Fox Theatre Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PRESERVE AND SHARE THE FOX THEATRE
- Income
- $37.4 million
- Spending
- $30.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 35 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 72%
- Employees
- 623
- Volunteers
- 727
- Highest pay
- $1.4 million, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 35.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
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, 2025, 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)
- $22.3 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE O ATLANTA'S FOX THEATRE IS A WORLD-RENOWNED CONCERT AND EVENT VENUE LIKE NO OTHER. CONCEIVED AS THE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE ATLANTA SHRINER'S ORGANIZATION IN 1928, THE BUILDING WAS DESIGNED TO EVOKE THE MYSTERY AND MAGIC OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST. SPANISH PALACES AND EGYPTIAN TEMPLES INFLUENCED THE BUILDING'S ELABORATE AND INTENSELY ORNATE DESIGN WHICH FEATURES SOARING DOMES, SWEEPING ARCHWAYS, STUNNING GOLD LEAF, AND SUMPTUOUS INTERIOR DETAILS INCLUDING A VAST COBALT "SKY" WITH A SEA OF TWINKLING STARS. THE BUILDING WAS ENHANCED BY MOVIE MOGUL WILLIAM FOX IN 1929 AND THE VENUE FLOURISHED AS ATLANTA'S PREMIERE MOVIE PALACE UNTIL 1932, WHEN THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION FORCED WILLIAM FOX AND THE THEATRE INTO BANKRUPTCY. THE ATLANTA ICON WAS PURCHASED AT AUCTION FOR A FRACTION OF ITS ORIGINAL COST AND REMAINED IN HIGH DEMAND FOR THE NEXT THREE DECADES, SHOWING HUNDREDS OF ACCLAIMED FILMS AND HOSTING LIVE PERFORMANCES FROM LEGENDARY ENTERTAINERS.DESPITE THE FOX'S SUCCESS, LANDMARK MOVIE PALACES HAD BEGUN TO FALL OUT OF FAVOR IN THE 1960S AS CUSTOMERS MIGRATED TO THE SUBURBS. IN 1974, THE FOX THEATRE CLOSED ITS DOORS, AND THE STUNNING LANDMARK, BELOVED FOR GENERATIONS, WAS SUDDENLY FACING DEMOLITION. CONFRONTED WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING THE ICONIC BUILDING, THE RESIDENTS OF ATLANTA SPRANG INTO ACTION. THEY FORMED A NON-PROFIT CALLED ATLANTA LANDMARKS AND LAUNCHED THE NOW LEGENDARY "SAVE THE FOX" CAMPAIGN, WHICH RAISED FUNDS TO SAVE THE BUILDING FROM DEMOLITION. ATLANTA LANDMARKS (NOW CALLED FOX THEATRE, INC.) CONTINUES TO RUN THE THEATRE TODAY, MAKING IT ONE OF AN ELITE GROUP OF NOT-FOR-PROFIT THEATRES IN THE COUNTRY COMMITTED TO MAKING PERFORMANCE ART ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.NORMALLY, THE AWARD-WINNING FOX THEATRE HOSTS MORE THAN 200 PERFORMANCES ANNUALLY AND WELCOMES OVER 500,000 VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE THE BEST IN BROADWAY, CONCERTS, BALLET, COMEDY, AND FILM. THE FOX HAS BEEN WIDELY RECOGNIZED FOR ITS EXCELLENCE IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT, PRESERVATION, AND ARTS EDUCATION. NOTABLY, THE THEATRE WAS RANKED #1 HIGHEST GROSSING THEATRE WORLDWIDE (5,000 SEATS OR LESS) BY BILLBOARD MAGAZINE IN 2024, AND #3 IN POLLSTAR MAGAZINE FOR TICKET SALES WORLDWIDE FOR VENUES (2,001 - 5,000 SEATS). IT WAS ALSO NAMED THE INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS ASSOCIATION THEATRE OF THE YEAR IN 2025. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOX WAS AWARDED VENUESNOW'S #1 TOP STOP OF THE DECADE IN 2019. ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE ALSO LISTED THE FOX AS ONE OF "THE BEST BIG ROOMS IN AMERICA." FOR THE PAST TWO DECADES, THE FOX THEATRE HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN RANKED IN THE TOP THREE THEATRES IN NORTH AMERICA FOR GROSS TICKET SALES, CEMENTING ITS LEGACY AS A BELOVED ATLANTA ICON AND A HISTORIC ENTERTAINMENT VENUE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF FOX THEATRE, INC. CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN OUR CURRENT MISSION "TO PRESERVE AND SHARE THE FOX THEATRE AND VISION "TO BE ATLANTA'S PREEMINENT CULTURAL ICON THAT ENRICHES THE HUMAN SPIRIT AND TO FURTHER STATE THAT OUR PRIMARY MISSION OF PRESERVING AND SHARING THE FOX THEATRE CAN ONLY BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH ADVANCING THE ARTS IN BOTH METRO ATLANTA AND THE STATE BY PROVIDING ARTS EDUCATION THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS EFFORT FOX GIVES (FORMERLY THE FOX THEATRE INSTITUTE), AND CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT PROGRAMMING AND/OR EXHIBITS IN THE FOX THEATRE AND/OR THROUGH FOX GIVES NETWORK OF THEATRES FOR THE ENRICHMENT AND BENEFIT OF THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA.
