California Film Institute logo

California Film Institute

Public charity · Grantmaker San Rafael, CA EIN: 94-2498062 Website

The California Film Institute celebrates film and videos as art and education. Its goal is to present and support emerging and established independent filmakers whose works address issues relevant to contemporary society. This is accomplished through the presentation of the internationally renowned mill valley film festival, year-round programs at the rafael film center, educational seminars, community outreach programs, and national and international exchange efforts.the mission of the cfi is to celebrate film and video. There is no other medium of the 20th and 21st century that is more powerful than the moving image. At its best, it is the art form that inspires us to explore how we relate to our planet and to ourselves.

California Film Institute at a glance

In short: California Film Institute gave $40K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $40K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$40,000
-52.9% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
1
-50.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$40,000
-5.9% vs 2024
Median grant
$40,000
Total assets
$7,277,502
+2.2% vs 2024
Primary geography
California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated November 2026.

Who California Film Institute funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top recipient in 2025

Walking Iris Media: $40KWalking Iris Media$40K

The largest 2025 recipient was Walking Iris Media ($40K).

Grant Size Distribution

3 grants across all recorded years

3<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 3 grants of 3 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.

Cities

JamaicaLos AngelesSan Francisco

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$25K$50K$75K$100K0 grants2020 0 grants2021 0 grants2022 0 grants2023 2 grants2024 1 grant2025

From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $40K (2025) to $85K (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $40K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Walking Iris Media San Francisco, CADocumentary Production$40,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$7,277,502$7,707,349$7,590,084$40,0001$49,296
2024$7,122,721$6,236,783$6,384,669$85,0002—
2023$7,910,899$6,162,601$6,305,904———
2022$6,252,290$5,934,430$6,306,403——$-9,540
2021$8,333,182$5,073,101$5,058,162———
2020$6,557,904$4,815,841$4,351,848———

About California Film Institute

Based on IRS filings

California Film Institute is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in San Rafael, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $7.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $40K. Net investment income was $49K.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

California Film Institute is led by Mark Fishkin, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 5 of 20 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Mark Fishkin

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2020

    50 hrs/week

    $257K (2020) → $281K (2025)

  • Maggie O'Donnell

    President

    Co-Vice President → President, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Zoe Elton

    Director of Programming

    On filings since 2020

    50 hrs/week

    $107K (2020) → $121K (2025)

  • Daniel Zastrow

    Director & Cafilm Cinema

    Technical Director → Director & Cafilm Cinema, 2025

    On filings since 2022

    50 hrs/week

    $101K (2022) → $119K (2025)

  • Amy Keroes

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Cathy Nourafshan

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Daniel Kenyon

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer Maccready

    Director

    President → Board Chair, 2021

    Board Chair → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joel Sklar

    Co-Vp & Director

    Director → Co-Vp & Director, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jonathan Parker

    Co-Vp & Director

    Director → Co-Vp & Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kurt Mobley

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Susan Schwartz

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Wellington Bowler

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jacqui Lopez-Wyman

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Blaire Dorer

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Christine Schantz

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dana M. Callihan

    Deputy Director

    On filings since 2020

    50 hrs/week

    $120K (2020) → $125K (2025)

  • Liana Bender

    Chief Development Officer

    Director of Development → Chief Development Officer, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    50 hrs/week

    $114K (2020) → $165K (2025)

  • Richard J. Idell

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Christina Cook

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2023

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (9)
  • Former: Jacqui Lopez (2022–2023) — Director
  • Former: Dave Feiferis (2023) — Operations Manager
  • Former: Jann Stanley (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Ken Broad (2020–2022) — President
  • Former: Zachary E. Zeisler (2020–2022) — Treasurer
  • Former: Jeromiah Zajonc (2020–2021) — Director of Operations
  • Former: Lynne Hale (2020) — Director
  • Former: Maida Lynn (2020) — Director
  • Former: Steve Weinswig (2020) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Mark Fishkin — Executive Dir.: $281KMark FishkinExecutive Dir.$281KLiana Bender — Chief Dev Officer: $165KLiana BenderChief Dev Officer$165KDana M Callihan — Deputy Director: $125KDana M CallihanDeputy Director$125KZOE Elton — DIR of Programming: $121KZOE EltonDIR of Programming$121KDaniel Zastrow — DIR, Cafilm Cinema: $119KDaniel ZastrowDIR, Cafilm Cinema$119K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $281K, to Mark Fishkin (Executive Dir.). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about California Film Institute

How much does California Film Institute give each year?

California Film Institute gave $40K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $85K across 2 grants.

How large is California Film Institute?

California Film Institute reported $7.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.7M.

What is California Film Institute?

California Film Institute is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in San Rafael, CA. It holds $7.3M in total assets as of 2025.

Where does California Film Institute operate?

California Film Institute has awarded grants in California, New York.

What is California Film Institute's EIN?

California Film Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-2498062. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

Data update history

(2)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
  2. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 3, 2026)

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from California Film Institute's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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