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Vine Street Archive Foundation

EIN 95-4860162 · Beverly Hills, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak37 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

VINE STREET ARCHIVE FOUNDATION WAS CREATED TO SERVE AS A SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION OF THE ACADEMY FOUNDATION. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO PROMOTE AND FURTHER THE STUDY AND IMPORTANCE OF MOTION PICTURES IN THE LIFE OF THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF THE MARY PICKFORD CENTER FOR MOTION PICTURE STUDIES.

Income
$9.8 million
Spending
$9.5 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
-43.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
0
Volunteers
103
Highest pay
$1.1 million, chief executive officer

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

Financial health

Weak: 37 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 89% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    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 June 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. $6.3 million spent. OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF THE MARY PICKFORD CENTER FOR MOTION PICTURE STUDIES.
  2. $1.7 million spent. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL IS THE VINE STREET ARCHIVE FOUNDATION'S PRIMARY INTERFACE TO THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COMMUNITY. THE COUNCIL IS COMPOSED OF ACADEMY MEMBERS FROM VARIOUS BRANCHES. A SMALL FULL-TIME STAFF SUPPORTS THE COUNCIL'S ACTIVITIES. THE COUNCIL SUPPORTS PRESERVATION OF TECHNICAL ARTIFACTS OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND DIGITAL WORKS. THE COUNCIL MAY WORK WITH OTHER INDUSTRY TECHNICAL ORGANIZATIONS TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICES FOR MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION, AND TO GENERALLY ADVANCE THE SCIENCE OF MOTION PICTURES AND FOSTER COOPERATION FOR TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS IN SUPPORT OF THE ART OF FILM MAKING.
  3. $1.2 million spent. NICHOLL FELLOWSHIP IN ORDER TO FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ART OF SCREENWRITING, THE DON AND GEE NICHOLL FELLOWSHIP IN SCREENWRITING HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY A GIFT TO THE ACADEMY FOUNDATION FROM MRS. GEE NICHOLL. EACH FELLOWSHIP IS $35,000 PAYABLE IN FIVE INSTALLMENTS OVER ONE YEAR. THE FIRST PAYMENT WILL BE MADE WHEN THE GRANT IS AWARDED. THE REMAINING PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE SUBJECT TO SATISFACTORY PROGRESS OF THE RECIPIENTS WORK, AS JUDGED BY THE VINE STREET ARCHIVE FOUNDATION NICHOLL FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE. THE SCHEDULE AND NATURE OF THE FELLOW'S PROGRESS WILL BE ESTABLISHED AT THE TIME OF THE INITIAL FELLOWSHIP PAYMENT. FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS WILL BE EXPECTED, DURING THE FELLOWSHIP YEAR, TO COMPLETE AT LEAST ONE ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY WRITTEN IN STANDARD SCREENPLAY FORMAT. NICHOLL FELLOWSHIPS MAY NOT BE HELD CONCURRENTLY WITH OTHER FELLOWSHIPS. THE VINE STREET ARCHIVE FOUNDATION RESERVES THE RIGHT TO GRANT NO AWARDS IF, IN THE OPINION OF THE NICHOLL FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE, NO APPLICATION IS OF SUFFICIENT MERIT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 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 2002.

    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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