Media Arts Center San Diego
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PRIMARY MISSION AND PURPOSE IS TO NURTURE AND SUPPORT MEDIA ARTISTS WORKING IN MULTIMEDIA
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 37%
- Employees
- 41
- Volunteers
- 130
- Highest pay
- $70,000, exec director
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: 60 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 62% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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 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)
- $446,052 spent. Community Production Tools for community-based media production and collaboration through programs including Speak City Heights, City Heights Economic Development Collaborative, Frontera Filmmakers, a grassroots group that brings together independent filmmakers from both sides of the border Digital Gym, a multipurpose all-ages facility for media arts experimentation and Video Production Services, to help community groups connect with audiences by making a digital media presence accessible and affordable.
- $495,643 spent. Education Extensive education programs offered for youth, teens, and adults. Programs include Teen Producers Project, Youth Media Tech Camps, and in-school media programs for young students. Amateur professional media makers have access to one-to-one training and professional development at various off-site locations. This programming includes our current partnership with the City of San Diego Library and Workforce Development Initiative.
- $653,919 spent. Exhibitions Our acclaimed San Diego Latino Film Festival SDLFF celebrated its 33rd Anniversary in March 2026. The SDLFF introduces viewers to contemporary U.S.-Latino and Latin American cinema. Other film programming includes additional screenings produced by our very own workforce development students, and daily screenings of independent and foreign films at our very own movie theater, the Digital Gym Cinema. In addition, we have our annual iVIE Awards. iVIE is a K-12 student video competition and festival conceived to encourage and reward teachers and students who recognize the power of video as a creative and educational tool. Submitted videos are judged by media professionals and educators curated by Media Arts Center San Diego.
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
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 June 2025.
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 February 2000.
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.