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Shakespeare & Company Inc

EIN 04-2666826 · Lenox, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF SHAKESPEARE & COMPANY IS TO DELIVER A SUSTAINABLE AND VITAL PROGRAM OF PERFORMANCE, TRAINING, AND EDUCATION, INTEGRATED FOR THE DEEPENED EXPERIENCE OF THE ARTISTS, THE AUDIENCE, THE COMPANY, AND THE COMMUNITY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) WE EMBRACE THE CORE VALUES OF SHAKESPEARE'S WORK: COLLABORATION, COMMITMENT TO LANGUAGE, VISCERAL EXPERIENCE AND CLASSICAL IDEALS, EXPRESSED WITH PHYSICAL PROWESS AND AN EMBODIED CONTEMPORARY VOICE.

Income
$9.3 million
Spending
$5.4 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
168
Volunteers
196
Highest pay
$120,193, director of development

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 90% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 25 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $2.8 million spent. PERFORMANCE:THE ORGANIZATION PRODUCES LIVE THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES THAT INCLUDE THE BUILDING OF COSTUMES AND SETS FROM ORGANIC RAW MATERIALS AND DESIGNS; ORIGINAL LIGHTING AND SOUND DESIGN AND MUSICAL SCORES. LIVE PERFORMANCES WERE PERFORMED OUTDOORS IN TWO THEATERS AND INSIDE IN TWO FACILITIES. WINTER STAGED READINGS AND PRODUCTION AND LECTURES WERE DEVISED AS WELL. SEATING CAPACITY PER PERFORMANCE VARIED FROM 150 TO 400.
  2. $1.1 million spent. EDUCATION:FISCAL YEAR 2026 CONSISTED OF MANY EDUCATION PROGRAMS. FALL FESTIVAL OF SHAKESPEARE, A 10 WEEK IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCY IN TEN SCHOOLS WITH PUBLIC PERFORMANCES IN THE SCHOOLS AND ON OUR CAMPUS. NORTHEAST REGIONAL TOUR OF SHAKESPEARE, A 4 MONTH NORTHEAST TOUR OF IN-SCHOOL PERFORMANCES OF NON-EQUITY PRODUCTION OF A SHAKESPEARE PLAY. SHAKESPEARE IN THE COURTS PROJECT, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BERKSHIRE JUNVENILE COURT ABJUDICATED JUVENILE OFFENDERS WORK WITH ARTISTS AND PARTICIPATE IN CLASSES, REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES OF SHAKESPEARE SCENES. RIOTOUS YOUTH, SUMMER ACTING CAMP FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS THAT INTRODUCE THEM TO THE LANGUAGE, STORY, CHARACTERS AND IDEAS IN THE SHAKESPEARE PLAYS. RESIDENCIES, LOCAL AND (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) NON-LOCAL IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS WITH TEAMS OF TEACHERS, DIRECTORS AND TECHNICAL STAFF WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH EDUCATORS TO INTRODUCE STUDENTS TO SHAKESPEARE. SHAKESPEARE & YOUNG COMPANY, DESIGNED TO FURTHER DEVELOP YOUNG ACTORS AND EMPOWER THEM AS CREATIVE INDIVIDUALS. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, FOR TEACHERS AND TEACHING ARTISTS, ONE-WEEK WORKSHOPS HELD IN THE SUMMER TO HELP CREATE SHAKESPEARE LEARNING ON STAGE AND IN CLASSROOMS.
  3. $461,677 spent. TRAINING:THE CENTER FOR ACTOR TRAINING OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF ACTING WORKSHOPS FOR PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AT VARIOUS STAGES IN THEIR CAREERS, FROM UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO ADVANCED PROFESSIONALS. THE TRAINING IS BASED ON TEACHING METHODS DEVELOPED BY ORGANIZATION FOUNDERS INCLUDING TINA PACKER AND KRISTIN LINKLATER, AND HAS EVOLVED FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS THROUGH THE COLLABORATION OF SPECIALIZED TEACHERS IN EVERY DISCIPLINE. MONTH-LONG INTENSIVE - 4 WEEK PROGRAM GEARED TOWARDS MID-CAREER PROFESSIONAL ACTORS WHICH FOCUSES ON MULTI-FACETED SHAKESPERIAN PRINCIPLES. SUMMER SHAKESPEARE INTENSIVE - 4 WEEK PROGRAM GEARED TOWARDS UNDER-GRADUATE THEATER MAJORS, RECENT GRADUATES AND EARLY-CAREER PROFESSIONAL ACTORS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)WE ALSO OFFER MANY WEEKEND INTENSIVE TRAININGS AS WELL AS WEEK-LONG FOCUSED TRAININGS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2026.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1979.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.