CIFF inspires and supports the creators and audiences of documentary media.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
74¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$110K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2023 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $140K a year · 8% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
74%
of spending
Fine: 74% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$110K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
10 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 9.9 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
19
named funders · $397K
Looks good: 19 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$207K
11% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 11% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
11
of 11 voting members
Looks good: 11 of 11 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.9M
-5% vs prior year
Spent
$1.9M
To programs
74%
Net assets
$1.7M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$1.9M
FY2023▼ -5%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.2M
FY2021$1.8M
FY2022$2.0M
FY2023$1.9M
FY2024$1.8M
Expenses
$1.9M
FY2023▲ +15%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$845K
FY2021$1.3M
FY2022$1.6M
FY2023$1.9M
FY2024$2.4M
Net assets
$1.7M
FY2023▲ +6%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$641K
FY2021$1.2M
FY2022$1.6M
FY2023$1.7M
FY2024$1.1M

From the FY2023 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jun 2011.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

74 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 74% · $1.4M Management & general 16% · $296K Fundraising 10% · $188K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

12 people listed on the 990; $110K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive and Artistic Director
$110,000Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Sean Flynn’s $117K as Program Director is at the 46th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3924 $1–10M arts & culture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 4 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Sean Flynn$117,247————
Benjamin Fowlie$22,720$110,000$101,000——
Benjamin Fowlie Founder———$85,003$85,014
Rick Rector$49,725————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Points North Institute executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Supports documentary creators and audiences to inspire and engage with film.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $1.4M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

The Points North Institute is a launching pad for the next generation of nonfiction storytellers. We build a unique, interdisciplinary community of filmmakers, artists, journalists, industry leaders and local audiences, forming a creative hub where stories and talent are discovered, collaborations are born, and the future of nonfiction…

$1.4Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 19 funders →
Grants paid · 15 grants · $692K · 2020–2024
Women Make Movies INCNY · FY2024$150,000
Unitemized GrantFY2024$65,000
Documentalista LLCFY2024$50,000
Kilgust and Cohen LLCFY2024$50,000
Unitemized GrantFY2024$4,700
Women Make Movies INCNY · FY2023$100,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$15,980
Megan Ruffe ProductionsFY2022$15,000
In Proportion LLCFY2022$10,000
Schh Production INCFY2022$10,000
Gabriela ArpFY2022$10,000
Buffalo Media Resources INCNY · FY2022$10,000
Light on Light LLCFY2022$10,000
Unitemized GrantFY2021$87,692
Unitemized GrantFY2020$103,345

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.3M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$567K
Investment incomeLn 3$33K
Money outPt IX
$1.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.4M
Managementcol C$296K
Fundraisingcol D$188K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.6M
Total assetsLn 16$1.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$207K
PeoplePt VI, VII
12
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.3M
Government grantsLn 1e$165K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$103K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$567K
Investment incomeLn 3$33K
Other incomeLn 4–11$5K
Gains on assetsLn 7$1K
Total revenueLn 12$1.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$808K
SavingsLn 2$742K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$242K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$53K
Other assetsLn 15$2K
Total assetsLn 16$1.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$207K
Net assetsLn 32$1.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 53
VolunteersI 6540
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.5M$1.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$192K$242K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$75K$53K
Total assetsLn 16$1.8M$1.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$190K$207K
Net assetsLn 32$1.6M$1.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$100K$100K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$16K$16K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$50K$50K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$125K$37K$52K$37K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$372K$183K$103K$86K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$4K$4K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$25K$25K
Payroll taxesLn 10$38K$38K
Management feesLn 11a$6K$6K
Legal feesLn 11b$1K$1K
Accounting feesLn 11c$6K$6K
Investment management feesLn 11f$6K$6K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$411K$376K$269$35K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$44K$43K$2K
Office expensesLn 13$33K$20K$7K$6K
Information technologyLn 14$24K$10K$13K$337
OccupancyLn 16$31K$7K$25K
TravelLn 17$68K$65K$430$2K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$2K$1K$22$1K
InterestLn 20$3K$3K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$22K$22K
InsuranceLn 23$6K$301$5K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$462K$440K$2K$20K
All other expensesLn 24e$15K$14K$735
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.9M$1.4M$296K$188K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $1.8M$2.4M−$588K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $1.9M$1.9M$58K$1.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $2.0M$1.6M$402K$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.8M$1.3M$519K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.2M$845K$308K$641K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,928,266 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,664,177$1,323,138
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $357,393$567,106
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $3,773$32,842
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $2,898$5,180
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,028,241$1,928,266
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $79,802$165,980
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $514,110$564,004
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,032,182$1,140,052
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,626,094$1,870,036
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $402,147$58,230
Part VI · Governance 11 of 11 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body11
VI-1b Independent voting members11
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,928,266 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $724 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$165,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,158,138
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$103,358
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,323,138
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $567,106$567,106
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $31,568$31,568
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $4,456$4,456
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $1,274$1,274
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $567,830 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $37,298$1,928,266
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,870,036 across 24 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $100,000$100,000
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $15,980$15,980
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $50,000$50,000
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $36,551 · Management $52,197 · Fundraising $36,551$125,299
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $183,238 · Management $102,714 · Fundraising $85,833$371,785
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsManagement $4,000$4,000
IX-9 Other employee benefitsManagement $24,806$24,806
IX-10 Payroll taxesManagement $38,114$38,114
IX-11a Management feesManagement $5,950$5,950
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $1,385$1,385
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $5,816$5,816
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $6,091$6,091
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $376,431 · Management $269 · Fundraising $34,503$411,203
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $42,574 · Fundraising $1,585$44,159
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $19,991 · Management $6,910 · Fundraising $5,930$32,831
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $10,479 · Management $12,801 · Fundraising $337$23,617
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $6,643 · Management $24,598$31,241
IX-17 TravelPrograms $64,966 · Management $430 · Fundraising $2,281$67,677
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $1,045 · Management $22 · Fundraising $1,123$2,190
IX-20 InterestManagement $2,526$2,526
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $22,353$22,353
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $301 · Management $5,259$5,560
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $440,409 · Management $2,314 · Fundraising $19,617$462,340
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $14,378 · Fundraising $735$15,113
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,385,339 · Management $296,202 · Fundraising $188,495$1,870,036
Part X · Balance sheet $1,868,917 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,243,035$808,240
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $238,759$742,312
X-4 Accounts receivable$20,909
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $75,343$52,990
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $192,185$242,066
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $2,400$2,400
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,751,722$1,868,917
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $40,997$17,172
X-18 Grants payable$46,000
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $149,259$144,093
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $190,256$207,265
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,074,058$1,432,600
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $487,408$229,052
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,561,466$1,661,652
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,751,722$1,868,917
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,661,652 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,928,266
XI-2 Total expenses$1,870,036
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$58,230
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,561,466
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$44,452
XI-8 Prior period adjustments−$2,496
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,661,652

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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