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Berkshire Theatre Group Inc

EIN 04-6134497 · Pittsfield, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO SUSTAIN, PROMOTE AND PRODUCE THEATRE FOR THE COMMUNITY THROUGH PERFORMANCES AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

Income
$5.6 million
Spending
$6.0 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
-7.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
165
Volunteers
176
Highest pay
$200,000, artistic dir

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 24 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (2)
  1. $4.3 million spent. FOUNDED IN 1928, THE BERKSHIRE THEATRE FESTIVAL (BTF) IS ONE OF THE OLDEST AND MOST PRESTIGIOUS THEATRES AND MIRRORS THE VERY HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN THEATRE MOVEMENT. LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE VILLAGE OF STOCKBRIDGE, MA BTF REMAINS DEDICATED TO PRODUCING THEATRE THAT RECOGNIZES ITS VENERABLE PAST AS WELL AS PROVIDING A HOME FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF THE AMERICAN THEATRES' ARTISTS. ITS MAIN STAGE (WHICH HOUSES A 400 SEAT PROSCENIUM THEATRE) IS A NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE AND WAS DESIGNED BY THE PRESTIGIOUS FIRM OF STANFORD WHITE. THE BARN, WHICH IS HOME TO THE 120 SET UNICORN THEATRE, WAS ONCE OWNED BY THE MELLON FAMILY. THE COMPANY IS DEDICATED TO THREE AREAS OF ACTIVITY: PERFORMANCE, EDUCATION AND TRAINING. NOW IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COLONIAL THEATRE IN PITTSFIELD MA, THE BREADTH OF PROGRAMMING AND PERFORMANCES HAS EXPANDED. FOUNDED IN 1928, THE BERKSHIRE THEATRE FESTIVAL (BTF) IS ONE OF THE OLDEST AND MOST PRESTIGIOUS THEATRES AND MIRRORS THE VERY HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN THEATRE MOVEMENT. LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE VILLAGE OF STOCKBRIDGE, MA BTF REMAINS DEDICATED TO PRODUCING THEATRE THAT RECOGNIZES ITS VENERABLE PAST AS WELL AS PROVIDING A HOME FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF THE AMERICAN THEATRES' ARTISTS. ITS MAIN STAGE (WHICH HOUSES A 400 SEAT PROSCENIUM THEATRE) IS A NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE AND WAS DESIGNED BY THE PRESTIGIOUS FIRM OF STANFORD WHITE. THE BARN, WHICH IS HOME TO THE 120 SET UNICORN THEATRE, WAS ONCE OWNED BY THE MELLON FAMILY. THE COMPANY IS DEDICATED TO THREE AREAS OF ACTIVITY: PERFORMANCE, EDUCATION AND TRAINING. NOW IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COLONIAL THEATRE IN PITTSFIELD MA, THE BREADTH OF PROGRAMMING AND PERFORMANCES HAS EXPANDED.
  2. $123,458 spent. ITS EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE CURRICULUM BASED WORK, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND A TOURING COMPONENT SERVING 1700 STUDENTS BOTH IN SCHOOLS AND AT THE THEATRES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 April 1966.

    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.