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True West Film Center

EIN 47-2085577 · Healdsburg, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TRUE WEST FILM CENTER BRINGS THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF CINEMA TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. WE REMOVE BARRIERS TO FILM AND MEDIA ARTS. WE SUPPORT ARTISTS, EDUCATE STUDENTS OF ALL AGES, AND CREATE JOY THROUGH ENTERTAINMENT, FOSTERING A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
23
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$170,287, executive director

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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 44% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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.

  • 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. $473,709 spent. EDUCATION:TRUE WEST FILM CENTER'S YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS REACH STUDENTS ACROSS SONOMA COUNTY WITH SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS IN FIVE SONOMA COUNTY DISTRICTS. WE WORK WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS, NONPROFITS, AND YOUTH LEADERS TO CLOSE THE GAP IN DIGITAL LITERACY AND MEDIA ART SKILLS TRAINING BY OFFERING AN INTEGRATED ARTS CURRICULUM IN CORE CLASSES USING TEACHING ARTISTS, EXTRACURRICULAR FILMMAKING WORKSHOPS, FIELD TRIPS TO FILM FESTIVALS, FREE FILM SCREENINGS, SUMMER CAMPS, AND SERVICE-LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.
  2. $262,213 spent. YEAR-ROUND FILM PROGRAM:TRUE WEST FILM CENTER CURRENTLY SERVES OVER 5,000 PEOPLE, 1,000 STUDENTS, AND 600 LIFELONG LEARNERS. CURATED FILM SERIES, SPECIAL MOVIE EVENTS, AND OUR FREE SUMMER SERIES OFFER ENGAGING FILMGOING EXPERIENCES YEAR-ROUND.
  3. $257,658 spent. FILM FESTIVAL:OUR ANNUAL FILM FESTIVAL PROVIDES AUDIENCES AND FILMMAKERS TEN DAYS OF THOUGHT-PROVOKING FILMS, THE BEST OF SONOMA COUNTY'S FOOD & WINE SCENE, SHORTS, PANELS, PARTIES, AND SPECIAL EVENTS.

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 July 2015.

    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.