Auburn Public Theater Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
AUBURN PUBLIC THEATER, INC. IS A NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION LOCATED IN AUBURN, NEW YORK, WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO ENRICH THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH OF OUR REGION BY BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO LIVE PERFORMANCES, CINEMA, ARTS, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.
- Income
- $776,219
- Spending
- $952,276
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- -1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 42%
- Employees
- 46
- Volunteers
- 23
- Highest pay
- $118,570, managing director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 50% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 (4)
- $309,608 spent. THROUGH THEIR PRODUCING AND PRESENTING SERIES, AUBURN PUBLIC THEATER, INC. BRINGS NATIONALLY TOURING ACTS, LIVE MUSIC, MUSICAL THEATER, PLAYS AND COMEDIANS TO THEIR 199-SEAT MAINSTAGE AND 80-SEAT CABARET FOR COMPELLING AND DIVERSE PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
- $129,311 spent. AUBURN PUBLIC THEATER, INC. PARTNERS WITH AUBURN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS TO PROVIDE FREE PERFORMING ARTS CLASSES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HAS AFFORDABLE CLASSES AND SUMMER CAMPS RIGHT AT THE THEATER IN FILM, THEATER AND MUSIC. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS ONSITE CLASSES IN ITS STUDIO.
- $114,155 spent. AUBURN PUBLIC THEATER, INC. SERVES AS A DECENTRALIZATION SITE FOR NEW YORK STATE TO REGRANT FUNDING FOR THE ARTS IN CAYUGA, SENECA, WAYNE, YATES, AND ONTARIO COUNTY. THESE GRANTS ENABLE EMERGING ARTISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO GROW PROFESSIONALLY AND TO ENHANCE THE CULTURAL CLIMATE IN COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THEY LIVE AND WORK. THE ORGANIZATION ADMINISTERS OVER $75,000 PER YEAR IN GRANTS FROM NYS FOR ARTS PROGRAMMING BY EMERGING ARTISTS AND NON-PROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS.
- $119,366 spent. AUBURN PUBLIC THEATER, INC. ENGAGES THE COMMUNITY WITH THEIR INDEPENDENT, 65 SEAT ART-HOUSE CINEMA BY PROVIDING AORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE CINEMA PROGRAMMING TO A DIVERSE RANGE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THIS PROGRAM SEEKS TO INCREASE FILM LITERACY AND CINEMA APPRECIATION THROUGH THE SCREENING OF INDEPENDENT, DOCUMENTARY, FOREIGN, CLASSIC, AND FAMILY FILMS IN A COMFORTABLE, CONVENIENT DOWNTOWN THEATER WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY DIGITAL PROJECTION AND HD SOUND.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2006.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 7, 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.