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Denver Film Society
Denver Film Society reported $17.0 million in revenue and $9.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2026. Of every $100 it spent, $89.92 went to program services, $6.91 to management and general costs and $3.17 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 81.3% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $167,706 (CEO). 2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 164% between FY2020 and FY2026. Source: Form 990, FY2026.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending January 31, 2026 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $9.2MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending January 31, 2026 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $17MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2026 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 89.9% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.9% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.2% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.02 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 81.3% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 4.9% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 14.8% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $167,706 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.83% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 23.3 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 19 of 19 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2026 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseOther film programs: other programs include a diverse slate of cinematic celebrations throughout the calendar year. Denver Film offerings through the year include the women+film festival, a six-day showcase of documentaries, narratives, and short films celebrating the best in women-centric programming, the cinemaq festival, the leading colorado brand in lbgtq+ film, and colorado dragon film festival in partnership with dragon 5280, a film festival celebrating asian and asian american cinema. In 2020, Denver Film added virtual cinema programming, which audiences can access from their homes, to…
Film on the rocks: in the summer, Denver Film Society presents film on the rocks, a series of classic films that screen at red rocks amphitheater. Screenings pair popular films with local performers and bands
The Denver Film Society is a year-round, not-for-profit organization serving more than 200,000 community members annually. The Denver Film Society hosts regular program series, festivals, and other special events, bringing film-goers and filmmakers together to celebrate film. In 2019, Denver Film Society began to do business as Denver Film to emphasize inclusivity
Highest reported compensation
FY2026 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $163,403 | $0 | $4,303 | $167,706 |
| CAO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $101,029 | $0 | $7,658 | $108,687 |
2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Denver Film Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $281K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2026 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b19 · 19 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 582
- Volunteers Part I, line 6393
Private foundation grants it received
11 private foundations reported grants to Denver Film Society totaling $569K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Denver Film Society's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Denver Film Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Denver Film Society spent in FY2026, $89.92 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Center for Holocaust and Humanity EducationCincinnati, OH · revenue $17M · programs 81.7% · FY2025
- Aspen Art MuseumAspen, CO · revenue $17M · programs 70.9% · FY2024
- Modern Language Association of AmericaNew York, NY · revenue $17M · programs 82.3% · FY2025
- Philadelphia Mural Arts AdvocatesPhiladelphia, PA · revenue $17M · programs 84.6% · FY2025
- Gettysburg FoundationGettysburg, PA · revenue $17M · programs 81.3% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Colorado
Questions people ask
How much of Denver Film Society's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending January 31, 2026, Denver Film Society reported that 89.9% of its $9.2 million in expenses went to program services, 6.9% to management and general and 3.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Denver Film Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Denver Film Society reported for one person in the fiscal year ending January 31, 2026 was $167,706, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Denver Film Society get its money?
Of $17.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending January 31, 2026, 81.3% came from contributions and grants (including 4.9% from government grants) and 14.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Denver Film Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 84-0771070 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2026: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2026, object 202631639349300343 · read the filing · XML
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2025, object 202531609349300823 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2024, object 202411419349301411 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2023, object 202311569349300511 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2022, object 202201679349300145 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2021, object 202101609349301280 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2020, object 202001489349300335 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 84-0771070: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.