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Nonprofit · EIN 95-3943485

FILM INDEPENDENT INC

Also known as FILM INDEPENDENT

Tax-exempt · LOS ANGELES, CA 90036

Financials

$19.4M$19M2022$21.1M$20.8M2023$19.2M$18.9M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of FILM INDEPENDENT INC by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
September 30, 2025990$19,150,546$18,866,656$283,890$9,397,936$3,380,957$6,016,979
September 30, 2024990$21,143,531$20,799,378$344,153$8,317,119$2,575,633$5,741,486
September 30, 2023990$19,440,991$18,955,082$485,909$8,703,547$3,315,996$5,387,551
Financial details: 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$11,200,064
of which government grants
$1,777,393
Program service revenue
$7,594,062
Investment income
$105,320
Net rental income
$13,445
Other revenue
$251,100

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$712,957
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$332,086
Other salaries and wages
$4,636,862
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$5,853,299
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$69,244
Accounting fees
$68,842
Occupancy
$810,389
Travel
$456,728
Depreciation
$59,731
Program services (functional)
$16,286,236
Management and general (functional)
$1,381,269
Fundraising (functional)
$1,199,151

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$8,317,119
Total assets, end of year
$9,397,936
Total liabilities, end of year
$3,380,957
Net assets, end of year
$6,016,979
Land, buildings and equipment
$69,614
Publicly traded securities
$843,652
Net assets without donor restrictions
$3,271,097
Net assets with donor restrictions
$2,745,882
Gross unrelated business income
$232,555
Gross receipts
$19,150,546
Employees
83
Volunteers
34
Year formed
1984
State of legal domicile
CA

