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California Film Institute

EIN 94-2498062 · San Rafael, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CALIFORNIA FILM INSTITUTE CELEBRATES FILM AND VIDEOS AS ART AND EDUCATION. ITS GOAL IS TO PRESENT AND SUPPORT EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED INDEPENDENT FILMAKERS WHOSE WORKS ADDRESS ISSUES RELEVANT TO CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE PRESENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED MILL VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL, YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS AT THE RAFAEL FILM CENTER, EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS, AND NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE EFFORTS.THE MISSION OF THE CFI IS TO CELEBRATE FILM AND VIDEO. THERE IS NO OTHER MEDIUM OF THE 20TH AND 21ST CENTURY THAT IS MORE POWERFUL THAN THE MOVING IMAGE. AT ITS BEST, IT IS THE ART FORM THAT INSPIRES US TO EXPLORE HOW WE RELATE TO OUR PLANET AND TO OURSELVES.

Income
$6.2 million
Spending
$6.4 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
148
Volunteers
130
Highest pay
$287,245, executive dir.

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

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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 25

    13 of 13 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, 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 (3)
  1. $2.5 million spent. THE MILL VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING NEW AND INNOVATIVE WORKS IN FILM AUDIENCES IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND BEYOND. THIS NON-COMPETITIVE EVENT INCLUDES AROUND 100 PROGRAMS OF INDEPENDENT FEATURES, DOCUMENTARIES, SHORTS, AS WELL AS TRIBUTES, SEMINARS, INTERACTIVE PRESENTATIONS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS. ENTRY FEES AND TICKET SALES HELP OFFSET THE COST OF THE ARTS EVENT. DOCLANDS IS A WORLD CLASS, NON-COMPETITIVE CELEBRATION OF THE BEST DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING INTRODUCED BY CFI IN 2018 AND PRESENTING 30 FILMS TO 6500 ATTENDEES EACH YEAR. CFI AWARDS INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS AS PART OF THE ORGANIZATIONS DOCPITCH EVENT WHICH IS A PART OF THE DOCLANDS DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL. CFI HOLDS AN EVENT FOR FILMMAKERS TO "PITCH" THEIR FILMS. AT THE EVENT A VOTE IS DONE, AND WINNERS ARE GIVEN FUNDING TO HELP COMPLETE THEIR FILMS.
  2. $2.1 million spent. THE CHRISTOPHER B. SMITH SAN RAFAEL FILM CENTER SERVES AS THE COMMUNITYS TRUSTED YEAR-ROUND FILM CURATOR AND PROVIDES BAY AREA RESIDENTS WITH EXPOSURE TO A WIDE RANGE OF INDEPENDENT AND INTERNATIONAL FILMS IN A QUALITY ENVIRONMENT. THE CENTERS FILM PROGRAMS REACH AN AUDIENCE OF 125,000 PATRONS EACH YEAR.
  3. $397,121 spent. THE CFI EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDES BAY AREA STUDENTS AND LIFELONG LEARNERS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THEMSELVES AND THE WORLD THROUGH FILM AND FILMMAKING. EDUCATION PROGRAMS REACHED SOME 10,000 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ANNUALLY.

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 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 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 May 1998.

    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.

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