Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CHARITABLE ARM OF THE TV ACADEMY, THE ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES FOUNDATION, IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING TELEVISION WHILE EDUCATING AND INSPIRING FUTURE LEADERS.
- Income
- $4.7 million
- Spending
- $6.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- 14.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $729,580, president & coo
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 14.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 2523 of 23 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 (4)
- $2.4 million spent. THE SABAN MEDIA CENTER HOUSES THE TELEVISION ACADEMY FOUNDATION OFFICES, AS WELL AS SPACES FOR FOUNDATION PROGRAM EVENTS. FOUNDATION EVENTS USING THE MULTIPURPOSE CONFERENCE FACILITIES INCLUDE THE SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM'S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MEDIA EDUCATORS CONFERENCE, THE COLLEGE TELEVISION AWARDS CEREMONY AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND OTHER FOUNDATION PROGRAMS. THE FOUNDATION'S "POWER OF TV" PUBLIC PROGRAMMING SERIES INCLUDED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AUTHENTIC REPRESENTATION OF DISABILITY ON SCREEN, DEPICTIONS OF WORK, FAMILY, AND CARE, AS WELL AS PORTRAYALS OF DEMOCRACY IN TELEVISION. THE "POWER OF TV" SHOWCASES THE POTENTIAL OF TELEVISION TO ADVANCE CULTURAL CONVERSATIONS AND CREATE SOCIAL CHANGE. FOUNDATION EVENTS USING THE THEATER, LOBBY AND EXTERIOR SPACES INCLUDE NETWORKING MIXERS FOR FOUNDATION INTERNS, MEDIA EDUCATORS CONFERENCE, DISCUSSIONS, AND LARGER PUBLIC PROGRAMS. A SMALL STUDIO ON THE LOWER LEVEL HAS BEEN USED TO RECORD ORAL HISTORIES AS PART OF THE FOUNDATION'S INTERVIEWS PROGRAM, AS WELL AS CONDUCT VIRTUAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. ALL OF THE PROGRAMS LISTED ABOVE ARE ONGOING PROGRAMS OF THE FOUNDATION AND HELP TO FULFILL THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION TO SUPPORT EMERGING TELEVISION CREATORS AND TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF THE TELEVISION INDUSTRY. (Expenses $ 318,043 including grants of $ 35,000)(Revenue $ 0) THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM ANNUALLY PROVIDES MORE THAN 50 INDUSTRY WIDE INTERNSHIPS TO COLLEGE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND IS A KEY PART OF FULFILLING THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION OF EDUCATING AND PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF TELEVISION LEADERS. THE HIGHLY SELECTIVE PROGRAM GIVES STUDENTS IN-DEPTH EXPOSURE TO PROFESSIONAL TELEVISION DEVELOPMENT DURING AN EIGHT-WEEK PAID SUMMER INTERNSHIP. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES 13-WEEK PAID PART-TIME INTERNSHIPS DURING THE FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS. TO SOLICIT INTEREST IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS, THERE IS WIDE OUTREACH THAT EXTENDS BEYOND THE NATION'S TOP FILM/TV UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND ALSO INCLUDES HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS, TRIBAL COLLEGES, AND ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER SERVING INSTITUTIONS. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION ENGAGED MORE THAN 500 VOLUNTEERS FROM THE TELEVISION ACADEMY IN THE REVIEW OF MORE THAN 2,000 APPLICATIONS AND OTHER PROGRAMMATIC ASPECTS. WHILE PARTICIPATING IN THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, STUDENTS ALSO ATTENDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS AND NETWORKING EVENTS TO HELP PREPARE THEM FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF THEIR CAREERS.
