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Sima Studios

EIN 46-2836025 · W Hollywood, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceFair67 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SIMA IS AN ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT ADVANCES GLOBAL AWARENESS, SOCIAL JUSTICE, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND EDUCAITON BY SUPPORTING CONTENT CREATORS, ACTIVISTS, EDUCATORS AND CHANGE-MAKERS ON THE FRONT LINES OF SOCIAL CHANGE, AND AMPLIFYINGTHE IMPACT OF THEIR WORKS TO INSPIRE ACTIVISM, COMPASSION, AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION.

Income
$654,695
Spending
$748,258
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 90%
Employees
2

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

Financial health

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 77% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 March 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 (5)
  1. $496,792 spent. SIMA'S FISCAL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM ALLOWS US TO ELEVATE PROJECTS IN ALL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION,POST-PRODUCTION,DISTRIBUTION,OUTREACH, AND IMPACT CAMPAIGNS,HELPING CREATORS AND CREATIVE ACTIVISTS WHO MAY OHTERWISE NOT BE ABLE TO SECURE THE FUNDING THEY NEED TO SEE THEIR PROJECTS FINANCED, FINISHED, AND UNLEASHED TO HAVE IMPACT.
  2. $26,348 spent. SINCE 2012, THE ANNUAL SOCIAL IMPACT MEDIA AWARDS HAVE SET NEW STANDARDS OF CREATIVITY AND INTEGRITY IN SOCIAL IMPACT,STORYTELLING,HONORING EYE OPENING DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING AND VR EXPERIENCES THAT EXEMPLIFY EXCELLENCE IN THEIR POTENTIAL TO INSPIRE SOCIAL CHANGE.EACH YEAR,PROJECTS ARE SELECTED FROM OVER 140 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, COMPETING FOR AWARDS, CASH PRIZES, MEDIA FEATURES,AND ENTRY INTO SIMA'S IMPACT DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS.
  3. $4,735 spent. SIMA CLASSROOM IS OUR DIVERSE AND EXPANSIVE "NETFLIX FOR CHANGEMAKERS", OFFERING AN UNPRECEDENT COLLECTION OF CONTEMPORARY CURRENT AFFAIRS MEDIA THAT GIVE STUDENTS A FIRST-PERSON INSIGHT INTO THE PULSE, THE PEOPLE, AND THE MOVEMENTS BEHIND TODAY'S GLOBAL ISSUES, TAKING THEM FROM EMPATHY AND CRITICAL THINKING TO ACTION.
  4. $275 spent. GRANTS AND OTHER ASSISTANCE TO DOMESTIC INDIVIDUALS; SALARIES, EMPLOYEES BENEFITS, INSURANCE, PAYROLL TAX, IT CONSULTING FEES, BANK FEES, MERCHANT FEES, DUES AND SUBCRIPTIONS AND MIS OFFICE EXPENSES
  5. GRANTS AND OTHER ASSISTANCE TO DOMESTIC INDIVIDUALS; SALARIES, EMPLOYEES BENEFITS, INSURANCE, PAYROLL TAX, IT CONSULTING FEES, BANK FEES, MERCHANT FEES, DUES AND SUBCRIPTIONS AND MIS OFFICE EXPENSES

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 March 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 February 2015.

    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.