Heartland Film Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 50% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO CURATE, PROMOTE AND CELEBRATE THOUGHTFUL AND ENGAGING FILMS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.
- Income
- $2.6 million
- Spending
- $2.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 50%
- Reserves
- -1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 57%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 142
- Highest pay
- $212,405, president/ceo-nonvoting
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
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1550% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 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
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2530 of 30 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (6)
- $733,266 spent. HEARTLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL HEARTLAND FILM BRINGS THE WORLD TO INDIANAPOLIS EACH OCTOBER DURING THE 11-DAY HEARTLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL.
- $403,980 spent. INDY SHORTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AN ALL SHORT FILM 6-DAY EVENT HELD IN JULY. THIS FILM FESTIVAL HAS BEEN GIVEN A DESIGNATION BY THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS & SCIENCES AS A QUALIFYING FILM FESTIVAL FOR THE ACADEMY AWARDS.
- $83,706 spent. HEARTLAND FILM ROADSHOWS YEAR ROUND COMMUNITY SCREENINGS ALLOW THE ORGANIZATION TO SHARE HEARTLAND FILM FILMS WITH AUDIENCES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE JCC OF INDIANAPOLIS, BUTLER UNIVERSITY, THE HISTORIC ARTCRAFT THEATRE, AND OTHERS TO BRING PAST FESTIVAL FILMS TO DIFFERENT GROUPS AND COMMUNITIES.
- $4,435 spent. TRULY MOVING PICTURE AWARD - THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, HEARTLAND FILM HONORS SELECT THEATRICALLY-RELEASED FILMS WITH THE TRULY MOVING PICTURE AWARD. OUR AWARD IS A SIGNAL TO AUDIENCES ACROSS THE NATION THAT A FILM HAS THE POWER TO DO MORE THAN JUST ENTERTAIN. IT HAS THE POWER TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON ITS AUDIENCE.
- $27,227 spent. MERRY MOVIE NIGHTS - IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER HEARTLAND FILM HOSTS ALONG WITH SPONSOR EDWARD JONES A MINI-MOVIE SERIES WHERE FAVORITE HOLIDAY CLASSIC FILMS ARE SHOWN AT THE ARTS FOR LAWRENCE'S THEATER AT THE FORT.
- CINEMANIA - A ONE NIGHT CELEBRATION TO CURATE, PROMOTE, AND CELEBRATE THOUGHTFUL AND ENGAGING FILMS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1991.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.