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H B Playwrights Foundation Inc

EIN 13-1999454 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE H B PLAYWRIGHTS FOUNDATION, INC. SUPPORTS THE MISSION OF THE HERBERT BERGHOF STUDIO, INC. BY OPERATING A THEATER SPACE THAT SERVES AS THE PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE OUTLET FOR THE STUDIO'S STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY.

Income
$43,488
Spending
$117,186
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
21 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 85%
Employees
0
Volunteers
205
Highest pay
$86,484, executive/ artistic director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.0 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 169% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    0 of 5

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

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 (1)
  1. $88,814 spent. DEVELOPING AND PRODUCING NEW PLAYS AND WORK-IN-PROGRESS:THE HB PLAYWRIGHTS FOUNDATION IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT THEATER, IN COLLABORATION WITH HB STUDIO, COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING AND PRODUCING NEW PLAYS AND PLAYWRIGHTS AND TO THE PERFORMANCE OF NON-COMMERCIAL THEATER FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ARTISTS INVOLVED. DURING AN ORDINARY YEAR, HBPF WILL PRODUCE WORKS-IN-PROGRESS PRODUCTIONS IN COLLABORATION WITH HB STUDIO. IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING 8/31/2025, HBPF SUPPORTED 23 PUBLIC EVENTS IN ITS HB PLAYWRIGHTS THEATRE AND PROVIDED RENTAL SPACE TO 8 ARTISTIC PROJECTS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)(A)RESIDENCY PROJECTS: HB STUDIO'S RESIDENCY PROGRAM PROVIDES SPACE FOR ARTISTS TO REHEARSE AND PRESENT NEW WORK AT AN EARLY-TO MID-STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT WITH THE PRODUCTION CAPABILITY OF THE HB PLAYWRIGHTS THEATRE. SIX(6) WEEK-LONG RESIDENCIES, FEATURING 54 ARTISTS, CULMINATED IN PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS. RESIDENCY PROJECTS INCLUDED: SONS OF AN UNKNOWN FATHER (2/3/25-2/9/25); PYRRAH, THE POET, AND PLANET EARTH (3/31/25-4/6/25); DIVERGENTES: QUE HARIAS POR AMOR?(6/9/25-6/15/25); MY BODY SAYS NO (6/23/25-6/29/25); WAITING: A QUEER BLACK TRAGICOMEDY IN TWO ACTS (7/7/25-7/13/25); AND LUCHA LIBRE (7/21/25-7/27/25). HB ALSO HOSTED ACTING OUT AND CONCH SHELL PRODUCTIONS. ACTING OUT IS A RESIDENT COMPANY OF FORMERLY INCARCERATED PERSONS THAT PRESENTED THE ODETS PROJECT (1/18/25- 1/19/25), AN ACTING OUT BOOK EVENT (5/4/25), AND RICH: SONGS OF LOVE AND OUTRAGE (8/3/25). CONCH SHELL PRODUCTIONS IS A RESIDENT COMPANY SUPPORTING EMERGING VOICES OF THE CARIBBEAN DIASPORA AND THE CARIBBEAN THEATRE AND FILM SCENE AND PRESENTED ITS NEW WORKS FESTIVAL (12/6/24-12/7/24). HB ALSO HOSTED SPIDERWOMAN THEATER, THE OLDEST CONTINUALLY RUNNING INDIGENOUS FEMINIST THEATER COMPANY IN THE AMERICAS, WHICH PRESENTED A STORYWEAVING WORKSHOP PERFORMANCE (5/16/25-5/17/25), AND BASEMENT THEATRICS, AN EMERGING THEATRE COLLECTIVE DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW WORK THROUGH READINGS, WORKSHOPS, PRODUCTIONS, AND ARTIST-CENTERED COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING. THESE RESIDENCY PROJECTS AND HOSTED COMPANIES ENGAGED 137 ARTISTS, PRESENTED 17 PUBLIC PERFORMANCES AND PRESENTATIONS, AND SERVED AN AUDIENCE OF 714.(I)HB STUDIO WORKS-IN-PROGRESS PRODUCTIONS AND PUBLIC EVENTS:HB HOSTED EIGHT(8) STAGED READINGS OF NEW FULL-LENGTH PLAYS AND ESTABLISHED WORKS IN DEVELOPMENT PRESENTED IN THE HB PLAYWRIGHTS THEATRE AND THE HELEN GALLAGHER STUDIO THEATRE, FEATURING 56 ARTISTS,TO A TOTAL AUDIENCE OF 197. READINGS FEATURED: VELVET RAGE: A QUEER-ASS PLAY (4/12/25), RHINOCEROS (4/19/25), IMPLICIT MEMORY SYSTEMS: A JUNGIAN FARCE (4/26/25), BHAI BHAI BHAI (5/11/25), ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST (5/17/25), THE AUDITIONEERS (5/18/25), EXIT THE KING (5/31/25), AND STAY CALM (6/7/25).(II)MODERATED PUBLIC TALKS: PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS WITH ARTISTS ABOUT CONTEMPORARY THEATER CONCERNS. FOUR(4) PUBLIC TALKS WERE HELD IN FY25, FEATURING 22 ARTISTS AND SERVING AN AUDIENCE OF 106 TOPICS INCLUDED: A CONVERSATION WITH MAX CASELLA AND MICHAEL BECKETT (3/9/25); CROWDFUNDING FOR CREATIVES: TURNING COMMUNITY INTO CAPITAL WITH ZAQ LATINO (5/3/25);THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ROUNDTABLE (5/24/25); AND A CONVERSATION (HB INSIGHT SERIES): THE TESTIMONY PROJECT, PT.1: THEATRE AS A WITNESS TO OUR TIMES WITH FRANK WOOD & EMILY ADLER; THE TESTIMONY PROJECT, PT2: NOEL COWARD'S LEGACY AT HB STUDIO WITH ALAN PALLY & FRANK WOOD; AND THE TESTIMONY PROJECT, PT.3 WITH TINA SATTER & FRANK WOOD.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, 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 August 2025.

    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 March 1964.

    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.