- $1.4 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE OFOX GIVES (FORMERLY FTI) IS AN AWARD-WINNING OUTREACH PROGRAM OFFERING HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND OPERATIONS EXPERTISE, CONSULTATION AND EDUCATION TO PERFORMING ARTS VENUES IN GEORGIA AND THE REGION. CREATED BY ATLANTA'S FOX THEATRE - AN ICONIC ATTRACTION WIDELY APPLAUDED FOR BEING A CATALYST FOR POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE COMMUNITY - FOX GIVES PAYS IT FORWARD, HELPING OTHER CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS RENEW, REINVIGORATE AND RESTORE ARTISTIC VITALITY IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES. IN KEEPING ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT TOP OF MIND, FOX GIVES OFFERS THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, RESTORATION SUPPORT, AND OPERATIONS MENTORING NEEDED TO LEVERAGE SCARCE RESOURCES AND STIMULATE LOCAL ECONOMIES.FOX GIVES WAS FOUNDED IN 2008 IN RESPONSE TO A STATEWIDE NEED FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THE RESTORATION AND OPERATION OF GEORGIA'S HISTORIC THEATRES. DURING ITS BRIEF HISTORY, FOX GIVES HAS BECOME AN INDISPENSABLE RESOURCE FOR HISTORIC THEATRES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, FULFILLING THE FOX THEATRE'S VISION TO SHARE ITS EXPERIENCE IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND THEATRE OPERATIONS WITH OTHERS. AT A TIME WHEN PRESERVATION AND ARTS AGENCIES ARE EXPERIENCING BUDGET CUTBACKS, FOX GIVES IS FILLING A COMMUNITY NEED BY AWARDING GRANTS AND PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THESE COMMUNITY LANDMARKS. THROUGH OUR PRESERVATION GRANT PROGRAM, FOX GIVES PROVIDES SINGLE YEAR AND MULTI-YEAR GRANTS. IN SHORT, FOX GIVES STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES THROUGH THEATRE. COMBINED, IN THE FISCAL YEARS OF 2024-2025 FOX GIVES HAS CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN $4.2 MILLION IN GRANTS TO THEATRES IN GEORGIA, INCLUDING OVER $323,000 FOR BLOCK BOOKING GRANTS.AS PART OF THE FOX THEATRE'S COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM, THE FOX THEATRE ALSO HAS AN EDUCATION PILLAR UNDER WHICH LIVES BOTH "FOX IN A BOX" FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS K-5 AND FOX GIVES "ALL ACCESS PASS" FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GRADES 9-12."FOX IN A BOX" IS AN INTERACTIVE SCHOOL EXHIBIT THAT FOCUSES ON HOW IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE FOX THEATRE'S TIMELINE INTERSECT WITH KEY CLASSROOM LESSONS, FROM AMERICAN HISTORY AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT TO ECONOMICS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITIES. ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ARE THEN CHALLENGED TO THINK HOW COMMUNITIES CAN COME TOGETHER TO SHARE AND EXPERIENCE AND TO PROTECT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM. SINCE 2014, WE HAVE BROUGHT THE FOX IN A BOX PROGRAM TO MORE THAN 64,000 STUDENTS, 4,700 EDUCATORS AND OVER 15,700 CITIZENS THROUGH THE GEORGIA PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM.THE ALL-ACCESS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EXPOSURE TO THE ARTS, AS WELL AS EXPOSURE TO VOCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN THE THEATRE AND FILM INDUSTRIES. THREE HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES WILL ATTEND TWO BROADWAY SHOWS AT THE FOX THEATRE PER ACADEMIC YEAR, PRE-TRIP SITE VISIT WITH THE FOX EDUCATION MANAGER, PRE-SHOW TALK BACK ABOUT VOCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN THE THEATRE AND FILM INDUSTRIES. ONE STUDENT PER YEAR WILL BE AWARDED A PERFORMING ARTS SCHOLARSHIP. AND THE PERFORMING ARTS MANAGER WILL PROVIDE A FOLLOW UP ONLINE SEMINAR.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1975.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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