OLYMPIA FILM SOCIETY
Expanding generations of minds one inspiring show at a time.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
People need access to the arts. Access to the arts should be affordable, participatory, and engaging.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Film, Music, and Art at the Capitol Theater
OFS owns and operates the historic Capitol Theater located in Olympia, Washington. Our mission is to present film, music, and art that engages our community, encourages volunteerism, and ensures the preservation of the Capitol Theater. OFS was created in 1980 by a small group of friends who showed movies around Olympia from basements to churches. From the time OFS incorporated in 1981, the number of dues-paying members has grown to 1,800 - the largest member-supported arts organization of its kind in the state of Washington.
Since 1986, the Olympia Film Society has presented films and music by local, regional, and national artists at the Capitol Theater. OFS’s programming is diverse and inclusive in subject matter, cultures, gender, and age. Most notable was our 2017 Film Festival: Celebrating Women in Film. We presented over 50 films directed by women and those who are nonbinary or identifying as women. Post-film discussions, programming surveys, internships, committees, and our volunteer training program engage our patrons in developing the programming at OFS. We encourage direct input from our membership on many of our program offerings and we were honored to be voted “Top 25 Festivals in the World” by MovieMaker magazine in August 2018.
A staff of 8 manages the theater, with the help of 150 volunteers. Volunteers are the lifeblood of OFS. The volunteer and internship programs at OFS offer training in staff and event management, public speaking, money handling, audio/video, and leadership. Some volunteers learn their first job skills at the theater; for others, it is a safe place to re-engage in a work-like setting or to give back to the community in their spare time.
The 762 seat theater is also an affordable resource for many local and national nonprofits, youth organizations, and schools, hosting events year-round. At most of our local colleges, OFS’s programming is a favored activity for film, media, nonprofit management courses and internship programs. Recently, the Olympia Downtown Strategy group and citizen participants rated the Capitol Theater among the "Top Ten Treasures" of the city. Over 35,000 patrons frequent the theater annually, counting on our award-winning programs (and organic popcorn!).
Our theater, at the heart of the Downtown Theater District, is a center for arts, culture, and heritage.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
Historic Preservation_ City of Olympi 2008
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We want to unify our community through the arts regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, and financial background. We want our community to learn and gain an understanding of other cultures, ideas, and societies through the programming of films, live events, workshops, and concerts.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our main strategies to reach our goals are conducted by creating marketing and partnership opportunities through engaging and unique programming. The Olympia Film Society has many media outlets which include our website, over 10,000 email contacts for weekly email blasts, 1800 Instagram followers, 9400 Facebook fans, and send press releases to 30 media outlets. Additionally, we would partner with local media, schools, and businesses to promote the events. We take out weekly ads in several arts newspapers and conduct ticket giveaways online through social media and the radio for many of our special events. We create and distribute colorful eye-catching posters and make regular announcements on stage during daily screenings and events.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The Olympia Film Society staff is well versed in marketing techniques and has strong industry connections to bring guests, filmmakers, and musicians to our community. Collectively we have 35 years of experience in marketing, concert production, venue management, and finance.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
The Olympia Film Society has been producing and promoting artistic programming since the 1980s. Our progress shows not only through the longevity of our organization but in the growth of our membership, volunteers, and partnerships. The future holds limitless ways to engage through the arts; most notably, we are expanding our online programming with a focus on educational films on black and indigenous people, local community leaders will curate our programs.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
OLYMPIA FILM SOCIETY
Board of directorsas of 03/16/2022
Damian Magista
Thurston County Chamber
Term: 2021 - 2023
Rebecca Saulsbury
Non Profit Admin
Term: 2021 - 2023
Tom McDonald
Cascadia Law Group
Tom Rieger
Thomas Architecture Studios
Rebecca Saulsbury
Non Profit Admin
Jeff DeLucca
Washington State Community Action Partnership
Damian Magista
Thurston County Chamber of Commerce
Alice Watland
John Tafegian
Debi McNutt
Amanda Kemp
Actor/Personal Chef
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 06/11/2020GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.