During the Academy’s 75th anniversary celebration in 2002, the La Cienega Park building was designated the Fairbanks Center for Motion Picture Study in honor of the Academy’s first president, and the building on Vine Street was dedicated as the Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study in honor of Academy co-founder Mary Pickford.

Membership in the Academy is by invitation of the Board of Governors and is limited to those who have distinguished themselves in the arts and sciences of motion pictures. The criteria for admittance include: a body of work in motion pictures that reflects the high standards of the Academy, an achievement of unique distinction, or the making of an outstanding contribution to the film arts or sciences.
Members represent 15 general areas – actors, animators and short film makers, art directors and costume designers, cinematographers, composers and songwriters, documentary filmmakers, directors, executives, film editors, makeup artists and hairstylists, producers, public relations specialists, sound technicians, visual effects experts and writers.

A candidate for membership in the Academy is normally sponsored by at least two members of the branch for which the person may qualify. Each proposed member must first receive the favorable endorsement of the appropriate branch executive committee before his or her name is submitted to the Board of Governors for its approval. Individuals nominated for Academy Awards® who are not already members of the Academy are considered for membership without the need for sponsors.

The Board of Governors also may invite individuals to become members-at-large and associate members. Members-at-large are those engaged in motion picture production, but for whose craft there is no separate branch. They have all the privileges of branch membership except for representation on the Board. Associate members are those closely allied to the industry but not actively engaged in motion picture production. They are not represented on the Board and do not vote on Academy Awards.

Corporate management, control and general policies are administered by the Board of Governors. This group consists of representatives from each of the 15 Academy branches. All branches are represented on the Board by three governors except the Makeup Branch, created in 2006, which has one representative. Governors are elected for three-year terms and may serve up to three consecutive terms.

Officers are elected from among the governors for one-year terms. The elected positions are president, first vice president, two vice presidents, treasurer and secretary. Officers may serve up to four consecutive one-year terms in the same office.

The Board of Governors appoints an executive director to supervise the administrative activities of the Academy. Executive Director Bruce Davis and his staff of over 200 currently conduct the Academy’s day-to-day business.

Membership dues, program admission charges, rental of Academy theaters to film companies for press previews and other special screenings, and the sale of special publications all contribute to the Academy’s operating revenue. The bulk of the revenue, however, comes from the sale of broadcast rights for the annual Academy Awards presentation.