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Best Video Film & Cultural Center

EIN 47-2773702 · Hamden, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceWeak26 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BEST VIDEO FILM & CULTERAL CENTER'S MISSION IS TO PRESERVE AN INTERNATIONAL ARCHIVE OF OVER 30,000 DVD'S AND EXPLORE NEW WAYS TO BRING PEOPLE, FILM, AND MUSIC TOGETHER IN A COMMUNITY SPACE. IT WILL ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION BY PROVIDING A) MOVIE SCREENINGS WITH INTRODUCTIONS AND POST-FILM DISCUSSIONS THAT ENRICH THE APPRECIATION OF THE FILM CONTENT B) A PERFORMANCE SPACE COMMITTED TO AN ECLECTIC PROGRAMMING THAT VALUES INDIVIDUAL MUSICAL VISION THROUGH DIVERSE GENRES OF MUSIC: JAZZ, FOLK, ROCK, CLASSICAL, AND EXPERIMENTAL WHILE FOSTERING CONVERSATION THAT INFORMS, EDUCATES, AND ENRICHES AUDIENCE PERFORMERS. C) A VENUE FOR LITERARY EVENTS, INCLUDING POETRY, SHORT STORY, PUBLIC COMMENTARY READINGS, AND DISCUSSIONS WITH AUTHORS. LASTLY, BEST VIDEO FILM & CULTERAL CENTER WILL SUPPORT THE EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION INCLUDING A PLATFORM TO EXPAND ACCESS TO FILM IN UNDERSERVED PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Income
$287,672
Spending
$208,579
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
8.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
16
Highest pay
$48,654, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.8 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 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 344% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 26 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 September 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 (1)
  1. $208,579 spent. BVFCC ACCOMPLISHED ITS MISSION BY PROVIDING MOVIE SCREENINGS WITH INTRODUCTIONS AND POST-FILM DISCUSSIONS THAT ENRICH THE APPRECIATION OF THE AESTHETICS OF FILMMAKING AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF FILM CONTENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 2016.

    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.