American Cinematheque

Tax-deductible

Los Angeles, CA501(c)(3)Since 1981Arts & CultureEIN 95-3902004

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The American Cinematheque believes that cinema is a communal experience with the power to entertain, enlighten and inspire. We build a diverse and engaged film community through immersive film curation, conversation, and presentation. We bridge the filmmaker to the audience and film history to its future.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
72¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 316 volunteers and 68 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $2.4M a year · 31% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
72%
of spending
Fine: 72% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$298K
to officers and key staff · 3% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 73% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 3% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.5 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $57K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$3.8M
22% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 22% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
29
of 29 voting members
Looks good: 29 of 29 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$9.1M
-18% vs prior year
Spent
$9.5M
To programs
72%
Net assets
$13.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$9.1M
FY2024▼ -18%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$13.4M
FY2021$2.8M
FY2022$5.2M
FY2023$5.9M
FY2024$11.1M
FY2024$9.1M
Expenses
$9.5M
FY2024▲ +34%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$4.1M
FY2021$3.6M
FY2022$5.4M
FY2023$6.4M
FY2024$7.1M
FY2024$9.5M
Net assets
$13.8M
FY2024▲ +3%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$10.7M
FY2021$9.9M
FY2022$8.3M
FY2023$8.3M
FY2024$13.5M
FY2024$13.8M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Mar 1984.

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

Where the money goes

72 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 72% · $6.9M Management & general 19% · $1.8M Fundraising 9% · $832K

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

31 people listed on the 990; $298K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$165,096Pt VII · Sec A
Artistic Director
$132,769Pt VII · Sec A
Chairman
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Kenneth Scherer’s $165K as Executive Director is at the 73rd percentile of top reported officer pay among 3925 $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 · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Kenneth Scherer$165,096$106,827———
Grant Moninger$132,769————
Ken Scherer——$96,420$104,250$100,589

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 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Presents and discusses films to build a diverse, engaged community.

Provided by the organization

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3 program services account for $6.9M of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2024.
01

The american cinematheque ensures public access to local, national, and international films, many of which are unavailable elsewhere and are of historical, cultural, or educational importance.

$4.9Mprogram expense
02

Tribute to the crafts 2025PRESENTED by american cinematheque and sponsored by milagro, dell, kodak, and SHOTDECK.TRIBUTE to the crafts honors those craftspeople and artists who are at the very heart of filmmaking and have exhibited extraordinary work behind the camera over the past year.

$1.5Mprogram expense
03

Beyond festthe beyond fest festival is the highest-attended genre festival in the U.S. And exists to serve the genre community in los angeles. Beyond fest is built in partnership with the american cinematheque, a not-for-profit entity, to raise funds to support the 501(c)(3) non-profit mission.

$552Kprogram expense

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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$57K
Grants paid · 2 grants · $78K · 2024–2024
California Fire FoundationCA · FY2024$38,785

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$9.1M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$5.0M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.7M
Other incomeLn 4–11$1.2M
Money outPt IX
$9.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$6.9M
Managementcol C$1.8M
Fundraisingcol D$832K
Owns and owesPt X
$13.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.0M
Total assetsLn 16$17.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
31
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a29
IndependentVI 1b29
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.7M
Government grantsLn 1e$26K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$15K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$861K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$5.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$276K
Other incomeLn 4–11$1.2M
Total revenueLn 12$9.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$446K
SavingsLn 2$1.5M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$10.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$281K
Other assetsLn 15$16K
Total assetsLn 16$17.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.8M
Net assetsLn 32$13.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 568
VolunteersI 6316
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.4M$2.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$8.7M$10.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$194K$281K
Total assetsLn 16$16.5M$17.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.1M$3.8M
Net assetsLn 32$13.5M$13.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$78K$78K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$137K$106K$24K$7K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.2M$2.4M$561K$163K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$128K$85K$37K$6K
Payroll taxesLn 10$475K$245K$188K$42K
Legal feesLn 11b$73K$73K
Accounting feesLn 11c$344K$80K$228K$36K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$261K$261K
Investment management feesLn 11f$57K$57K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$553K$508K$27K$18K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$905K$760K$145K
Office expensesLn 13$528K$396K$111K$21K
Information technologyLn 14$432K$221K$177K$33K
OccupancyLn 16$1.0M$688K$232K$93K
TravelLn 17$40K$24K$13K$3K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$95K$76K$13K$6K
InsuranceLn 23$171K$132K$39K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.1M$1.1M$7K
Total functional expensesLn 25$9.5M$6.9M$1.8M$832K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 $11.1M$7.1M$4.0M$13.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $5.9M$6.4M−$433K$8.3M 990 PDF
FY2022 $5.2M$5.4M−$207K$8.3M 990 PDF
FY2021 $2.8M$3.6M−$721K$9.9M 990 PDF
FY2020 $13.4M$4.1M$9.4M$10.7M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $9,121,805 across 12 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $702,053 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1b Membership dues$1,289,720
VIII-1c Fundraising events$860,757
VIII-1e Government grants$26,300
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$476,648
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$15,469
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,653,425
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $5,028,165$5,028,165
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $276,359$276,359
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $78,005$78,005
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$49,159−$49,159
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $35,538 · Excluded from tax $397,419$432,957
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $5,063,703 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,404,677$9,121,805
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $9,517,219 across 18 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $77,569$77,569
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $105,872 · Management $24,431 · Fundraising $7,101$137,404
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,432,251 · Management $561,268 · Fundraising $163,125$3,156,644
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $84,826 · Management $37,243 · Fundraising $5,689$127,758
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $244,833 · Management $188,054 · Fundraising $42,054$474,941
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $73,016$73,016
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $80,069 · Management $228,411 · Fundraising $35,656$344,136
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $260,753$260,753
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $56,622$56,622
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $508,497 · Management $26,916 · Fundraising $17,609$553,022
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $760,316 · Fundraising $144,777$905,093
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $395,718 · Management $111,118 · Fundraising $21,145$527,981
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $221,486 · Management $177,148 · Fundraising $32,943$431,577
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $687,539 · Management $231,773 · Fundraising $92,988$1,012,300
IX-17 TravelPrograms $24,137 · Management $13,268 · Fundraising $2,718$40,123
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $76,272 · Management $13,157 · Fundraising $5,638$95,067
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $131,793 · Management $39,251$171,044
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,064,948 · Management $7,221$1,072,169
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $6,896,126 · Management $1,788,897 · Fundraising $832,196$9,517,219
Part X · Balance sheet $17,632,187 assets, 19 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $372,936$445,627
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $2,073,302$1,524,571
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $3,013,759$2,146,574
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $787,998$645,482
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $245,597$334,537
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $193,606$281,195
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $6,629,887$8,515,706
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $2,022,331$2,248,411
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $1,170,693$1,474,066
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $36,802$16,018
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $16,546,911$17,632,187
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $608,887$1,024,071
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $800,091$1,077,524
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,661,237$1,694,626
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,070,215$3,796,221
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $10,462,487$11,689,391
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $3,014,209$2,146,575
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $13,476,696$13,835,966
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $16,546,911$17,632,187
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $13,835,966 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$9,121,805
XI-2 Total expenses$9,517,219
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$395,414
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$13,476,696
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$861,894
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities−$107,185
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$25
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$13,835,966

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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