELS.

Income
$3.2 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 48%
Employees
13
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$172,728, president

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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% 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 53% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
  1. $2.4 million spent. FRESH FILMS WORKS WITH UNDERSERVED TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS AGES 14-26 TO BUILD THEIR TECHNICAL SKILLS, CAREER AND LIFE SKILLS (21ST CENTURY SKILLS), CONFIDENCE AND REALIZATION OF THEIR OWN FUTURE POTENTIAL THROUGH ACTIVELY INVOLVING THEM IN THE COLLABORATIVE, CREATIVE AND TECHNICAL PROCESSES OF FILMMAKING- FILMMAKING IS OUR VEHICLE FOR MENTORSHIP, LEADERSHIP AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AMONG TEENS. THE PROGRAM SERVES DIVERSE UNDERSERVED TEENS OF ALL ETHNICITIES, GENDERS, BACKGROUNDS, AND EXPERIENCE LEVELS. THE PROGRAM GOAL IS TO BUILD CAREER PATHWAYS, JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND COLLEGE READINESS FOR THE $771B MEDIA/ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY THAT IS GROWING RAPIDLY DUE TO NON-TRADITIONAL VIDEO PRODUCERS, THE GROWTH OF TRADITIONAL PRODUCERS FOR DIGITAL DEMAND AS WELL AS THE GROWTH OF VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER PLATFORMS. THE 3-LEVELED LEARNING PROGRAM OPERATES AT 28 PHYSICAL SITES + 3 VIRTUAL SITES WHICH INCLUDES AFTER-SCHOOL AND EVENING FILMMAKING, SUMMER WORKPLACE EXPERIENCES AND PAID INTERNSHIPS. WRAP AROUND SUPPORTS INCLUDING SPEAKER AND SOFT-SKILLS WORKSHOPS COMPLIMENT THE TECH LEARNING.FRESH FILMS REVENUE COMES FROM CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION GRANTS, PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP, GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND UNITED WAY GRANTS. PROGRAM EXPENSES TO ENGAGE, MENTOR AND TRAIN 400+ TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS PER YEAR IN WEEKLY PROGRAM PLUS ON-SET OR DIGITAL CONTENT SUMMER EXPERIENCES, SPEAKER SESSIONS AND SOFT-SKILLS WORKSHOPS, AND UPPER LEVEL INTERNSHIPS INCLUDE STAFF AND TEACHING ARTISTS, CURRICULUM CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, TRAVEL AND ALL PROGRAM COORDINATION WITH SITE LOCATIONS, INSTRUCTORS, YOUTH AND THEIR PARENTS.STAFF INCLUDES 9 FULL-TIME STAFF, 35 PART-TIME STAFF AND INSTRUCTORS, AND 5-7 PAID COLLEGE INTERNS. STAFF INCLUDES AN EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR/FILM DIRECTOR, MANAGING DIRECTOR/DEVELOPMENT, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH OUTREACH, PRODUCER, PRODUCTION ASSISTANT AND EDITOR WHO WORK ON ALL PROJECTS AND CURRICULUM AND TRAVEL TO THOSE PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OUR HEADQUARTERS IN ROCK ISLAND, IL. FRESH FILMS HIRES FREELANCE FILM PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS A DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY FOR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS JUST LIKE OTHER FILM COMPANIES IN THE INDUSTRY. WE ALSO HAVE A LOCAL FILMMAKER/TEACHER ARTIST IN EACH CITY TO WORK WITH THE TEENS ON THE WEEKLY PROGRAM. EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES INCLUDE ALL CAMERA, SOUND, LIGHTING AND OTHER FILM AND EDITING EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS PROPS, COSTUMES, ON-SET FOOD, AND OTHER NEEDS NEEDED TO TRAIN THE YOUTH AND PRODUCE THE FILMS IN THE MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. SOME EQUIPMENT IS DONATED OR LOANED TO US AT NO CHARGE. TRAVEL IS MOSTLY SUMMER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION TO HELP TEENS GET FROM THEIR HOMES TO THE FILM SETS AND/OR TO PAID INTERNSHIPS AND OUT-OF-TOWN TRAVEL. EXPENSES ALSO INCLUDE THE PAID INTERNSHIP STIPENDS FOR THE TEEN FILMMAKERS. GENERAL EXPENSES INCLUDE ACCOUNTING, LEGAL AND INSURANCE ACROSS ALL PROGRAMS.

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 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 December 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 April 2010.

    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.