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Sag Harbor Cinema Arts Center Inc

EIN 61-1850154 · Sag Harbor, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SAG HARBOR CINEMA ARTS CENTER, INC. PLANS TO RESTORE THE SAG HARBOR CINEMA AND TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIC NATURE OF MAIN STREET IN DOWNTOWN SAG HARBOR, NEW YORK, PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY OF THE EAST END OF LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK,EXPOSURE TO FIRST-RUN,INDEPENDENT, FOREIGN AND DOCUMENTARY FILMS THAT APPEAL TO NEW AUDIENCES AND UNDERSERVED MARKET SEGMENTS, AS WELL AS CONDUCT PROGRAMS PROVIDING CINEMA-ORIENTED EDUCATION, PROGRAMMING AND OUTREACH FOR THE GENERAL COMMUNITY OF SAG HARBOR AND EASTERN LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK.THE SAG HARBOR CINEMA ARTS CENTER, INC. IS INTENDED TO BE OPERATED TO ENHANCE:CULTURAL VITALITY BY MAINTAINING THE CINEMA'S ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER AND IDENTITY MAKING THE CINEMA AN ATTRACTION AND DESTINATION FOR A WIDE AUDIENCE;COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING BY WORKING WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS TO EXPOSE PARTICIPANTS TO THE CULTURAL AND FILM INDUSTRY THAT MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE THE OPTION, FURTHER ANCHORING SAG HARBOR AS

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$4.2 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
31.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
32
Volunteers
23
Highest pay
$161,903, 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: 79 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 31.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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 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 (3)
  1. $2.5 million spent. TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY OF THE EAST END OF LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK EXPOSURE TO FIRST-RUN, INDEPENDENT, FOREIGN AND DOCUMENTARY FILMS THAT APPEAL TO NEW AUDIENCES AND UNDERSERVED MARKET SEGMENTS
  2. $940,136 spent. RESTORATION OF CINEMA IN SAG HARBOR, NEW YORK.
  3. $1,903 spent. TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS PROVIDING CINEMA-ORIENTED EDUCATION, PROGRAMMING AND OUTREACH FOR THE GENERAL COMMUNITY OF SAG HARBOR AND EASTERN LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK.

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 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 November 6, 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 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 January 2018.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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