Improvisation Center of Boston Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IMPROVBOSTON IS NEW ENGLANDS LEADING THEATRE AND SCHOOL DEDICATED TO THE ART OF COMEDY AND ALL ITS FORMS. THROUGH WEEKLY IMPROV, SKETCH AND STANDUP COMEDY PERFORMANCES, AN ACCLAIMED COMEDY SCHOOL, AND NUMEROUS OUTREACH, EDUCATIONAL AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AGES, IMPROVBOSTON CONTINUES TO SERVE THE COMMUNITIES OF CAMBRIDGE, BOSTON AND NEW ENGLAND THROUGH LAUGHTER.
- Income
- $240,301
- Spending
- $580,550
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 1.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 99%
- Employees
- 38
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $89,289, p/md(unt 1/24)/d(1/24-4/24)/clerk
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 45 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 142% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 43% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 82 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 253 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, 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)
- $72,915 spent. SHOWS/PERFORMANCES - DUE TO THE LOSS OF IMPROVBOSTON'S SPACE IN CENTRAL SQUARE, CAMBRIDGE, IMPROVBOSTON OFFERS SHOWS THROUGH MULTIPLE RESIDENCIES IN SOMERVILLE, MA; MANCHESTER NH AND ADDITIONAL SHOWS THROUGH OUR TOURING COMPANY. AS PART OF ITS MISSION TO KEEP THESE PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPS ACCESSIBLE TO AUDIENCES OF ALL BACKGROUNDS, IMPROVBOSTON CHARGES LOW TICKET PRICES FOR SHOWS AND CLASSES, AND OFFERS A SLIDING SCALE FOR NONPROFITS THROUGH THE TOURING COMPANY. ALL REGULAR OPERATIONS CEASED ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2023.
- $236,268 spent. CLASSES - IMPROVBOSTON'S COMEDY SCHOOL CONTINUES TO OFFER CLASSES THROUGH OUR EXPERIENCED INSTRUCTORS IN IMPROV, STANDUP AND SKETCH COMEDY. FROM OUR DONATION BASED INTRO TO IMPROV TO OUR MULTILEVEL MASTER WORKSHOPS OUR CLASSES OFFER VARIETY AND FLEXIBILITY TO STUDENTS OF ALL LEVELS. AS PART OF OUR MISSION WE KEEP OUR CLASSES REASONABLY PRICED AND OFFER REDUCED TUITION TO THOSE WHO EXPRESS FINANCIAL NEED. THE ORGANIZATION COMPLETED THE LAST SESSION OF CLASSES AND ALL REGULAR OPERATIONS CEASED ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2023.
- $122,948 spent. TOURING - THE IMPROVBOSTON NATIONAL TOURING COMPANY PROVIDES PRIVATE SHOWS AND WORKSHOPS FOR CLIENTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY INCLUDING THEATERS, CORPORATIONS, COLLEGES, SCHOOLS, AND OTHER PRIVATE GROUPS. THE NATIONAL TOURING COMPANY IS MADE UP OF SOME OF THE BEST PROFESSIONAL IMPROVISERS IN THE COUNTRY AND SPECIALIZES IN HIGH QUALITY, CUSTOM COMEDY, AND EXPERIENCES BASED ON THE APPLIED PRINCIPLES OF IMPROV. ALL REGULAR OPERATIONS CEASED ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2023.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1994.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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