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
JOSH WELSHPRESIDENT (UNTIL DEC 24)
Officer
40$294,133$26,229
KATHRYN WALKERSENIOR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Highest-paid employee
40$173,179$22,835
VALECIA PHILLIPSDIRECTOR OF FINANCE/OPER.
Officer
40$174,493$13,478
MARIA BOZZI-RAHAMADSR.DIRECTOR EDUC/INT'L PROGRAMS
Highest-paid employee
40$164,942$14,594
ALINE LOUSTAUNAUDIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Highest-paid employee
40$137,467$20,522
MONIQUE COLEMANSR.DIRECTOR OF HR/ADMIN
Highest-paid employee
40$132,571$21,997
SHAWN DAVISEXECUTIVE PRODUCER, SPIRIT
Highest-paid employee
40$136,050$10,321
BRENDA ROBINSONACTING PRESIDENT (FEB 25-SEP 25)
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
ERIC D'ARBELOFFACTING BOARD CHAIR (FEB 25-SEP 25)
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
VONDIE CURTIS-HALLEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER-AT-LARGE
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
ED RADATREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
ANDREA SPERLINGSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
ADRIENE BOWLESDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
ALAN POULDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
ALIX MADIGAN-YORKINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
20 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
BRENDA GILBERTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0
CATHY SCHULMANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0
COL NEEDHAMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0
DAN STERNDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0
DAVID LINDEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0
GAIL MUTRUXDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0
JAVIER FUENTES-LEONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0
JEFFREY SOROSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0
KARYN KUSAMADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0
LAURA KIMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0
LEN AMATODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0
MATHEW CULLENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0
MATTHEW GREENFIELDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0
MICHAEL HELFANTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0
MYNETTE LOUIEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0
RANDY BARBATODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0
RHYS ERNSTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0
SUE KROLLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0
SUE NAEGLEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0
TED MUNDORFFDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0
990 for the year ended September 30, 2024: 37 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
JOSH WELSHPRESIDENT
Officer
40$314,133$26,476
KATHRYN WALKERSENIOR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Highest-paid employee
40$178,260$20,948
VALECIA PHILLIPSDIRECTOR OF FINANCE/OPER.
Officer
40$172,721$11,887
MARIA BOZZI-RAHAMADSR.DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION/INTERNATIONAL PROG.
Highest-paid employee
40$162,883$13,002
ALINE LOUSTAUNAUDIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Highest-paid employee
40$137,003$17,457
MONIQUE COLEMANSR.DIRECTOR OF HR/ADMIN
Highest-paid employee
40$131,437$19,658
SHAWN DAVISEXECUTIVE PRODUCER, SPIRIT AWARDS
Highest-paid employee
40$129,714$9,071
BRENDA ROBINSONBOARD CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
BRENDA GILBERTVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
ED RADATREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
ANDREA SPERLINGSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
VONDIE CURTIS-HALLEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER-AT-LARGE
Trustee or director
5$0$0
ERIC D'ARBELOFFEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER-AT-LARGE
Trustee or director
5$0$0
LEN AMATODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
RANDY BARBATODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
ADRIENE BOWLESDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
MATHEW CULLENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
RHYS ERNSTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
JAVIER FUENTES-LEONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
MATTHEW GREENFIELDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
MICHAEL HELFANTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
LAURA KIMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
SUE KROLLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
KARYN KUSAMADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
KASI LEMMONSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
DAVID LINDEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
MYNETTE LOUIEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
ALIX MADIGAN-YORKINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
TED MUNDORFFDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
GAIL MUTRUXDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
SUE NAEGLEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
COL NEEDHAMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
CATHERINE PARKDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
ALAN POULDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
CATHY SCHULMANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
JEFFREY SOROSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
DAN STERNDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
990 for the year ended September 30, 2023: 36 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
JOSH WELSHPRESIDENT
Officer
40$303,194$26,310
KATHRYN WALKERSENIOR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Highest-paid employee
40$169,686$19,379
VALECIA PHILLIPSDIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS
Officer
40$165,132$12,010
MARIA BOZZI-RAHAMADSENIOR DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND INTERNATIONAL INI
Highest-paid employee
40$155,182$12,939
ALINE LOUSTAUNAUDIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Highest-paid employee
40$133,174$17,400
MONIQUE COLEMANSENIOR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES & ADMINISTRATIO
Highest-paid employee
40$124,008$19,321
SHAWN DAVISEXECUTIVE PRODUCER, SPIRIT AWARDS
Highest-paid employee
40$125,211$8,820
BRENDA ROBINSONBOARD CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
BRENDA GILBERTVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
ED RADATREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
ANDREA SPERLINGSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
VONDIE CURTIS-HALLEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER-AT-LARGE
Trustee or director
5$0$0
ERIC D'ARBELOFFEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER-AT-LARGE
Trustee or director
5$0$0
LEN AMATODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
RANDY BARBATODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
ADRIENE BOWLESDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
MATHEW CULLENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
RHYS ERNSTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
JAVIER FUENTES-LEONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
MATTHEW GREENFIELDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
MICHAEL HELFANTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
LAURA KIMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
SUE KROLLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
KARYN KUSAMADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
KASI LEMMONSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
DAVID LINDEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
MYNETTE LOUIEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
ALIX MADIGAN-YORKINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
TED MUNDORFFDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
GAIL MUTRUXDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
SUE NAEGLEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
COL NEEDHAMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
CATHERINE PARKDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
ALAN POULDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
CATHY SCHULMANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
JEFFREY SOROSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
5$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
5670 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD 9TH FLOOR, LOS ANGELES, CA 90036-5679
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
JUAN DEVIS, 5670 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD 9TH FLOOR, LOS ANGELES, CA 90036
Signed the 990
VALECIA PHILLIPS, DIR. OF FINANCE/OPERATIONS
Phone
(323) 556-9300
Return prepared by
GREEN HASSON & JANKS LLP

California records

California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 95-3943485 or by the name FILM INDEPENDENT INC.

Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)

Mission

TO CHAMPION CREATIVE INDEPENDENCE IN VISUAL STORYTELLING IN ALL ITS FORMS AND TO FOSTER A CULTURE OF INCLUSION. WE SUPPORT A GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS AND AUDIENCES WHO EMBODY DIVERSITY, INNOVATION, CURIOSITY AND UNIQUENESS OF VISION.

990 for the year ended September 30, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • ARTIST DEVELOPMENTFILM INDEPENDENT'S ARTIST DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS ARE INCUBATORS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF BOLD, ORIGINAL VISUAL STORYTELLERS WORKING IN FILM AND TELEVISION, FICTION AND NON-FICTION. AMONG THE PROGRAMS WE OFFER:-PROJECT INVOLVE IS A HANDS-ON PROGRAM THAT HAS SUPPORTED OVER 1,000 FILMMAKERS OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, THROUGH MENTORSHIP, MASTERCLASSES AND SHORT FILM PRODUCTION. AT LEAST 31 FILMMAKERS PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM IN FY25.-THE FILMMAKER LABS PRODUCING, SCREENWRITING, EPISODIC, DOCUMENTARY PROVIDE MENTORSHIP AND TRAINING ON THE BUSINESS OF FILMMAKING, AS WELL AS ROBUST FEEDBACK ON FILMMAKERS' CURRENT PROJECTS.-FAST TRACK IS A HIGHLY CURATED FILM FINANCE MARKET, DESIGNED TO HELP PRODUCER-DIRECTOR TEAMS ADVANCE THEIR PROJECTS. FILM INDEPENDENT FACILITATES UP TO 60 MEETINGS FOR FELLOWS WITH TOP EXECUTIVES, FINANCIERS, PACKAGING AGENTS, DISTRIBUTORS, PRODUCTION COMPANIES AND OTHERS. -FISCAL SPONSORSHIP ALLOWS PARTICIPANTS TO UTILIZE THE NON-PROFIT STATUS OF FILM INDEPENDENT TO ACCESS GRANTS FROM FOUNDATIONS, INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS AND GOVERNMENT FUNDING. IT SUPPORTS FULLY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTIONS THAT REFLECT FILM INDEPENDENT'S MISSION TO FOSTER UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES AND A DIVERSITY OF CONTENT AND CREATORS. AS PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS, EVERY APPLICANT MUST DEMONSTRATE HOW THEIR PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE MISSION, WHICH IS CONSIDERED IN EVALUATING ELIGIBILITY FOR THE PROGRAM. AT THE END OF FY25, FISCAL SPONSORSHIP HAD APPROXIMATELY 595 ACTIVE PROJECTS, WITH 231 OF THOSE JOINING THE PROGRAM BETWEEN OCTOBER 1, 2024 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2025.
    Expenses $8,676,439 · grants $610,800 · revenue $1,666,775
  • MEMBERSHIP, PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATION SERVICES FILM INDEPENDENT IS AN OPEN-ACCESS MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION WITH 8,290 MEMBERS IN FY25, FROM 50 STATES AND 71 COUNTRIES. TO OUR MEMBERS WE OFFER ROBUST EDUCATIONAL AND FILM PROGRAMMING.-FILM INDEPENDENT PRESENTS SCREENING SERIES (92 UNIQUE EVENTS, AUDIENCE OF 27,499)-THE DIRECTORS CLOSE-UP CONVERSATIONS ON THE ART OF DIRECTING WITH THE YEAR'S TOP FILMMAKERS (ONLINE)-FILM INDEPENDENT FORUM (CONFERENCE FOR WORKING INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS ON THE BUSINESS OF FILMMAKING (IN PERSON) -GLOBAL MEDIA MAKERS FOCUSES ON THE BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL ASPECTS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, CONNECTING MID-CAREER INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKERS WITH LEADING U.S. PROFESSIONALS AND SHOWCASING U.S. INNOVATION, STORYTELLING, AND ENTREPRENEURIAL PRACTICES.-THE CINEBRIDGE FELLOWSHIP IS AN INITIATIVE DESIGNED FOR MID-CAREER INTERNATIONAL WRITER-DIRECTORS WHO ARE CREATING GENRE FILMS THAT CAN TRANSCEND BORDERS WITH BROAD GLOBAL APPEAL.-RED SEA FEATURE FILM PROJECT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RED SEA FOUNDATION, FILM INDEPENDENT DESIGNS AND DELIVERS AN INTENSIVE, MULTI-PHASE RESIDENCY PROGRAM FEATURING THREE IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS AND SEVERAL VIRTUAL SESSIONS FOR PARTICIPANTS FROM AFRICA AND ASIA.-YEAR-ROUND WORKSHOPS ON SPECIFIC TOPICS OF INTEREST TO FILMMAKERS AND FILM LOVERS (IN PERSON AND ONLINE)
    Expenses $4,127,942 · grants $27,157 · revenue $2,941,004
  • 2025 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDSTHE PREMIERE AWARDS SHOW CELEBRATING THE BEST OF INDEPENDENT FILM AND TELEVISION, THE FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS SHINES A LIGHT ON FILMMAKERS WHOSE WORK EMBODIES UNIQUENESS OF VISION, ORIGINAL, PROVOCATIVE SUBJECT MATTER, DIVERSITY, AND ECONOMY OF MEANS. FOR OVER 40 YEARS THIS SHOW HAS DONE MORE THAN ANY OTHER SINGLE EVENT TO PUT INDEPENDENT FILM ON THE CULTURAL MAP AND IN THE PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS. THE SPIRIT AWARDS EXEMPLIFIES THE WORK OF TALENTED EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED TALENT, AND CELEBRATES THE BEST OF FICTION AND NON-FICTION WORK IN BOTH FILM AND TELEVISION. -ONLINE SCREENING OF NOMINATED FILMS AND SHOWS FOR MEMBERS (@ 65 TITLES) -VOTING MEMBERS OF FILM INDEPENDENT: 8,580 -IN-PERSON AWARD SHOW: 1,200 ATTENDEES
    Expenses $3,481,855 · grants $75,000 · revenue $2,986,283

