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The Film Collaborative Inc

EIN 32-0295081 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FILM COLLABORATIVE INC., (TFC), PROVIDES INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS WITH A ROBUST OFFERING OF FREE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ABOUT DISTRIBUTION AND A FULL RANGE OF SERVICES, INCLUDING FISCAL SPONSORSHIP, FILM DISTRIBUTION AND IMPACT MARKETING SERVICES WITHOUT TAKING FILMMAKERS' RIGHTS.

Income
$13.8 million
Spending
$15.2 million
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
3
Highest pay
$127,290, secretary

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 of 5 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

    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, 2024, 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. $14.4 million spent. FISCAL SPONSORSHIP: TFC GREW ITS FISCAL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM DURING 2024 BY CONTINUING TO ADD NEW PROJECTS. TFC'S FISCAL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM OFFERS ONE OF THE LOWEST COMMISSION STRUCTURES AVAILABLE TO FILMMAKERS, SO THEY CAN CREATE CULTURALLY IMPORTANT/EDUCATIONAL CINEMA SUSTAINABLY.
  2. $511,218 spent. TFC CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS DISTRIBUTION EDUCATION BY 1) MAINTAINING AND GROWING THE DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION GUIDE; 2) CONTINUING TO REGULARLY PUBLISH DISTRIBUTION BLOG CONTENT (INCLUDING AUDIO-VISUAL PANEL DISCUSSIONS); 3) DEVELOPING ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION CASE STUDIES; 4) EXPANDING THE DISTRIBUTOR REPORT CARD; AND 5) HOSTING DISTRIBUTION DAYS, A 2-DAY FREE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE ON FILM DISTRIBUTION. TFC CONTINUES ITS FESTIVAL AND COMMUNITY SCREENING DISTRIBUTION OF NON-COMMERCIAL CINEMA, HANDLING UP TO 25-35 FILMS ANNUALLY THAT ADDRESS SOCIAL JUSTICE, CULTURAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND LGBTQ+ ISSUES, AMONG OTHERS. TFC CONTINUES TO BE A CRITICAL RESOURCE FOR FILMMAKERS OF SUCH FILMS, AND FOR AUDIENCES WHO ARE EAGER TO SEE THESE FILMS THAT ARE OFTEN OTHERWISE NOT AVAILABLE.
  3. $98,431 spent. TFC ALSO OFFERS FILMMAKERS A WAY TO ENGAGE WITH THE ORGANIZATION AT VARIOUS LEVELS TO GAIN ACCESS TO NON-COMPLIMENTARY OFFERINGS SUCH AS ONE-ON-ONE ADVISING AND CONSULTATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 January 2011.

    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.