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Rockaway Film Festival

EIN 83-2462823 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ROCKAWAY FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTS CINEMA AND OTHER ARTS AT THE COASTAL EDGE OF NEW YORK CITY, JOINING ARTISTS AND AUDIENCES FOR UNIQUE COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCES.

Income
$534,848
Spending
$275,711
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
3
Volunteers
19
Highest pay
$31,248, managing 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 48% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 278% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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. $184,572 spent. THE 7TH ANNUAL ROCKAWAY FILM FESTIVAL TOOK PLACE OVER THE COURSE OF 9 DAYS IN AUGUST 2024 AND PRESENTED MORE THAN 60 FILMS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED SEVERAL NEW YORK, EAST COAST, AND WORLD PREMIERES OF NEW FILMS AND RESTORATIONS ALONGSIDE SPECIAL TRIBUTES, PANELIST CONVERSATIONS, AND RARE SCREENINGS. EVERY DAY OF THE FESTIVAL INCLUDED TALKS WITH FEATURED DIRECTORS, ACTORS, AND OTHER CREW MEMBERS, MODERATED BY ESTEEMED FILMMAKERS. IN ADDITION TO FILM SCREENINGS, WE PRESENTED 8 LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES INCLUDING SETS BY ACCLAIMED MUSICIANS, INCLUDING VISITING MUSICIANS AS WELL AS LOCAL ROCKAWAY TALENTS.IN ADDITION TO PRESENTING A SPECIAL EVENT EACH EVENING IN OUR FLAGSHIP OUTDOOR VENUE, THE ARVERNE CINEMA, WE TRANSFORMED A NEIGHBORING WAREHOUSE INTO A SECONDARY, INDOOR SCREENING ROOM THE ANNEX CINEMA. THIS SET-UP GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND OUR PROGRAMMING SCOPE, AND TO BUILD AND PRESENT OUR FIRST MULTI-CHANNEL INSTALLATION. THE FESTIVAL INCLUDED OUR FIRST EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, WHICH WE OFFERED FOR FREE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ROCKAWAY ARTISTS.IN ADDITION TO THE 7TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL, WE PRESENTED FILM AND MUSIC AT THE ARVERNE CINEMA FROM APRIL THROUGH OCTOBER OF 2024. MANY OF OUR EVENTS WERE OFFERED FOR FREE, INCLUDING OUR ANNUAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION WITH ALFREDA'S CINEMA, AND OUR ANNUAL EARTH DAY CLEAN-UP AND SCREENING WITH LARU BEYA COLLECTIVE. ALL OF OUR EVENTS WERE OFFERED FOR FREE TO CHILDREN, TEENAGERS, AND OUR NEIGHBORS LIVING IN ARVERNE.IN 2024, RFF'S STAFF AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS INVESTED IN ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING TO ENABLE THE GROWTH OF OUR SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES. IN 2024, RFF TRANSITIONED TO A FULL-TIME ORGANIZATION AND PRIORITIZED BUILDING NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH A LARGER PORTION OF ITS TARGET POPULATION OF THE ENTIRE ROCKAWAY PENINSULA, ESPECIALLY AIMING TO CONNECT WITH HARDER TO REACH GROUPS. WE ACCOMPLISHED OUR GOAL OF ENGAGING WITH A LARGER AND BROADER POPULATION OF THE ROCKAWAY COMMUNITY WITH OUR HIGHEST ATTENDED FESTIVAL TO DATE.

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

  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 2024.

    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 January 2020.

    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.

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.