irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2025
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $298KThe Screening Room at the Maysles Documentary Center, the only independent film house north of Lincoln Center in Manhattan, is dedicated to the exhibition of documentary films, and it provides programming and forum discussions at least four nights out of every week. The Cinema is committed to a democratic experience, one where filmmakers are asked to attend the screenings of their work, and audiences have the opportunity to actively engage the films and each other in post-screening forums. Coupled with its scheduled series, we encourage the programming participation of local social and cultural organizations and citizen-activists to deepen community involvement and provide exposure for under-represented social issues and overlooked artists and their work. We have forged partnerships with organizations as diverse as The National Black Programming Consortium, the New Museum, and the Harlem Historic Parks Association, to name a few. Our suggested-donation ticket model allows for everyone to engage in our programming, regardless of his or her ability to pay. As a result of steady growth in attendance we have recently added capacity to accommodate our frequent overflow audiences.
- #2 $8KOur fiscal sponsorship program, which extends our 501(c)(3) non-profit status to filmmakers for fundraising purposes, has been a growing success. The program is designed for emerging and early career filmmakers, and priority is given to individuals who have traditionally been denied industry access and fundraising opportunities.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
10 for 10 Series
Video interview series celebrating 10 years of Maysles Cinema, featuring 10 documentary filmmakers discussing nonfiction film and the Maysles legacy
Education Programs
Community education initiatives that engage youth and adults in documentary filmmaking, creative expression, and dialogue around social issues
Fiscal Sponsorship Program
Supports emerging and early-career filmmakers by extending MDC’s 501(c)(3) status for fundraising, with a 5% administrative fee on contributions and access to foundation grants
The Screening Room
Independent cinema in Harlem dedicated to documentary film exhibition, hosting screenings and post-film discussions at least four nights a week, with filmmaker participation and community engagement
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Film Festival and Screening Programming 4 activities
- Accept and review film project submissions for programmingAccepts project submissions from filmmakers of all backgrounds and experience levels, including US-based and international productions, and reviews a wide range of media projects such as narratives, experimental films, series, installations, and preservation efforts for inclusion in programming.
- Host curated film series and guest-programmed screeningsCurates and presents film series such as "Black Solidarity in A Global Context" and "The Lafarague Clinic Remixed" at Maysles Cinema and other venues, exploring themes of community history, mental health, and global solidarity through documentary film.
- Operate Maysles Cinema as a documentary film screening venueOperates Maysles Cinema, the only independent film house north of Lincoln Center dedicated exclusively to documentary films, hosting programming and post-screening forum discussions at least four nights per week. The venue has been upgraded with new projection and sound technology, enabling films screened there to qualify for Academy Award consideration.
- Partner with cultural and community organizations for co-programmed eventsPartners with organizations such as The National Black Programming Consortium, the New Museum, and the Harlem Historic Parks Association to co-program documentary screenings and discussions.
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Youth & Emerging Filmmaker Training 2 activities
- Deliver film education and media literacy programsOffers low or no-cost education programs including film literacy for children, filmmaking for high school students, and filmmaking and editing training for adults, as well as hands-on documentary production and media literacy programs for young people through on-site and community-based initiatives.
- Run youth program for children with incarcerated parentsRuns a summer education program for youth with incarcerated parents to support creative self-expression and holistic development through filmmaking and media arts.
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Archival Digitization and Preservation 1 activity
- Digitize and preserve community archival materialsConducts digitization of archival materials, including Mini DV tapes from community events and programming, and maintains a collection documenting lived experiences and perspectives of Harlem community members.
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Film Production Funding and Fiscal Sponsorship 1 activity
- Provide fiscal sponsorship to documentary filmmakersProvides fiscal sponsorship to emerging and early-career filmmakers, with priority for those historically excluded from industry access and fundraising, accepting tax-deductible donations and in-kind contributions for sponsored projects and disbursing funds within five business days.
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Post-Performance Audience Engagement 1 activity
- Provide public programming with community dialogueHosts talkbacks, panels, and Q+A sessions as part of public programming to foster community dialogue around documentary films, featuring filmmakers and subject experts in post-screening discussions.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Produce filmmaker interview seriesProduced a video series featuring interviews with 10 documentary filmmakers to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Maysles Cinema.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$890K
Contributions & grants$654K74%
Program service revenue$215K24%
Investment income$8K1%
Other revenue$12K
expenses
Total expenses$833K
Program expenses71%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising19%
Salaries & benefits$408K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$547K
Cash$421K
Investments$0
Liabilities$212K
Net assets$334K
Liquid reserves6.1 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +4.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kazembe Balagun | Executive Director | 35 | $108K |
board members · 13
- Beth Earl — Board member
- Cameron Yates — Board Member
- David Kuhn — Board member
- Jenna Bond — Board member
- Jennifer Ash Rudick — Board member
- Joe Wemple — Chair Emeritus
- Jonathan Mallow — Board Member
- Laura Coxson — Secretary
- Laverne Berry — Board member
- Nick Canfield — Board member
- Patricia Jones — Chair
- Patricia Sullivan — Treasurer
- Rebekah Maysles — Co-Chair
relationships · 40
Who they work with
- African Film Festival Partner — Partners with Maysles Institute Inc. to present African film content and cultural programming.