- $969,181 spent. THE INTERVIEWS: AN ORAL HISTORY OF TELEVISION IS A ROBUST REPOSITORY OF LONG-FORM VIDEO ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS WITH TELEVISION ICONS AND CHANGEMAKERS. (IT PREVIOUSLY WAS KNOWN AS THE ARCHIVE OF AMERICAN TELEVISION.) THE COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 950+ INTERVIEWS IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, JOURNALISTS, AND SCHOLARS WORLDWIDE VIA A FULLY CATALOGUED WEBSITE. THE INTERVIEWS: AN ORAL HISTORY OF TELEVISION HELPS FULFILL ONE OF THE FOUNDATION'S CENTRAL GOALS - THE PRESERVATION, CELEBRATION, AND DISSEMINATION OF TELEVISION HISTORY. ORAL HISTORY SUBJECT HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2024 INCLUDE LEGENDARY ENTERTAINMENT EXECUTIVE HAIM SABAN, ACTRESS TANTOO CARDINAL, HAIR STYLIST KIM KIMBLE, DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER CHRIS EYRE AND PRODUCTION DESIGNER SUZUKI INGERSLEV.
- $379,319 spent. THE COLLEGE TELEVISION AWARDS IS A RENOWNED NATIONAL COMPETITION RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE IN COLLEGE STUDENT PRODUCED CONTENT THAT HELPS TO FULFILL THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION OF EDUCATING AND PREPARING THOSE WHO WILL IMPACT THE FUTURE OF TELEVISION. STUDENTS ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT THEIR BEST WORK AND WINNERS RECEIVE CASH AWARDS AND INDUSTRY RECOGNITION AT AN EMMY AWARDS STYLE EVENT. THE AWARDS CEREMONY AND NOMINEE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WERE HELD AT THE SABAN MEDIA CENTER OVER SEVERAL DAYS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO ENGAGED WITH OTHER PARTNERS TO EXTEND THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR AWARD WINNERS FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY. (Expenses $ 318,043 including grants of $ 35,000)(Revenue $ 0) THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM ANNUALLY PROVIDES MORE THAN 50 INDUSTRY WIDE INTERNSHIPS TO COLLEGE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND IS A KEY PART OF FULFILLING THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION OF EDUCATING AND PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF TELEVISION LEADERS. THE HIGHLY SELECTIVE PROGRAM GIVES STUDENTS IN-DEPTH EXPOSURE TO PROFESSIONAL TELEVISION DEVELOPMENT DURING AN EIGHT-WEEK PAID SUMMER INTERNSHIP. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES 13-WEEK PAID PART-TIME INTERNSHIPS DURING THE FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS. TO SOLICIT INTEREST IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS, THERE IS WIDE OUTREACH THAT EXTENDS BEYOND THE NATION'S TOP FILM/TV UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND ALSO INCLUDES HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS, TRIBAL COLLEGES, AND ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER SERVING INSTITUTIONS. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION ENGAGED MORE THAN 500 VOLUNTEERS FROM THE TELEVISION ACADEMY IN THE REVIEW OF MORE THAN 2,000 APPLICATIONS AND OTHER PROGRAMMATIC ASPECTS. WHILE PARTICIPATING IN THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, STUDENTS ALSO ATTENDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS AND NETWORKING EVENTS TO HELP PREPARE THEM FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF THEIR CAREERS.
- $318,043 spent. THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM ANNUALLY PROVIDES MORE THAN 50 INDUSTRY WIDE INTERNSHIPS TO COLLEGE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND IS A KEY PART OF FULFILLING THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION OF EDUCATING AND PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF TELEVISION LEADERS. THE HIGHLY SELECTIVE PROGRAM GIVES STUDENTS IN-DEPTH EXPOSURE TO PROFESSIONAL TELEVISION DEVELOPMENT DURING AN EIGHT-WEEK PAID SUMMER INTERNSHIP. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES 13-WEEK PAID PART-TIME INTERNSHIPS DURING THE FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS. TO SOLICIT INTEREST IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS, THERE IS WIDE OUTREACH THAT EXTENDS BEYOND THE NATION'S TOP FILM/TV UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND ALSO INCLUDES HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS, TRIBAL COLLEGES, AND ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER SERVING INSTITUTIONS. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION ENGAGED MORE THAN 500 VOLUNTEERS FROM THE TELEVISION ACADEMY IN THE REVIEW OF MORE THAN 2,000 APPLICATIONS AND OTHER PROGRAMMATIC ASPECTS. WHILE PARTICIPATING IN THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, STUDENTS ALSO ATTENDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS AND NETWORKING EVENTS TO HELP PREPARE THEM FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF THEIR CAREERS.
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 August 1995.
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.
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