BIG SKY FILM INSTITUTE

EIN: 201937230 501(c)(3) Arts, Culture & Humanities

MISSOULA, MT

Total Revenue
$523,410
Total Expenses
$472,435
Total Assets
$93,595
Net Assets
$41,646
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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
2004
Legal Domicile
MT
Principal Officer
Julia Sherman
Phone
4065413456
Tax Period
2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31

BIG SKY FILM INSTITUTE, founded in 2004, is a small nonprofit in the Arts, Culture & Humanities sector that reported $523K in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue surged 31% from the prior year, signaling strong growth momentum. Expenses of $472K left a modest 10% surplus.

Mission

THE MISSION OF THE BIG SKY FILM INSTITUTE IS TO CELEBRATE AND PROMOTE THE ART OF NON-FICTION FILMMAKING, AND TO ENCOURAGE MEDIA LITERACY BY FOSTERING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF DOCUMENTARY FILM.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $409,570 Revenue: $221,958

BIG SKY DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL - PRESENTED MORE THAN 158 FILMS TO THE PUBLIC IN 2024 WITH APPROXIMATELY 24,409 IN ATTENDANCE. PROMOTED THE UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF NON-FICTION FILM AND...

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BIG SKY DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL - PRESENTED MORE THAN 158 FILMS TO THE PUBLIC IN 2024 WITH APPROXIMATELY 24,409 IN ATTENDANCE. PROMOTED THE UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF NON-FICTION FILM AND VIDEO THROUGH THE BIG SKY DOC SHOP WITH CONFERENCE EVENTS, PANELS, WORKSHOPS AND MORE.

Program 2
Expenses: $20,755 Revenue: $50,000

YOUTH EDUCATION AND NATIVE FILMMAKER INITIATIVE FILM CLUB THE BIG SKY FILM INSTITUTE (BSFI) DELIVERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE MEDIA LITERACY AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, EDUCATORS...

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YOUTH EDUCATION AND NATIVE FILMMAKER INITIATIVE FILM CLUB THE BIG SKY FILM INSTITUTE (BSFI) DELIVERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE MEDIA LITERACY AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, FILMMAKERS, AND FAMILIES TO ACCESS AND ENGAGE WITH DOCUMENTARY FILM. THROUGH WORKSHOPS, CLASSROOM PROGRAMS, AND VIRTUAL OUTREACH, BSFI HELPS PARTICIPANTS CRITICALLY EVALUATE MEDIA, UNDERSTAND THE DOCUMENTARY FORM, AND TELL THEIR OWN STORIES. THE NATIVE FILMMAKER INITIATIVE FILM CLUB EXTENDS THIS MISSION STATEWIDE BY SCREENING INDIGENOUS-MADE DOCUMENTARY FILMS IN CLASSROOMS ACROSS MONTANA. FOLLOWING EACH SCREENING, FILMMAKERS CONNECT WITH STUDENTS THROUGH INSPIRED CLASSROOM'S VIDEO TECHNOLOGY FOR Q&A SESSIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ALIGNED WITH MONTANA'S INDIAN EDUCATION FOR ALL ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDINGS. THE PROGRAM, FACILITATED BY BSFI IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MONTANA OFFICE OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION'S INDIAN EDUCATION SPECIALIST, MIKE JETTY, FOSTERS DIALOGUE ON CULTURAL REPRESENTATION AND THE ART OF FILMMAKING.

Program 3
Expenses: $1,494 Revenue: $4,620

THE BIG SKY FILM INSTITUTE PROVIDES FISCAL SPONSORSHIP AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO INDIGENOUS FILMMAKERS AND STORYTELLERS THROUGHOUT MONTANA. THIS PROGRAM ENABLES FILMMAKERS TO SEEK GRANT FUNDING...

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THE BIG SKY FILM INSTITUTE PROVIDES FISCAL SPONSORSHIP AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO INDIGENOUS FILMMAKERS AND STORYTELLERS THROUGHOUT MONTANA. THIS PROGRAM ENABLES FILMMAKERS TO SEEK GRANT FUNDING, RECEIVE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS, AND MANAGE PROJECT FUNDS UNDER BSFI'S 501(C)(3) STATUS. THROUGH THIS SUPPORT, BSFI STRENGTHENS THE CAPACITY OF NATIVE ARTISTS TO DEVELOP, PRODUCE, AND DISTRIBUTE DOCUMENTARY FILMS THAT REFLECT INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVES AND COMMUNITIES. BSFI PROVIDES FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, COMPLIANCE OVERSIGHT, AND ACCESS TO INDUSTRY RESOURCES, ADVANCING EQUITY AND REPRESENTATION IN THE DOCUMENTARY FIELD.

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

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Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $295,642
Program Service Revenue $226,578
Investment Income $1,190
Other Revenue $0
TOTAL REVENUE $523,410

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0
Salaries & Benefits $183,086
Fundraising Expenses $0
Program Expenses $431,819
Other Expenses $289,349
TOTAL EXPENSES $472,435

Year-over-Year Comparison

2024 2023 Change
Revenue $523,410 $399,599 +0.3%
Expenses $472,435 $502,485 -0.1%
Net Income $50,975 $-102,886 -1.5%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Governance

Voting Members
13
Independent Members
13
Employees
23
Volunteers
231

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
0
$0
Total Directors
14
$64,820
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
0
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
JULIA SHERMAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40
Director
$45,553 $0 $45,553
RACHEL GREGG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40
Director
$19,267 $0 $19,267
ANN QUIRK BOARD MEMBER 1
Director
$0 $0 $0
SARAH BRIGGS BOARD MEMBER 1
Director
$0 $0 $0
BRIAN CONNELLY BOARD MEMBER 1
Director
$0 $0 $0
GITA SAEDI KIELY BOARD MEMBER 1
Director
$0 $0 $0
GREG RAGAN TREASURER 1
Director
$0 $0 $0
KRISTI WHISLER BOARD MEMBER 2.88
Director
$0 $0 $0
RITA PASTORE BOARD MEMBER 1.44
Director
$0 $0 $0
ROBERT HOMER BOARD MEMBER 1.25
Director
$0 $0 $0
TOPHER WILLIAMS VICE PRESIDENT 1
Director
$0 $0 $0
JEREMY SAUTER PRESIDENT 0.67
Director
$0 $0 $0
DANIEL JOLLY SECRETARY 1.25
Director
$0 $0 $0
TRAVIS MORSS BOARD MEMBER 1
Director
$0 $0 $0
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2024 $523,410 $472,435 $93,595 $50,975
2023 $399,599 $502,485 $10,858 $-102,886
2022 $450,295 $469,903 $116,253 $-19,608
2021 $381,150 $338,804 $119,241 $42,346
2020 $398,288 $387,677 $133,074 $10,611
2019 $332,162 $321,744 $77,131 $10,418
2018 $272,046 $314,013 $70,150 $-41,967
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