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Creative Filmmakers Association

EIN 34-1694837 · Cleveland Hts, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MISSION STATEMENT: CREATIVE FILMMAKERS ASSOCIATION (CFA) WAS INCORPORATED IN 1992 AS A NONPROFIT 501.C.3 PRODUCTION COMPANY DEDICATED TO PRODUCING THOUGHTFUL AND PROVOCATIVE MEDIA. CFA'S PRODUCTIONS HAVE AIRED ON PUBLIC TELEVISION AND NATIONAL CABLE, AND HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED INTERNATIONALLY TO THE EDUCATIONAL MARKET AND SHOWN THEATRICALLY IN THE US AND CANADA.

Income
$74,834
Spending
$112,440
Reserves
23.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%

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

Financial health

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 50% of income.

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

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 (4)
  1. PIKE CONTINUED POST PRODUCTION OF A DOCUMENTARY THAT WILL BE A PORTRAIT PIECE OF AN IMPOVERISHED SOUTHERN OHIO TOWN THAT IS THE EPICENTER OF THE OPIOID CRISIS, WILL SOON HOST A NUCLEAR DUMP SITE AND IS THE SCENE OF AN UNSOLVED MASS MURDER.
  2. BREAKTHROUGH PRODUCED A A MINI DOCUMENTARY VIDEO FOR THE 2024 ANNUAL BREAKTHROUGH SCHOOLS FUNDRAISING EVENT (BREAKTHROUGH BASH). BREAKTHROUGH SCHOOLS IS A PUBLIC, HIGH PERFORMING CHARTER SCHOOL NETWORK BASED IN CLEVELAND, OHIO.
  3. ROYALTIES OTHER INCOME INCLUDES EDUCATIONAL DISTRIBUTION ROYALTIES (BULLFROG FILMS AND ALEXANDER PRESS) FOR THE COMPLETED DOCUMENTARY FILMS, NO UMBRELLA ABOUT CHAOS AT THE POLLS DURING THE 2004 NATIONAL ELECTION AND A PORTION OF TICKET SALES AS WELL AS FACING FORWARD WHICH FOLLOWS A TROUBLED TEEN IN A STRICT URBAN CHARTER SCHOOL. ROYALTIES WERE ALSO RECEIVED FROM FILMRISE FOR THE DOCUMENTARY UNSEEN ABOUT THE DISCOVERY OF A SERIAL KILLER OPERATING IN PLAIN SIGHT THAT PROMPTS QUESTIONS ABOUT MARGINALIZED LIVES AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
  4. OTHER PRODUCTION SERVICES - PROVIDED PRODUCTION SERVICES FOR VARIOUS DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTIONS IN PROGRESS. THESE INCLUDE: MAYORS RACE - DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE RISE OF BLACK NATIONALISM DURING THE MAYOR STOKES ERA IN CLEVELAND. WRONG CAT - DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE FIGHT TO RELEASE THE LONGEST SERVING WRONGFULLY CONVICTED PRISONER.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 March 1993.

    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.