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Avalon Theatre Project Inc

EIN 52-2360410 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AVALON THEATRE IS A NONPROFIT, COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED CENTER DEDICATED TO THE EXHIBITION OF FILM, FILM EDUCATION, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF OUR 1923 BUILDING. THROUGH THE POWER OF FILM, OUR MISSION IS TO ENTERTAIN, EDUCATE, INSPIRE, AND ENGAGE THE GREATER WASHINGTON, DC COMMUNITY WHILE PROVIDING A WELCOMING SPACE FOR ALL.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 47%
Employees
18
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$124,654, executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 15 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    0 of 5

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

  • 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, 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 (2)
  1. $1.8 million spent. FILM PROGRAMMING:THE AVALON THEATRE IS A NONPROFIT MEMBER AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTED FILM AND EDUCATION CENTER COMMITTED TO THE PRESERVATION AND USE OF ITS HISTORIC, LANDMARKED 1923 BUILDING TO SERVE AS A CULTURAL RESOURCE DEDICATED TO THE ART OF MOTION PICTURES.THE AVALON'S PROGRAMS INCLUDE A DIVERSE RANGE OF INDEPENDENT AND ARTHOUSE FILMS, FREE STUDENT FILM EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS THAT APPEAL TO A DIVERSE POPULATION OF FILMGOERS INTERESTED IN THOUGHT PROVOKING INTERNATIONAL AND AMERICAN INDEPENDENT FILMS MANY OF WHICH ARE SCREENED IN THE WASHINGTON, DC AREA SOLELY AT THE AVALON. THE AVALON'S SPECIAL PROGRAMS OFTEN FEATURE POST-FILM DISCUSSIONS FURTHER ENHANCING THE INTRINSIC AND EDUCATIONAL VALUE OF VIEWING FILMS IN A COMMUNITY FILM CENTER. THE AVALON RENTS ITS THEATER TO OTHER NON-PROFITS AND INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS AT REASONABLE RATES AS PART OF ITS MISSION TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS. THE AVALON OFFERS A DIVERSE GROUP OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS TARGETED AT VARIOUS AUDIENCES INCLUDING THE WEDNESDAY SIGNATURE SERIES, EXHIBITION ON SCREEN, NATIONAL THEATER LIVE, SCIENCE ON SCREEN AND WEEKEND FAMILY MATINEES.
  2. $88,829 spent. CINEMA CLASSROOM:CINEMA CLASSROOM AT THE AVALON ENGAGES STUDENTS IN CRITICAL ISSUES THROUGH SCREENINGS AND EXPERT-GUIDED DISCUSSIONS. OPEN TO YOUTH IN SIXTH-12TH GRADES - AND FREE FOR ATTENDEES - CINEMA CLASSROOM AT THE AVALON BRINGS STUDENTS FROM THE METROPOLITAN AREA TOGETHER TO VIEW AND DISCUSS FILMS WITH FILMMAKERS AND SUBJECT-MATTER EXPERTS IN THE AVALON'S HISTORIC, NONPROFIT THEATER. THE CINEMA CLASSROOM AT THE AVALON FILM EDUCATION PROGRAM SURPASSED 17,000 STUDENTS SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION IN 2013. IN 2025, CINEMA CLASSROOM OFFERED EIGHT UNIQUE PROGRAMS WHILE SERVING 1,212 STUDENTS REPRESENTING 34 SCHOOLS AND 7 OF 8 DC WARDS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 December 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 April 2002.

    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.

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