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Playwrights Horizons Inc

EIN 13-2805131 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PLAYWRIGHTS HORIZONS IS A WRITER'S THEATER COMMITTED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF BOLD AND VISIONARY CONTEMPORARY PLAYWRIGHTS, THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION OF DARING NEW WORK AND THE EDUCATION OF FUTURE THEATERMAKERS.

Income
$14.7 million
Spending
$14.2 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
485
Volunteers
731
Highest pay
$378,242, managing director (to jun 24)

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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 51% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 33 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

    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

    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 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 (4)
  1. $7.4 million spent. PRODUCTION AND PLAY DEVELOPMENT:THIS PROGRAM CONSISTS OF DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION AND PRESENTATION OF NEW WORKS BY U.S PLAYWRIGHTS, COMPOSERS AND LYRICISTS, INCLUDING PRODUCTIONS, WORKSHOPS AND READINGS. THERE WERE 6 FULL THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS, AND 20 READINGS.
  2. $3.2 million spent. THEATER SCHOOL:OPERATED IN ASSOCIATION WITH NEW YORK UNIVERSITY'S TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, THIS UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM OFFERS TRAINING IN PLAYWRITING, DIRECTING, ACTING, VOICE AND THEATER MANAGEMENT. THE THEATER SCHOOL HAD 186 STUDENTS IN THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025.
  3. $1.4 million spent. PLAYWRIGHTS REHEARSAL STUDIOS:WHEN NOT IN USE BY THE SCHOOL, PLAYWRIGHTS REHEARSAL STUDIOS ARE AVAILABLE FOR RENT AT AFFORDABLE RATES TO HUNDREDS OF ARTS AND EDUCATION NON-PROFITS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS EACH YEAR, AS WELL AS TO INDIVIDUAL AND COMMERCIAL GROUPS.
  4. $24,798 spent. TICKET CENTRAL: TICKET CENTRAL PROVIDES EMAIL MARKETING RESOURCES FOR OTHER PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS.

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

  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 November 6, 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 June 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 1989.

    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 November 4, 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.