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Blackstone River Theatre

EIN 05-0493733 · Cumberland, RI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NONE

Income
$251,839
Spending
$404,451
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
19.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 69%
Employees
2
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$75,780, executive director

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 61% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or 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 (1)
  1. $286,982 spent. AS A CULTURAL ARTS CENTER, THE MUSICAL HERITAGE OF THE BLACKSTONE VALLEY, AS WELL AS WORLD, ROOTS MUSIC, AND MORE HAVE FOUND A HOME AT BLACKSTONE RIVER THEATRE SINCE 2000. IN ADDITION TO WEEKLY CONCERT PROGRAMMING, BRT OFFERS OCCASIONAL CHILDREN'S SHOWS AND PARTICIPATORY DANCES. BRT ALSO FEATURES AN ART GALLERY OF ROTATING WORK THAT SHOWCASES LOCAL ARTISTS. AS AN ARTS EDUCATION CENTER, BRT OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE ARTS THROUGH HERITAGE ARTS STUDIO CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS. BELIEVING THAT THE ARTS HELP CULTURES CONNECT, BLACKSTONE RIVER THEATRE IS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING ARTS AWARENESS AND PROVIDING PERFORMANCE AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIVERSE PARTICIPANTS. AS A COMMUNITY CENTER, BRT DONATES OR AFFORDABLY RENTS OUT ITS SPACE FOR BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNCTIONS WHEN ITS PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE ALLOWS. THE TRADITIONAL AND FOLK ARTS, HANDED DOWN FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT OVER TIME AND PLACE, ARE A POWERFUL VEHICLE FOR CONVEYING THE LEGACY OF A COMMUNITY. GIVING A SPACE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN IS CORE TO THE MISSION OF BLACKSTONE RIVER THEATRE.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1997.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.