- Albert Maysles Government — Founder of Maysles Documentary Center and influential figure whose values guide the organization's mission.
- Albert Maysles Partner — Founded the Maysles Documentary Center in 2005.
- American Documentary / POV Partner — Collaborates with Maysles Institute Inc. on documentary initiatives and public programming.
- Anthony Svatek Partner — Director of sponsored project "Humboldt USA".
- Boys and Girls Club of Harlem Partner — Partners with Maysles Institute Inc. to provide youth media education and enrichment activities.
- Brecht Forum Partner — Balagun worked as outreach coordinator and was involved with Red Channels, a film collective that programmed events at the forum.
- Brecht Forum Partner — Collaborated with the Brecht Forum as outreach coordinator and through film programming via the Red Channels Collective.
- Brooklyn Academy of Music Partner — Collaborated with Red Channels on the “Contraband Film Series” in 2010.
- Brotherhood / Sister Sol Partner — Collaborates with Maysles Institute Inc. on youth development and community storytelling programs.
- DOC NYC Partner — Partners with Maysles Institute Inc. on documentary film festival programming and events.
- Firelight Media Partner — Collaborates with Maysles Institute Inc. on documentary production and filmmaker support initiatives.
- Harlem Network — Institutional partnerships formed with other organizations in Harlem to support film programming.
- Harlem Grown Partner — Partners with Maysles Institute Inc. on community-based youth and media programs.
- Harlem Historic Parks Association Partner — Collaborates on co-programming documentary screenings and discussions.
- Harlem Hospital Partner — Collaborates with Maysles Institute Inc. on health-related documentary and community engagement projects.
- International Documentary Association Partner — Uses a modified version of the International Documentary Association’s Documentary Core Application for its sponsorship application process.
- Kazembe Balagun Partner — Involved in overseeing and supporting intern participation in the digitization process at the Maysles Documentary Center.
- Manhattan Neighborhood Network Partner — Provided training in documentary production that contributed to film work at the Brecht Forum.
- Maysles Documentary Center Network — Harlem-based nonprofit organization focused on documentary film and community engagement
- Maysles Documentary Center Partner — Provides fiscal sponsorship to documentary filmmakers under its 501(c)(3) status.
- Maysles family Partner — Co-founders and ongoing collaborators in the development of Maysles Cinema.
- Nelson Walker Partner — Involved in overseeing and supporting intern participation in the digitization process at the Maysles Documentary Center.
- New Negress Film Society Partner — Recipient of project sponsorship.
- Nia Whitmal Partner — Involved in overseeing and supporting intern participation in the digitization process at the Maysles Documentary Center.
- No Evil Eye Cinema Partner — Recipient of project sponsorship.
- Red Channels Collective Partner — Collaborative film programming group associated with the Brecht Forum that Kazembe joined.
- Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung New York Office Partner — Employed Kazembe Balagun as a project manager from 2013 to 2022.
- Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung New York Office Partner — Kazembe Balagun served as project manager, focusing on the international dimensions of the Black Lives Matter Movement, Right to the City, and solidarity economy.
- Studio Museum in Harlem Partner — Collaborates with Maysles Institute Inc. on interdisciplinary arts and documentary programming.
+ 10 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Film as Catalyst for Dialogue and Social Actionmethodology: film_for_dialogueBy screening documentaries in intimate, community-centered settings and facilitating post-screening dialogue with activists and scholars, the organization transforms passive viewership into active civic engagement, because shared storytelling creates space for collective reflection and movement-building.
- Film as Empowerment and Youth Engagementmethodology: film_as_empowermentBy teaching and supporting documentary filmmaking among youth and marginalized communities, the organization produces empowerment and self-expression, because creative authorship enables individuals to reclaim narrative control and advocate for social change.
- Pay-What-You-Can Access Model for Inclusive Participationmethodology: pay_what_you_canBy using a suggested-donation ticket model, the organization ensures financial accessibility to documentary programming, because removing cost barriers enables broader and more representative community engagement.