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Rochester Broadway Theatre League Inc

EIN 16-0813592 · Rochester, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION OF DRAMA AND MUSICAL ARTS FOR THE CULTURAL BENEFIT OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK / FINGER LAKES COMMUNITY AND TO SET ASIDE AND TO APPLY TO CHARITABLE EDUCATION PURPOSES ANY NET PROCEEDS GAINED FROM THE CONDUCT OF THESE ACTIVITIES.

Income
$17.7 million
Spending
$15.6 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
-1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 73%
Employees
331
Volunteers
550
Highest pay
$170,188, coo

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

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

    10 of 20

    It owes 50% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 29 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. $14.3 million spent. MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF THE AUDITORIUM THEATRE IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. EVENTS RANGE FROM BROADWAY SHOWS TO COMEDY TO DANCE COMPETITIONS.
  2. $272,296 spent. RBTL'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE STARS OF TOMORROW, ARTS PARTNERS AND THEATRE TEAM. STARS OF TOMORROW IS DEDICATED TO RECOGNIZING HIGH SCHOOL MUSICALS. RBTL PROVIDES A IN-DEPTH CIRRCULUM GUIDES THAT TIE-IN SEAMLESSLY TO THE WORK BEING DONE DURING CLASSROOMS VISITS TO PROVIDE INSIGHT ABOUT SHOWS OR TO LEAD/CO-TEACH LESSONS. THE ARTS PARTNERS PROGRAM PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS FILLED WITH NEW IDEAS TO REINVIGORATE TEACHERS WITH STRATEGIES AND LESSON IDEAS AROUND CERTAIN THEMES. INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWACE THEIR STUDENT'S WORK IN RBTL'S EDUCATIONAL LOBBY DISPLAYS WHICH WILL BE VIEWED BY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ATTENDING THE AUDITORIUM THEATRE.

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 March 1993.

    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.