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Goodspeed Opera House Foundation Inc

EIN 13-1969314 · East Haddam, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GOODSPEED MUSICALS' MISSION IS TO SHARE THE JOY OF MUSICAL THEATRE; TO DELIGHT, INSPIRE, AND CHALLENGE AUDIENCES; TO NURTURE CREATORS; AND TO BUILD AND SUPPORT A BROAD, DIVERSE, AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY.

Income
$14.1 million
Spending
$15.4 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
6.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 51%
Employees
465
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$249,913, artistic 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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 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 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. $13.4 million spent. The mission of Goodspeed Musicals is to share the joy of musical theatre; to delight, inspire, and challenge audiences; to nurture creators; and to build and support a broad, diverse, and inclusive community. Goodspeed, the Home of the American Musical, is committed to the ongoing work of developing new musicals and supporting the artists who create them. Our long history of producing new works and our approach to new musical development is tried and true. Goodspeed's annual producing seasons take place January-December. Every year, we produce new musicals and reimagined classics at our namesake venue The Goodspeed Opera House, an intimate 398-seat Victorian style theatre that is listed on the State's historic registry. The Norma Terris Theatre, located in the neighboring town of Chester, is Goodspeed's second stage and a destination for supporting the development of new musicals. During the 2024 season, Goodspeed produced the following programs: - Goodspeed's 18th annual Festival of News Musicals took place in January. Festival attendees enjoyed three days of activities including staged readings of new musicals (including the first public presentation of our GoodWorks commission "THE SNOW GOOSE") and seminars featuring our industry's leading artists and arts administrators. - The Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Grove took place in January and February. 38 writers/creatives convened on the Goodspeed campus to work on 19 unique musical theatre projects. - Goodspeed welcomed more than 100,000 patrons to 363 performances of 7 shows at The Goodspeed and the Terris Theatre: "THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD" (4/5/24-6/2/24), "SOUTH PACIFIC" (6/14/24-8/11/24), "MAGGIE" (8/2 3/24-10/20/24), and "A CHRISTMAS STORY" (11/1/24-12/29/24) played at the Goodspeed, and developmental productions of "A COMPLICATED WOMAN" (5/10/24-6/2/24), "ASK FOR THE MOON" (7/19/24-8/11/24), and "NO LOVE SONGS" (9/27/24-10/20/24) performed at the Terris. - The Arts Education Collaboration program provided theatre education activities and tickets to Goodspeed productions for 1,539 elementary, middle, and high-school students - a 103% increase over 2023!
  2. MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE EARNED BY THE ORGANIZATION FOR ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE.

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 February 1961.

    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.