American Cinematheque FY2023 filing

Tax-deductible

Los Angeles, CA501(c)(3)Since 1981Arts & CultureEIN 95-3902004Revenue $5.9M in FY2023

On file with the IRSamericancinematheque.com1604 N Cahuenga Blvd Ste A, 90028-6257 · Los Angeles, CATax-exempt since Mar 1984Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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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.
65¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$96K 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
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
65%
of spending
Fine: 65% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$96K
to officers and key staff · 2% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 2% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.7 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
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
$3.2M
28% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 28% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
28
of 28 voting members
Looks good: 28 of 28 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
+14% vs prior year
Spent
$6.4M
To programs
65%
Net assets
$8.3M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$5.9M
FY2023▲ +14%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$13.4M
FY2021$2.8M
FY2022$5.2M
FY2023$5.9M
FY2024$11.1M
FY2024$9.1M
Expenses
$6.4M
FY2023▲ +17%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$4.1M
FY2021$3.6M
FY2022$5.4M
FY2023$6.4M
FY2024$7.1M
FY2024$9.5M
Net assets
$8.3M
FY2023+0.4%
Tap a bar for its year
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 FY2023 Form 990 (year ending September 2023) · 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

65 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 65% · $4.1M Management & general 27% · $1.7M Fundraising 8% · $498K

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

29 people listed on the 990; $96K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$96,420Pt 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
Director
$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.

Questions for American Cinematheque

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $4.1M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

The american cinematheque ensures public access to local, national and international films otherwise unavailable and of historic, cultural or educational importance. Programs include classics of american and international cinema, new independent and world film, including rare nitrate & archival prints, 70MM, digital laser projection…

$3.5Mprogram expense
02

Tribute to the crafts 2023PRESENTED by the american cinematheque and presenting sponsor first entertainment credit UNION.TRIBUTE to the crafts will honor those who are at the very heart of filmmaking, and have exhibited extraordinary work behind the camera, over the past year.

$554Kprogram expense
03

Beyond fest festival beyond fest is the highest attended genre film festival in the U.S. And exists to serve the genre community in los angeles. Beyond fest is built in partnership with american cinematheque. A not-for-profit entity, beyond fest raises funds for the 501c3 non-profit film institution, american cinematheque.

$120Kprogram 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$57K
Grants paid · 2 grants · $78K · 2024–2024
California Fire FoundationCA · FY2024$38,785

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$5.9M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.9M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.2M
Other incomeLn 4–11$532K
Money outPt IX
$6.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$4.1M
Managementcol C$1.7M
Fundraisingcol D$498K
Owns and owesPt X
$8.3M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.0M
Total assetsLn 16$11.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
29
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a28
IndependentVI 1b28
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.2M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$22K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$1.1M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.9M
Investment incomeLn 3$264K
Other incomeLn 4–11$532K
Total revenueLn 12$5.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$373K
SavingsLn 2$1.6M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$7.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$190K
Other assetsLn 15$65K
Total assetsLn 16$11.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.2M
Net assetsLn 32$8.3M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 568
VolunteersI 6316
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
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$16.9M$2.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$8.0M$7.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$173K$190K
Total assetsLn 16$25.5M$11.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$17.2M$3.2M
Net assetsLn 32$8.3M$8.3M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$101K$64K$30K$7K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.1M$1.3M$624K$136K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$88K$51K$32K$5K
Payroll taxesLn 10$351K$146K$190K$15K
Legal feesLn 11b$24K$24K
Accounting feesLn 11c$205K$175K$31K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$138K$138K
Investment management feesLn 11f$58K$58K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$245K$235K$10K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$617K$364K$58K$195K
Office expensesLn 13$424K$184K$239K$1K
Information technologyLn 14$147K$26K$121K$149
OccupancyLn 16$973K$723K$250K
TravelLn 17$12K$2K$10K$12
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$126K$126K
InsuranceLn 23$129K$83K$47K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$614K$614K$782
Total functional expensesLn 25$6.4M$4.1M$1.7M$498K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 $11.1M$7.1M$4.0M$13.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $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 FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $5,921,510 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,657,848$2,192,247
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,045,426$2,932,905
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $132,807$264,472
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $369,653$531,886
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $5,205,734$5,921,510
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 $1,867,177$2,642,654
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $119,625$138,165
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $3,425,751$3,574,175
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $5,412,553$6,354,994
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$206,819−$433,484
Part VI · Governance 28 of 28 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body28
VI-1b Independent voting members28
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
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 $5,921,510 across 11 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $297,621 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1b Membership dues$821,506
VIII-1c Fundraising events$1,085,795
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$284,946
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$21,862
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,192,247
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,932,905$2,932,905
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $264,472$264,472
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $51,050$51,050
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$89,614−$89,614
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $40,881 · Excluded from tax $231,948$272,829
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,973,786 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $755,477$5,921,510
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $6,354,994 across 17 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $64,305 · Management $29,894 · Fundraising $6,531$100,730
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,342,928 · Management $624,303 · Fundraising $136,388$2,103,619
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $50,765 · Management $31,806 · Fundraising $5,156$87,727
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $145,552 · Management $190,385 · Fundraising $14,641$350,578
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $23,615$23,615
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $174,554 · Management $30,803$205,357
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $138,165$138,165
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $57,620$57,620
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $235,095 · Management $9,572$244,667
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $364,382 · Management $57,778 · Fundraising $194,696$616,856
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $184,254 · Management $238,553 · Fundraising $1,348$424,155
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $26,165 · Management $121,033 · Fundraising $149$147,347
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $722,986 · Management $249,997$972,983
IX-17 TravelPrograms $2,100 · Management $9,714 · Fundraising $12$11,826
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $126,012$126,012
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $82,558 · Management $46,764$129,322
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $613,633 · Fundraising $782$614,415
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $4,135,289 · Management $1,721,837 · Fundraising $497,868$6,354,994
Part X · Balance sheet $11,503,657 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,267,211$372,837
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $15,635,691$1,590,684
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $205,962$115,649
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $109,804$227,899
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $172,980$190,441
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $6,175,751$5,508,871
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $1,777,540$1,899,992
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $118,782$1,532,632
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $61,451$64,652
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $25,525,172$11,503,657
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $494,729$346,169
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $812,512$809,646
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $316,913$2,009,501
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $17,222,615$3,165,316
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $8,202,557$8,310,073
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $100,000$28,268
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $8,302,557$8,338,341
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $25,525,172$11,503,657
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $8,338,341 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$5,921,510
XI-2 Total expenses$6,354,994
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$433,484
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$8,302,557
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$469,268
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$8,338,341

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

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