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American Film Institute Inc

EIN 52-6072925 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE ("AFI") IS A NATIONAL INSTITUTE PROVIDING LEADERSHIP IN SCREEN EDUCATION AND THE RECOGNITION AND CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE IN THE ART OF FILM, TELEVISION AND DIGITAL MEDIA.

Income
$40.2 million
Spending
$38.7 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 61%
Employees
647
Volunteers
1,000
Highest pay
$1.0 million, president & ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    53 of 54 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

    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 June 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 (4)
  1. $21.8 million spent. EDUCATION AND TRAINING: -AFI CONSERVATORY: THIS WORLD-RENOWNED FILM CONSERVATORY IS DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO HANDS-ON LEARNING IN COLLABORATION WITH MASTER FILMMAKERS. OFFERING A TWO-YEAR ACCREDITED MFA PROGRAM, DEGREES ARE GRANTED IN SIX FILMMAKING DISCIPLINES - CINEMATOGRAPHY, DIRECTING, EDITING, PRODUCING, PRODUCTION DESIGN AND SCREENWRITING. THE AFI CONSERVATORY'S EXTRAORDINARY ALUMNI TESTIFY TO THE VALUE OF THE EXPERIENCE. -AFI DWW+ IS A PIONEERING TUITION-FREE YEAR-LONG DIRECTING PROGRAM, OPEN TO ALL APPLICANTS, THAT SUPPORTS EMERGING NARRATIVE FILMMAKERS THROUGH THE PRODUCTION CYCLE OF A SHORT FILM, PROVIDING HANDS-ON INSTRUCTION LED BY INDUSTRY EXPERTS. THE PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO CHAMPION TRADITIONALLY UNDERREPRESENTED FILMMAKERS.
  2. $6.3 million spent. EXHIBITION: -AFI ON SCREEN: IS AMONG THE LARGEST NONPROFIT FILM EXHIBITORS IN THE UNITED STATES, AFI ON SCREEN ENCOMPASSES: -AFI FEST - THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL FILM FESTIVALS IN NORTH AMERICA, FEATURING A RICH SLATE OF MORE THAN 100 FILMS OVER 5 DAYS. IT COMBINES PRE-AWARDS SEASON RED CARPET PREMIERES WITH GLOBAL SHOWCASES OF THE BEST IN CONTEMPORARY CINEMA. -AFI SILVER THEATRE AND CULTURAL CENTER - THIS FILM AND VIDEO EXHIBITION SPACE OFFERS AN UNSURPASSED, RICHLY ECLECTIC PROGRAM OF INTERNATIONAL FIRST-RUN AND REPERTORY CINEMA - THE AFI SILVER CONNECTS A DIVERSE REGIONAL AUDIENCE WITH THE BEST THE ART FORM HAS TO OFFER IN A STATE-OF-THE-ART AND ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT SCREENING ENVIRONMENT, IN SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND. THE THREE SCREENS ARE OPEN 365 DAYS A YEAR.
  3. $2.4 million spent. NATIONAL PROGRAMS: -AFI LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: ESTABLISHED IN 1973, THIS WAS THE FIRST AWARD TO RECOGNIZE A FILM ARTIST'S BODY OF WORK THAT HAS "STOOD THE TEST OF TIME". IT REMAINS THE HIGHEST HONOR FOR A CAREER IN FILM. -AFI AWARDS (REVENUES & EXPENSES INCLUDED UNDER SPECIAL EVENTS): AN ALMANAC FOR THE 21ST CENTURY, AFI AWARDS RECORDS AND PRESERVES AMERICA'S CULTURAL LEGACY BY HONORING EXCELLENCE IN THE MOVING IMAGE ARTS. IT IS THE ONLY FORM OF NATIONAL RECOGNITION THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THE COLLABORATIVE NATURE OF FILM AND TELEVISION BY HONORING THE CREATIVE ENSEMBLES AS A WHOLE.
  4. $843,306 spent. PRESERVATION AND DOCUMENTATION:-AFI COLLECTION: THIS VITAL AND INDISPENSABLE PART OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ARCHIVE CONTINUES TO ACQUIRE AND PRESERVE FILMS AS PART OF ITS ONGOING MISSION TO MAINTAIN AMERICA'S FILM HERITAGE. THE COLLECTION INCLUDES OVER 37,000 TITLES, CONSISTING PRIMARILY OF THEATRICAL FEATURES AND SHORTS, AS WELL AS SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS OF NEWSREELS, DOCUMENTARIES AND TELEVISION PROGRAMS.-AFI CATALOG: THIS DEFINITIVE ONLINE DATABASE SETS THE STANDARD AS THE SOURCE FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF AMERICAN FILM. IT HAS BEEN CALLED "THE AUTHORITATIVE OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN FILM."

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 2025.

    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 May 1967.

    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.