Kunhardt Film Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IN FURTHERANCE OF ADVANCING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND DEVELOPING AN INFORMED GLOBAL CITIZENRY, THE ORGANIZATION PRODUCES INTERVIEWS, TEACHING TOOLS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTARY MATERIALS ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND IDEAS THAT SHAPE THE WORLD. (SEE SCH O) THESE MATERIALS ARE THEN MADE AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC USING A VARIETY OF TOOLS TO ENSURE BOTH ACCESSIBILITY AND HIGH-QUALITY CONTENT.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $3.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 93.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 51%
- Employees
- 26
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $193,839, secretary
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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 93.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 256% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 89% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (7)
- $2.6 million spent. THE THREAD IS A NEW DOCUMENTARY INTERVIEW SERIES ON YOUTUBE IN WHICH EXCEPTIONAL INDIVIDUALS SHARE THE DIFFERENT PATHS THEY HAVE TAKEN TO LEAD MEANINGFUL LIVES. EACH 30-MINUTE EPISODE OF THE THREAD WILL TAKE THE VIEWER ON A PERSONAL JOURNEY INTO THE LIFE OF AN EXTRAORDINARY INDIVIDUAL WHO EXPLORES THEIR LIFE'S PASSION AND PURPOSE. THE THREAD WILL TUG AT THE HEART AND REVEAL INSIGHTS INTO SOME OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL LIVES OF OUR TIME.
- $12,727 spent. THE INTERVIEW ARCHIVE PRESERVES PERSONAL STORYTELLING FROM OUR SOCIETY'S MOST INSPIRATIONAL FIGURES, GIVING INSIGHT INTO THE LIVES AND EVENTS THAT SHAPED OUR CULTURE AND HISTORY. THESE NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN CONVERSATIONS ARE BOTH ORIGINAL AND AUTHENTIC, CAPTURED IN THE HIGHEST QUALITY BY AWARD-WINNING FILMMAKERS, AND MADE FREELY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC BY KUNHARDT FILM FOUNDATION D/B/A LIFE STORIES.
- $82 spent. IN 2023, KUNHARDT FILM FOUNDATION PRODUCED THE SILENT WITNESS, A SHORT-FORM DOCUMENTARY THAT EXPANDED ON THE PERSONAL TESTIMONY OF TOMIKO MORIMOTO WEST, A SURVIVOR OF THE ATOMIC BOMBING OF HIROSHIMA. AS A 13-YEAR-OLD WORKING IN A FACTORY ON AUGUST 6, 1945, WEST WITNESSED THE DEVASTATING IMPACT OF THE NUCLEAR BOMB AND ENDURED THE HORRORS THAT FOLLOWED. AFTER YEARS OF SILENCE, SHE NOW SHARES HER STORY TO HELP OTHERS UNDERSTAND THE PROFOUND CONSEQUENCES OF WAR. THIS DOCUMENTARY IS PART OF KUNHARDT FILM FOUNDATION'S ONGOING EFFORTS TO CREATE MEANINGFUL, EDUCATIONAL CONTENT THAT BRINGS HISTORICAL AND HUMAN EXPERIENCES TO LIGHT.
- $610,217 spent. THE FOUNDATION BEGAN PRODUCING A LONG-FORM DOCUMENTARY ON THE LIFE OF KATHARINE GRAHAM, FORMER OWNER AND PUBLISHER OF THE WASHINGTON POST. THIS DOCUMENTARY DELVES INTO GRAHAM'S PIVOTAL ROLE IN TRANSFORMING THE NEWSPAPER INTO A LEADING VOICE DURING CRITICAL MOMENTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY, INCLUDING THE PENTAGON PAPERS AND THE WATERGATE SCANDAL. BY EXAMINING HER LEADERSHIP, PERSONAL CHALLENGES, AND LASTING IMPACT ON JOURNALISM AND DEMOCRACY, THE FILM PROVIDES AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL WOMEN IN MEDIA. THIS BIOGRAPHICAL WORK IS PART OF THE FOUNDATION'S COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING AND SHARING THE LEGACIES OF KEY HISTORICAL FIGURES FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.
- $3,500 spent. KUNHARDT FILM FOUNDATION, D/B/A LIFE STORIES, ENGAGES IN EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES BY CREATING AND DISTRIBUTING DOCUMENTARY FILMS AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES THAT FOCUS ON INDIVIDUALS WHOSE STORIES INSPIRE MEANINGFUL SOCIETAL CHANGE. LIFE STORIES' EDUCATIONAL CONTENT COVERS TOPICS SUCH AS SOCIAL JUSTICE, HISTORY, POLITICS, THE ARTS, AND CULTURE, AIMING TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING AND REFLECTION ON THESE CRITICAL ISSUES. THESE RESOURCES ARE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE TO EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, TEACHERS, AND STUDENTS THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION'S CURATED WEBSITE AND YOUTUBE CHANNEL, ENSURING FREE ACCESS FOR USE IN CLASSROOMS AND COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE.
- $84,583 spent. PRE-PRODUCTION ON A POTENTIAL DOCUMENTARY ABOUT MARIO CUOMO, INCLUDING GRANTS RECEIVED OF $100,000.
- $8,780 spent. BEHIND HER EYES TELLS THE POWERFUL JOURNEY OF ONE OF THE YOUNGEST SURVIVORS OF THE HOLOCAUST WHO USES THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO BRIDGE ACROSS GENERATIONS. BORN IN POLAND IN 1938, TOVA WAS ONE OF THE FEW JEWISH CHILDREN TO SURVIVE THE HORRORS OF AUSCHWITZ. TOVA PROVES THAT UNDERSTANDING HOW AND WHY HATRED ERUPTS CAN SERVE AS ONE OF THE STRONGEST ANTIDOTES TO BUILDING EMPATHY AND COMPASSION.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
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.
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.