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Film Foundation Inc

EIN 95-4244945 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FILM FOUNDATION (TFF) IS A NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED IN 1990 DEDICATED TO PROTECTING AND PRESERVING MOTION PICTURE HISTORY. BY WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ARCHIVES AND STUDIOS, THE FOUNDATION HAS RESTORED OVER 1000 FILMS, (CONTINUE ON SCHEDULE O)WHICH ARE MADE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE THROUGH SCREENINGS AND PROGRAMS AT FESTIVALS, MUSEUMS, AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE WORLD. TFF'S WORLD CINEMA PROJECT HAS RESTORED 64 FILMS FROM 31 COUNTRIES REPRESENTING THE RICH DIVERSITY OF WORLD CINEMA. THE FOUNDATION'S FREE EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM, THE STORY OF MOVIES (SOM), TEACHES YOUNG PEOPLE, OVER 10 MILLION TO DATE, ABOUT FILM LANGUAGE AND HISTORY.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
30 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
5
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$228,972, executive 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 30.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $474,901 spent. THE FILM FOUNDATION (TFF) WAS CREATED IN 1990 BY MARTIN SCORSESE TO RAISE AWARENESS AND FUNDS FOR THE PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION OF OUR CINEMATIC HISTORY. JOINING SCORSESE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE LEADING FILMMAKERS COMMITTED TO ADVOCATING AND SUPPORTING FILM PRESERVATION. TFF IS ALIGNED WITH THE DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA.TFF HAS HELPED TO PRESERVE AND RESTORE OVER 1000 FILMS, INCLUDING A DIVERSE GROUP OF FEATURES, DOCUMENTARIES, NEWSREELS, SHORTS, HOME MOVIES, EXPERIMENTAL, AND SILENT FILMS.THE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED THE WORLD CINEMA PROJECT (WCP), TO PRESERVE, RESTORE AND SHARE NEGLECTED WORKS BY (CONTINUE ON SCHEDULE O) FILMMAKERS FROM REGIONS ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE. TO DATE, 64 FILMS HAVE BEEN RESTORED AND SCREENED EXPOSING A NEW GENERATION TO CLASSIC CINEMA AND EDUCATE AUDIENCES ON THE IMPORTANCE FOR ITS PRESERVATION. AS PART OF THE WCP, THE FOUNDATION CREATED THE AFRICAN FILM HERITAGE PROJECT TO LOCATE, RESTORE AND PRESERVE SIGNIFICANT AFRICAN TITLES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PAN AFRICAN FEDERATION OF FILMMAKERS AND UNESCO. IN ADDITION, THE WCP PROVIDES TRAINING FOR STUDENTS AND ARCHIVISTS THROUGH ITS RESTORATION FILM SCHOOL HELD AT PARTNERING INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE WORLD.CRUCIAL TO THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS PROVIDING ACCESS TO ALL THE TITLES IT HELPS TO PRESERVE AND RESTORE. IN 2024, THERE WERE MORE THAN 900 SCREENINGS PRESENTED BITH VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON, AT MUSEUMS, ARCHIVES, FESTIVALS, REPERTORY THEATERS, AND UNIVERSITIES.THE FOUNDATION MAINTAINS A CONSERVATION COLLECTION FOR FILMS RESTORED WITH ITS FUNDING. HELD AT THE ACADEMY FILM ARCHIVE, 35MM PRINTS, 70MM PRINTS, AND DIGITAL CINEMA PACKAGES ARE ADDED TO THE COLLECTION WHEN RESTORATION WORK IS COMPLETED.
  2. $577,901 spent. TFF'S CINEMA LITERACY PROGRAM, THE STORY OF MOVIES (SOM), CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS REACH IN 2024 TO EDUCATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH ITS "PORTRAITS OF AMERICA: DEMOCRACY ON FILM" CURRICULUM. THE CURRICULUM INTRODUCES MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO FILMS ADDRESSING THE IDEALS AND CHALLENGES OF AMERICAN SOCIETY. THE SOM TEAM ALSO BEGAN WORK ON A NEW CURRICULUM, "THE AMERICAN WEST AND THE WESTERN FILM GENRE." THE 17 FILMS INCLUDE SILENT WESTERNS FROM THE EARLIEST DECADES OF CINEMA HISTORY, CLASSICS FROM HOLLYWOOD'S GOLDEN AGE, AND CONTEMPORARY FILMS THAT REPRESENT FRESH PERSPECTIVES ON THE GENRE. (CONTINUE ON SCHEDULE O)THREE PREVIOUS UNITS CONTINUE TO BE DISTRIBUTED: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962, D. ROBERT MULLIGAN), MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939, D. FRANK CAPRA), AND THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951, D. ROBERT WISE). THE PROGRAM IS DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE; EDUCATORS HAVE ACCESS TO THE MATERIALS ON THE STORY OF MOVIES WEBSITE (STORYOFMOVIES.ORG); AS WELL AS TO THE FILM LESSON LIBRARY AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES. THE PROGRAM IS USED BY OVER 150,000 EDUCATORS. WORKSHOPS WERE PRESENTED AT EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES, INCLUDING THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS (AFT) AND THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE SOCIAL STUDIES, WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 1500 EDUCATORS.
  3. $244,805 spent. TFF PROVIDES ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS THROUGH ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH FILM FESTIVALS, MUSEUMS, EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE WORLD. THE FOUNDATION ALSO HOSTS A WEBSITE TO EDUCATE VISITORS ABOUT ITS WORK, AS WELL AS SOCIAL MEDIA FOR CURRENT NEWS, RESOURCES, AND ARTICLES.
  4. $30,357 spent. ANOTHER KEY OBJECTIVE OF THE FOUNDATION IS TO PROTECT THE WORK OF FILM ARTISTS FROM CENSORSHIP, ALTERATION, AND INTERNET THEFT. IT CREATED THE ARTISTS RIGHTS EDUCATION AND LEGAL DEFENSE FUND COUNCIL TO ADVOCATE FOR THE PROTECTION OF ARTISTS' RIGHTS.

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 2024.

    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 February 1990.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Folx Foundation Inc (Miami Beach, FL), EIN 86-3600057. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.