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Cinematography for Actors Institute Inc

EIN 99-2161365 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceFair61 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EMPOWER UNDERREPRESENTED AND EMERGING FILMMAKERS AND ACTORS BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES, FOSTERING CONFIDENCE, AND EXPANDING THEIR NETWORKS WITHIN THE FILM INDUSTRY.

Income
$598,369
Spending
$545,663
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
2
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$19,260, co-president/founder

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

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 402% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 November 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 (1)
  1. $410,154 spent. WE EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS. IN ADDITION TO OUR CORE TEAM, WE PARTNER WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS ON BOTH THE VENDOR AND CREATOR SIDES TO FACILITATE YEAR-ROUND WORKSHOPS AND EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES. WE PRODUCE INDUSTRY-LEADING PODCASTS, INCLUDING THE CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR ACTORS PODCAST AND THE INDIEWOOD PODCAST, PROVIDING VALUABLE INSIGHTS AND INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE ON A WEEKLY BASIS. WE ALSO RUN LEAGUE OF FILMMAKERS, A WEBSITE THAT OFFERS BOTH WRITTEN AND VISUAL EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL ON THE BTS OF FILMMAKING.OUR CFA INSTITUTE PROGRAMS OFFER HANDS-ON LABS AND YEAR-ROUND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH TALENT AND CREW. OUR NETWORKING EVENTS, MORE AFFECTIONATELY CALLED, COMMUNITY-BUILDING EVENTS FOSTER THE CAREERS OF EMERGING, TALENTED FILMMAKERS. ALTHOUGH BASED IN LOS ANGELES, OUR REACH EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. WE PRIORITIZE LIVE STREAMING OUR EVENTS TO A GLOBAL AUDIENCE AND RECORDING THEM FOR FUTURE ACCESS, ENSURING OUR EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES ARE ACCESSIBLE WORLDWIDE.ADDITIONALLY, WE OFFER FISCAL SPONSORSHIP, ALLOWING FILMMAKERS TO RECEIVE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS AND GRANTS, FACILITATING THE FUNDING AND REALIZATION OF THEIR CREATIVE PROJECTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 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 November 6, 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 November 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 2024.

    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 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.