Messenger Films
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
PRODUCTION OF CHRISTIAN-THEMED FILMS THAT PRESENT THE GOSPEL TO PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.
- Income
- $71,591
- Spending
- $158,626
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 58.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 84%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $3,500, director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 58.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 122% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 August 31, 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 (2)
- $141,029 spent. "FILMS OF BEAUTY, STORIES OF HOPE" IS THE MOTTO OF MESSENGER FILMS. FOUNDED IN 1988 BY CRISTOBAL KRUSEN (A GRADUATE OF THE NYU FILM SCHOOL), MESSENGER FILMS BEGAN WITH PRODUCTIONS MADE FOR THE SPANISH-SPEAKING WORLD. IN THE EARLY 2000S, MESSENGER BRANCHED INTO A TRULY GLOBAL MINISTRY WITH FEATURE FILMS PRODUCED IN AFRICA, ASIA, NORTH AMERICA, AND EUROPE. NOTEWORTHY EXAMPLES INCLUDE THE AWARD-WINNING LET ME HAVE MY SON (PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO AND DUBBED IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES), AS WELL AS FINAL SOLUTION (PRODUCED IN SOUTH AFRICA) AND SABINA K. (PRODUCED IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA).SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION OVER THE PAST NEARLY FORTY YEARS, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN ONE BILLION PEOPLE HAVE SEEN A MESSENGER FILMS PRODUCTION - MOSTLY THROUGH TELEVISION BROADCASTS AND DIGITAL STREAMING PLATFORMS, BUT ALSO VIA THEATRICAL DISTRIBUTION AND COMMUNITY-BASED SHOWINGS AND CHURCH SHOWINGS. CURRENT PLANS AT MESSENGER CALL FOR THE PRODUCTION OF NEW FILMS APPEALING ESPECIALLY TO "SPIRITUAL SEEKERS". OUR LATEST RELEASE IS LET ME HAVE MY SON, WHICH WAS FILMED IN THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO, AND IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON PRIME AND OTHER STREAMING PLATFORMS. LET ME HAVE MY SON IS INSPIRED BY THE TRUE STORY OF A FATHER'S DESPERATE SEARCH FOR HIS MENTALLY ILL SON AND THE STRUGGLE TO RECONCILE THE TRAGEDIES OF LIFE WITH A LOVING GOD. MESSENGER FILMS EXISTS THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF DONORS AND FRIENDS AS WELL AS DISTRIBUTION INCOME DERIVED FROM ROYALTIES AND LICENSING FEES.
- MESSENGER FILMS CONTINUES TO DISTRIBUTE NARRATIVE FEATURE FILMS FROM PRIOR YEARS SUCH AS SABINA K., FINAL SOLUTION, ROPA NUEVA PARA FELIPE, AND CON QUIEN TE VAS? ALL OF THESE FILMS PRESENT BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED STORIES SHOWING GOD'S UNFAILING LOVE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND CULTURES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 August 2025.
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 December 1993.
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 November 4, 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.