Siff believes in film's unique power to share original stories, diverse perspectives, and rich emotional journeys. Beginning in 1976 with the annual seattle international film festival, then expanding into year-round programming, and our five-screen Siff cinema, we have offered experiences that bring people together to discover extraordinary films from around the world for nearly five decades. Our audiences allow US to take risks, host complex conversations, and truly appreciate film.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
77¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$475K 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
1 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $259K a year · 5% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
77%
of spending
Looks good: 77% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$475K
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
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.6 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $150K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$12.3M
101% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 101% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
24
of 24 voting members
Looks good: 24 of 24 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$5.9M
+56% vs prior year
Spent
$7.4M
To programs
77%
Net assets
−$150K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$5.9M
FY2023▲ +56%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.6M
FY2021$6.0M
FY2022$3.8M
FY2023$5.9M
FY2024$9.5M
Expenses
$7.4M
FY2023▲ +25%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.9M
FY2021$2.9M
FY2022$5.9M
FY2023$7.4M
FY2024$10.0M
Net assets
−$150K
FY2023▼ -111%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$344K
FY2021$3.5M
FY2022$1.3M
FY2023−$150K
FY2024−$647K

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

Give Claim
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 Oct 1991.

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

Where the money goes

77 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 77% · $5.7M Management & general 16% · $1.2M Fundraising 9% · $697K

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

27 people listed on the 990; $475K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$237,904Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Finance and Ad
$129,402Pt VII · Sec A
Artistic Director
$107,452Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Thomas Mara’s $189K as Executive Director is at the 83rd percentile of top reported officer pay among 1552 $1–10M youth development 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 · 6 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Thomas Mara$189,058$237,904$91,150——
Andrea Stuart-Lehalle$164,630————
Elizabeth Barrett$146,563$107,452$107,742——
Julie Laluna—$129,402$113,717——
Andrew Haines———$36,939$108,000
Sarah Simonds——$102,412——

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.

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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
  • Loans to or from officersSch L · Pt II1 listed

Programs and updates

Showcases diverse, original films from around the world through festivals and year-round cinema.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $5.7M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Siff hosts the annual seattle international film festival traditionally attracting nearly 150,000 attendees to celebrate films from more than 80 countries and regions around the world. Many of the features, short films, and documentaries we screen will not have a return to us cinemas, making it an amazing event to discover new and…

$5.7Mprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$150K
Grants paid · 1 grant · $35K · 2024–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$35,394

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$5.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.8M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.6M
Other incomeLn 4–11$570K
Money outPt IX
$7.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$5.7M
Managementcol C$1.2M
Fundraisingcol D$697K
Owns and owesPt X
−$150K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.0M
Total assetsLn 16$12.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$12.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
27
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a24
IndependentVI 1b24
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.8M
Government grantsLn 1e$958K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$86K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$439K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.6M
Other incomeLn 4–11$570K
Total revenueLn 12$5.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$9.9M
Other assetsLn 15$495K
Total assetsLn 16$12.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$12.3M
Net assetsLn 32−$150K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 566
VolunteersI 631
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$107K$1.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$5.3M$9.9M
Total assetsLn 16$5.5M$12.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.2M$12.3M
Net assetsLn 32$1.3M−$150K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$238K$238K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.9M$2.1M$338K$485K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$140K$89K$26K$25K
Payroll taxesLn 10$304K$202K$57K$46K
Legal feesLn 11b$117K$80K$30K$7K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$614K$361K$207K$46K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$97K$90K$3K$3K
Office expensesLn 13$129K$99K$26K$4K
OccupancyLn 16$362K$305K$49K$8K
TravelLn 17$152K$139K$7K$6K
InterestLn 20$200K$200K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$403K$393K$10K
InsuranceLn 23$79K$79K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.6M$1.4M$52K$66K
All other expensesLn 24e$280K$220K$58K$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$7.6M$5.7M$1.2M$697K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $9.5M$10.0M−$498K−$647K 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $5.9M$7.4M−$1.5M−$150K 990 PDF
FY2022 $3.8M$5.9M−$2.1M$1.3M 990 PDF
FY2021 $6.0M$2.9M$3.1M$3.5M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.6M$2.9M−$306K$344K 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 M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $5,931,127 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,056,842$2,791,856
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,474,095$2,569,598
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $274,906$569,673
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,805,843$5,931,127
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $3,328,298$3,593,895
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,598,090$3,994,765
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $5,926,388$7,588,660
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$2,120,545−$1,657,533
Part VI · Governance 24 of 24 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body24
VI-1b Independent voting members24
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $5,931,127 across 11 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $506,788 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1b Membership dues$297,569
VIII-1c Fundraising events$439,372
VIII-1e Government grants$957,694
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,097,221
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$86,500
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,791,856
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,569,598$2,569,598
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $254,587$254,587
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$223,772−$223,772
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $32,070$32,070
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,601,668 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $537,603$5,931,127
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $7,588,660 across 15 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffManagement $237,904$237,904
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,088,922 · Management $337,930 · Fundraising $484,914$2,911,766
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $88,928 · Management $25,894 · Fundraising $24,977$139,799
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $201,537 · Management $57,003 · Fundraising $45,886$304,426
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $79,538 · Management $30,465 · Fundraising $6,680$116,683
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $361,196 · Management $207,110 · Fundraising $45,758$614,064
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $90,346 · Management $3,125 · Fundraising $3,125$96,596
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $99,280 · Management $26,185 · Fundraising $3,609$129,074
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $304,759 · Management $48,692 · Fundraising $8,118$361,569
IX-17 TravelPrograms $139,404 · Management $6,650 · Fundraising $5,566$151,620
IX-20 InterestPrograms $199,922$199,922
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $393,101 · Management $9,977$403,078
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $79,380$79,380
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,445,377 · Management $51,664 · Fundraising $66,076$1,563,117
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $219,792 · Management $57,600 · Fundraising $2,270$279,662
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $5,712,102 · Management $1,179,579 · Fundraising $696,979$7,588,660
Part X · Balance sheet $12,102,050 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $107,285$1,002,224
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $77,371$476,906
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $48,394$184,472
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $5,312,478$9,943,913
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$494,535
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $5,545,528$12,102,050
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $710,433$887,436
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $161,699$231,434
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$986,420
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $4,212,743$12,251,807
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,332,785−$552,257
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $0$402,500
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,332,785−$149,757
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $5,545,528$12,102,050
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$149,757 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$5,931,127
XI-2 Total expenses$7,588,660
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,657,533
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,332,785
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$174,991
XI-10 Net assets at end of year−$149,757

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

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