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025September 30, 2026February 16, 2027Not due yet
2024September 30, 2025February 17, 2026990 on file
2023September 30, 2024February 18, 2025990 on file

IRS record

EIN
95-3943485
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1986
Accounting year ends
September
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$9,397,936
Income (IRS master file)
$19,150,546

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990September 2025$19,150,546$18,866,656$9,397,936XML
990-TSeptember 2025–––IRS
990September 2024$21,143,531$20,799,378$8,317,119XML
990-TSeptember 2024–––IRS
990September 2023$19,440,991$18,955,082$8,703,547XML
990-TSeptember 2023–––IRS
990September 2022$17,498,040$17,757,109$6,642,446IRS
990-TSeptember 2022–––IRS
990September 2021–––IRS
990-TSeptember 2021–––IRS
990September 2020–––IRS
990September 2019–––IRS
990September 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 95-3943485).

Questions about FILM INDEPENDENT INC

What is the EIN of FILM INDEPENDENT INC?
The employer identification number (EIN) of FILM INDEPENDENT INC is 95-3943485.
Is FILM INDEPENDENT INC tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1986.
Are donations to FILM INDEPENDENT INC tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does FILM INDEPENDENT INC file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of FILM INDEPENDENT INC due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 16, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did FILM INDEPENDENT INC last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.
Who is the principal officer of FILM INDEPENDENT INC?
The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names JUAN DEVIS.
Who are the officers and directors of FILM INDEPENDENT INC?
The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 35 people; 7 received compensation from the organization, the highest $294,133 (JOSH WELSH, PRESIDENT (UNTIL DEC 24)).
How much revenue does FILM INDEPENDENT INC have?
On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $19,150,546, expenses of $18,866,656 and total assets of $9,397,936 at year end.

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