Indianapolis Film Project Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF INDIANAPOLIS FILM PROJECT AND THE KAN-KAN CINEMA IS TO EXHIBIT HIGH QUALITY FILMS; TO ENTERTAIN AND EDUCATE PEOPLE FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS; AND TO INSPIRE CONVERSATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- -17.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 59%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 54
- Highest pay
- $102,454, executive director
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
Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 42% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (1)
- $1.3 million spent. AS AN ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL MEDIUM, FILM CONNECTS PEOPLE ACROSS MULTIPLE SOCIAL SPECTRUMS. THE ORGANIZATION MAKES THAT CONNECTION AND EXECUTES ITS VISION AT THE KAN-KAN CINEMA, A 3-SCREEN ARTHOUSE THEATER IT OWNS AND OPERATES ON THE CITY'S NEAR EASTSIDE. AT THE KAN-KAN CINEMA, THE ORGANIZATION SERVES THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND WIDER CITY AUDIENCES WITH AN EVER-CHANGING MIX OF INDEPENDENT CINEMA, FILM & ARTS EDUCATION, PANEL-LED CONVERSATIONS OF SOCIAL IMPORTANCE, NEW WORKS FROM LOCAL AND REGIONAL FILMMAKERS, FILM-BASED PRESENTATIONS BY OTHER AREA NOT-FOR-PROFITS AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED EVENTS. MANY OF THE FILMS SHOWN AT THE KAN-KAN NEVER APPEAR IN INDIANAPOLIS-AREA COMMERCIAL CINEMAS. THE ORGANIZATION'S FILMS CROSS EVERY GENRE AND INCLUDE DOCUMENTARIES, CLASSIC AND INTERNATIONAL FILMS. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION EXHIBITS FILMS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES LACKING THEATRICAL VENUES AND SUPPORTS OTHER NOT-FOR-PROFIT ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES IN ITS LOCAL COMMUNITY. MORE BROADLY, THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS TO CREATE A SAFE AND WELCOMING SPACE FOR SHARED EXPERIENCES WHILE SPARKING AUDIENCE AND COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2019.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.