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American Cinematheque

EIN 95-3902004 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE BELIEVES THAT CINEMA IS A COMMUNAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE POWER TO ENTERTAIN, ENLIGHTEN AND INSPIRE. WE BUILD A DIVERSE AND ENGAGED FILM COMMUNITY THROUGH IMMERSIVE FILM CURATION, CONVERSATION, AND PRESENTATION. WE BRIDGE THE FILMMAKER TO THE AUDIENCE AND FILM HISTORY TO ITS FUTURE.

Income
$9.1 million
Spending
$9.5 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
14.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 55%
Employees
68
Volunteers
316
Highest pay
$165,096, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 31 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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

    29 of 29 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 September 30, 2025, 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. $4.9 million spent. THE AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE ENSURES PUBLIC ACCESS TO LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL FILMS, MANY OF WHICH ARE UNAVAILABLE ELSEWHERE AND ARE OF HISTORICAL, CULTURAL, OR EDUCATIONAL IMPORTANCE. PROGRAMS INCLUDE CLASSICS OF AMERICAN AND INTERNATIONAL CINEMA, NEW INDEPENDENT AND WORLD FILMS, INCLUDING RARE NITRATE AND ARCHIVAL PRINTS, 70MM, DIGITAL LASER PROJECTION, ETC., WITH POST-SCREENING FILMMAKER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE AUDIENCE. FILMS ARE PRESENTED IN STATE-OF-THE-ART THEATERS AS THEY WERE MEANT TO BE SEEN AND HEARD, PROVIDING ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCES. IN 2025, THE AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE PRESENTED OVER 1,700 SCREENINGS AT THE EGYPTIAN, AERO, AND LOS FELIZ THEATERS IN LOS ANGELES, IN COLLABORATION WITH AMPAS, UCLA ARCHIVE, EASTMAN MUSEUM, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, JAPAN FOUNDATION, CINEMATHEQUE FRANCE, FIAF MEMBER ARCHIVES, AMONG OTHERS. MEMBERSHIP HAS INCREASED TO OVER 10,000, WITH AN ACTIVE MAILING LIST OF 200,000.THE CINEMATHEQUE AWARDS (GIVEN TO A FILMMAKER MAKING A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO CINEMA) WAS PRESENTED TO JESSICA CHASTAIN IN DECEMBER 2024.
  2. $1.5 million spent. TRIBUTE TO THE CRAFTS 2025PRESENTED BY AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE AND SPONSORED BY MILAGRO, DELL, KODAK, AND SHOTDECK.TRIBUTE TO THE CRAFTS HONORS THOSE CRAFTSPEOPLE AND ARTISTS WHO ARE AT THE VERY HEART OF FILMMAKING AND HAVE EXHIBITED EXTRAORDINARY WORK BEHIND THE CAMERA OVER THE PAST YEAR. THE EVENING CELEBRATES INDIVIDUALS IN 13 SEPARATE CATEGORIES COVERING ALL ASPECTS OF FILMMAKING AND SHOWCASES CLIPS FROM EACH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE FILMS. THE AUDIENCE FOR THIS INVITATION-ONLY EVENT IS COMPRISED OF AC MEMBERS AND MEMBERS FROM AMPAS, PGA, WGA, DGA, SAG-AFTRA, BAFTA, AND FILM CRITICS.
  3. $551,851 spent. BEYOND FESTTHE BEYOND FEST FESTIVAL IS THE HIGHEST-ATTENDED GENRE FESTIVAL IN THE U.S. AND EXISTS TO SERVE THE GENRE COMMUNITY IN LOS ANGELES. BEYOND FEST IS BUILT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE, A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ENTITY, TO RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT MISSION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 September 2025.

    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 March 1984.

    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.