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Culture Wise Studies Inc

EIN 47-2822152 · Camarillo, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CULTURE WISE STUDIES, INC IS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING FAMILY AND CONSERVATIVE VALUES THROUGH THE MEDIA BY INFLUENCING ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY DECISION MAKERS, ARTISTS AND CRAFTSPEOPLE TO PRODUCE MORE FAMILY-FRIENDLY, MORALLY UPLIFTING, INSPIRING ENTERTAINMENT AND TO EQUIP THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS AND TEACHERS, TO IMPROVE THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURE GENERATIONS (INCLUDING CHILDREN, TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS) THROUGH CONSERVATIVE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY, MORALLY UPLIFTING, INSPIRING ENTERTAINMENT.

Income
$500,000
Spending
$502,500
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% 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 December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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 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. $400,000 spent. MOVIEGUIDE AWARDS: GOOD NEWS COMMUNICATIONS, INC. DBA MOVIEGUIDE AND THE CHRISTIAN FILM & TELEVISION COMMISSION WAS PARTIALLY FUNDED THROUGH CULTURE WISE STUDIES, INC. TO HOLD ITS ANNUAL FAITH & VALUES AWARDS GALA & REPORT WHERE FILMMAKERS AND INDUSTRY PERSONNEL GATHER TO CELEBRATE A YEAR'S WORTH OF UPLIFTING TITLES AND RECEIVE OUR PRESTIGIOUS "TEDDY BEAR" AWARD. AS AN EXAMPLE IN FEBRUARY OF 2024 WE HAD 285 IN ATTENDANCE. FRIDAY FEBRUARY 9TH WAS THE NIGHT OF THE AWARDS, BUT THE EVENTS RAN FROM THURSDAY FEBRUARY 8TH THROUGH SUNDAY FEBRUARY 11TH (WHICH INCLUDED A WELCOME RECEPTION ON THURSDAY, A SONY PICTURES STUDIO TOUR BEFORE THE AWARDS ON FRIDAY, AN INSIDER'S BREAKFAST AND SUNSET YACHT CRUISE ON SATURDAY, AND A SEND-OFF EVENT ON SUNDAY).
  2. $25,000 spent. REPORT TO THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY: GOOD NEWS COMMUNICATIONS, INC. DBA MOVIEGUIDE AND THE CHRISTIAN FILM & TELEVISION COMMISSION WAS PARTIALLY FUNDED THROUGH CULTURE WISE STUDIES, INC. FOR THE PRODUCTION AND PUBLICATION OF MORE THAN 421 COMPREHENSIVE MOVIE AND TELEVISION REVIEWS, WHICH WERE GATHERED INTO EXTENSIVE DATABASES TO PRODUCE THE 2025 REPORT.
  3. $75,000 spent. INKLINGS FELLOWSHIP: AN ESTEEMED SUMMER PROGRAM INITIATED BY GOOD NEWS COMMUNICATIONS, INC. DBA MOVIEGUIDE AND THE CHRISTIAN FILM & TELEVISION COMMISSION WAS PARTIALLY FUNDED THROUGH CULTURE WISE STUDIES, INC. TO CULTIVATE, MENTOR, AND GUIDE THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONTENT CREATORS WHO ASPIRE TO UPHOLD AND INCORPORATE CHRISTIAN VALUES IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. RECOGNIZING THE POWER AND PERVASIVENESS OF MEDIA, THIS FULLY FUNDED AND PAID PROGRAM IS CRAFTED TO EMPOWER YOUNG LEADERS WHO ARE MOTIVATED TO IMPACT HOLLYWOOD POSITIVELY. THE INKLINGS FELLOWSHIP SPANS FROM MID-JUNE TO SEPTEMBER AND IS BASED IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA. DURING THIS PERIOD, A SMALL, SELECT GROUP OF FELLOWS LIVE TOGETHER IN A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY, WHERE THEY ARE TRAINED TO NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA AND UNDERSTAND HOW TO BRING A PROJECT FROM CONCEPT TO SCREEN. THE FELLOWSHIP EMPHASIZES THE BUSINESS AND PRODUCING SIDE OF FILMMAKING, POSITIONING GRADUATES TO STRATEGICALLY INFLUENCE INDUSTRY TRENDS. THIS PAST SUMMER OF 2024 WE HAD SEVEN FELLOWS.

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 September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2018 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2018.

    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 December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Worth knowing.

    Recognized by the IRS in January 2026. It is too new to have a track record.

    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.