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Atlantic Theater Company

EIN 13-3218253 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

At Atlantic, our aim is singular: to empower simple and honest storytelling that fosters greater understanding of our shared world. Across our work, we are a family of artists dedicated to exploring essential truths onstage, be it a show at Atlantic Theater Company or a class at Atlantic Acting School. As a producer, presenter, and educator of theater, we are driven by the belief that theater can challenge and transform our ways of thinking and urge us to reflect on our role in society. We are committed to uncovering and celebrating the stories of our varied human existence - from our Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning productions to our impactful arts education programs.

Income
$13.1 million
Spending
$12.0 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 56%
Employees
508
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$482,590, managing 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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 55% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 25 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 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 (3)
  1. $5.5 million spent. SINCE OUR INCEPTION, ATLANTIC HAS BEEN TRAINING YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE THEATER AT ATLANTIC ACTING SCHOOL, WHERE WE EQUIP OUR STUDENTS WITH THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND ANALYTICAL TOOLS OF ACTING TO DISCOVER THEIR TRUTHS AND PREPARE THEM FOR SUCCESS BEYOND OUR DOORS. EACH YEAR, WE OFFER AN ACCREDITED CONSERVATORY PROGRAM, A BFA PROGRAM OPERATED THROUGH NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, AND AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS FROM ACROSS THE CITY. WE'RE ALSO SERVING OVER 3,500 NYC PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH VARIOUS ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS. IN STAGING SUCCESS, ATLANTIC PARTNERS WITH TWO PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS TO OFFER IN-CLASS CROSS-CURRICULAR THEATER LESSONS. SIMULTANEOUSLY, ATLANTIC'S DISCOVER SUCCESS IS A MATINEE PROGRAM PROVIDING STUDENTS FROM 30 NYC SCHOOLS WITH TICKETS TO ATLANTIC PRODUCTIONS, PRE-SHOW CLASSROOM VISITS WITH TEACHING ARTISTS, STUDY GUIDES, AND POST-SHOW DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PLAY'S CAST. STUDENTS RECEIVE TICKETS TO ATLANTIC PRODUCTIONS. WE ALSO SERVE NEURODIVERSE CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH RELAXED PERFORMANCES THROUGH ACCESS SUCCESS.
  2. $4.9 million spent. AT ATLANTIC THEATER COMPANY, WE'RE AN AWARD-WINNING PRODUCER, PREMIERING WORKS BY INTREPID PLAYWRIGHTS LIKE ANNIE BAKER, LUCAS HNATH, AND SANAZ TOOSSI AS WELL AS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED MUSICALS SUCH AS "THE BAND'S VISIT", "KIMBERLY AKIMBO"BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB". AS PART OF THIS WORK, EACH SEASON WE SERVE ALMOST 50,000 PATRONS AND ARTISTS AND PRODUCE FOUR PRODUCTIONS AT THE COMPANY'S TWO THEATER SPACES IN THE CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF MANHATTAN: THE 199-SEAT LINDA GROSS THEATER ON WEST 20TH STREET AND THE 99-SEAT STAGE 2 THEATER ON WEST 16TH STREET. PRODUCTIONS PROGRAMMED IN OUR 2024-25 SEASON INCLUDED "I'M ASSUMING YOU KNOW DAVID GREENSPAN" BY MONA PIRNOT, "A FREEKY INTRODUCTION" BY NSANGOU NJIKAM, ELYA SMITH'S OFF-BROADWAY DEBUT, "GRIEF CAMP", AND "LOWCOUNTRY", WRITTEN BY ABBY ROSEBROCK AND DIRECTED BY JO BONNEY. WE ALSO CONTINUED OUR NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND SERVED OVER 12 PLAYWRIGHTS THROUGH READINGS AND WORKSHOPS.
  3. $102,303 spent. Studio and theater spaces, when not being used for Atlantic programs, are available to rent. Atlantic offers space at scaled prices to help our school alumni build their artistic ensembles, to help other theater education organizations address social issues with theater, and to provide young or up-and-coming non-profit theater companies with the opportunity to bring their work to the New York City audience. Miscellaneous other income is received for various program-related activities.

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 February 1987.

    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.