COLUMBIA FILM SOCIETY

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1979

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

SUMNER BENDER

Phone

8032548234

Tax Period

2023-07-01 to 2024-06-30

COLUMBIA FILM SOCIETY, founded in 1979, is a community nonprofit in the Arts, Culture & Humanities sector that reported $1.2M in total revenue in fiscal year 2023. Revenue surged 41% from the prior year, signaling strong growth momentum. Expenses of $1.3M exceeded revenue, resulting in a 11% operating deficit.

Mission

TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY APPRECIATION OF THEATER THROUGH THE SHOWING OF INDEPENDENT AND EDUCATIONAL FILMS.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $972,305 Revenue: $625,990

COLUMBIA FILM SOCIETY (CFS) SERVES COLUMBIA, SC, AS A CENTER FOR CRITICAL DIALOGUE, ANCHORED BY THE PRESENTATION OF FILMS THAT SHOWCASE THE DIVERSITY, CHALLENGES, JOY, AND ASPIRATIONS OF ITS...

COLUMBIA FILM SOCIETY (CFS) SERVES COLUMBIA, SC, AS A CENTER FOR CRITICAL DIALOGUE, ANCHORED BY THE PRESENTATION OF FILMS THAT SHOWCASE THE DIVERSITY, CHALLENGES, JOY, AND ASPIRATIONS OF ITS COMMUNITY. A DESTINATION FOR ENJOYMENT, ENRICHMENT, AND EDUCATION, CFS PROVIDES THE TOOLS TO MAKE, INTERPRET, APPRECIATE, AND TEACH THE MOVING IMAGE IN ALL ITS VARIETY THROUGH ITS TWO ARMS: THE NICKELODEON THEATRE ("THE NICK") AND INDIE GRITS LABS ("IG LABS"). THE NICKELODEON THEATRE IS SOUTH CAROLINA'S ONLY NON-PROFIT ART-HOUSE THEATER. IN ADDITION TO CREATING SPACES FOR CONVERSATION AND ENJOYMENT OF FILMS AT THE THEATRE, WE RUN A FILM FESTIVAL EVERY YEAR AND WORK WITH ARTISTS TO CREATE ART THROUGH A FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

Program 2

Expenses: $121,731 Revenue: $2,950

OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS, RUN THROUGH INDIE GRITS LABS, WORK TO FOSTER THE 21ST CENTURY SKILLS NECESSARY TO BE AN ACTIVE CITIZEN IN OUR INCREASINGLY MEDIA HEAVY SOCIETY AND TO PLANT THE SEEDS FOR THE FILM AND MEDIA ARTISTS OF THE FUTURE BY OFFERING TRAINING, SPACE AND RESOURCES FOR THE CREATION OF NEW FILM AND VIDEO WORK. WE RUN A VARIETY OF AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SUMMER CAMPS, ADULT WORKSHOPS, MEDIA WORKSHOPS, AND FIELD TRIP PROGRAMS.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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

Financial Overview (2023)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $544,738

Program Service Revenue $433,912

Investment Income $3,158

Other Revenue $196,202

TOTAL REVENUE $1,178,010

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $526,373

Fundraising Expenses $94,700

Program Expenses $1,094,036

Other Expenses $779,788

TOTAL EXPENSES $1,306,161

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2023	2022	Change
Revenue	$1,178,010	$833,424	+0.4%
Expenses	$1,306,161	$1,192,143	+0.1%
Net Income	$-128,151	$-358,719	-0.6%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

Volunteers

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

$88,220

Total Directors

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
DAVID WHITEMAN	PRESIDENT	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
HEATHER BAUER	VICE-PRESIDENT	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
TIFFANY ADAMS	SECRETARY	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
DAVID PALKOVITZ	TREASURER	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
FRANCIE KLECKLEY	BOARD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DR ANGELA BLALOCK	BOARD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JOE MCCULLOCH	BOARD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
GEORGE WOLFE	AT LARGE	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
EBONY GREEN	BOARD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JOHNNIE MATTHEWS	BOARD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JENNIFER CAPELL	BOARD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
KRISTOPHER JONES	BOARD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SUMNER BENDER	EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR	40.00	Officer	$88,220	$0	$88,220

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
2025	No data	No data	No data	No data
2024	$1,178,010	$1,306,161	$2,004,250	$-128,151
2023	$833,424	$1,192,143	$2,138,796	$-358,719
2022	$1,022,853	$987,777	$2,474,451	$35,076
2021	$578,683	$796,803	$2,517,427	$-218,120
2021	$718,064	$799,593	$2,494,224	$-81,529
2020	$1,231,786	$1,563,564	$2,717,162	$-331,778
2019	$1,512,397	$1,696,889	$2,817,756	$-184,492
2018	$1,607,622	$1,798,183	$3,072,872	$-190,561