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Mccarter Theatre Company

EIN 21-0724198 · Princeton, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MCCARTER IS ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S FLAGSHIP THEATRES AND A CULTURAL ASSET FOR ALL OF CENTRAL NEW JERSEY. A NATIONALLY RENOWNED, INDEPENDENT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER LOCATED ON THE CAMPUS OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, THE COMPANY IS A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CREATIVE HUB OF ARTS AND IDEAS OFFERING THEATER, MUSIC, DANCE, SPOKEN WORD, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES. KNOWN FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO CREATIVITY AND EXCELLENCE, AS WELL AS ITS THOUGHTFUL AND ENGAGED AUDIENCE, MCCARTER HAS PROVIDED A HOME FOR ARTISTS SINCE ITS INCORPORATION. THORNTON WILDER'S OUR TOWN, KAUFMANN & HART'S YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU, AND WILLIAM INGE'S BUS STOP, ALL HAD THEIR PREMIERES ON MCCARTER'S STAGE. THE COMPANY IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE REGIONAL THEATRE TONY AWARD, AND WON AGAIN FOR BEST PLAY FOR CHRISTOPHER DURANG'S VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE. MCCARTER IS CO-LED TODAY BY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR SARAH RASMUSSEN AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARTIN MILLER.

Income
$14.7 million
Spending
$15.5 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 52%
Employees
235
Volunteers
26
Highest pay
$379,370, artistic director

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

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 26 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 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 (1)
  1. $12.9 million spent. ARTISTIC AND EDUCATION PROGRAMSMCCARTER WELCOMED OVER 100,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS DURING THE 2024-25 SEASON FOR 275 PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS INCLUDING THE THEATRE, DANCE AND CLASSICAL SERIES PRODUCTIONS AND ONE-NIGHT ONLY PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS; STUDENT PRODUCTIONS HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TRIANGLE CLUB AND LEWIS CENTER FOR THE ARTS AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY; AND EDUCATION CLASSES AND STUDENT MATINEES.THE THEATRE SERIES INCLUDED THE WORLD-PREMIERE EMPIRE RECORDS: THE MUSICAL WITH ROCK SCORE BY ZOE SARNAK AND BOOK BY CAROL HEIKKINEN, DUEL REALITY FROM ACCLAIMED CIRQUE COMPANY THE 7 FINGERS, 2024 PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST FOR DRAMA HERE THERE ARE BLUEBERRIES FROM MOISES KAUFMAN AND THE TECTONIC THEATER PROJECT, KAREN ZACARIAS'S LEGACY OF LIGHT DIRECTED BY MCCARTER'S ARTISTIC DIRECTOR SARAH RASMUSSEN, THE 2024 PULITZER PRIZE FOR DRAMA PRIMARY TRUST BY EBONI BOOTH, AND THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY CLASSIC A CHRISTMAS CAROL. THE DANCE, CLASSICAL, AND SIGNATURE SERIES PRESENTED 45 EVENTS INCLUDING CONCERTS BY RENOWNED CELLIST YO-YO MA AND GRAMMY WINNER NATALIA LAFOURCADE; EVENINGS WITH TELEVISION HOST AND COMEDIAN ROY WOOD, JR. AND NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR ANDY BOROWITZ; DANCE PERFORMANCES FROM SEOUL-BASED BEREISHIT DANCE COMPANY AND THE TWYLA THARP DANCE (CELEBRATING 60TH ANNIVERSARY); AND FAMILY PROGRAMMING INCLUDING "QUEEN OF KIDS' MUSIC" LAURIE BERKNER.MCCARTER'S YEAR-ROUND EDUCATION CLASSES WELCOME THEATER NEWCOMERS AND SEASONED PERFORMERS, OFFERING AN ARRAY OF IN-PERSON CLASSES FOR STUDENTS GRADES K-12 AND FOR ADULTS. EACH CLASS FOSTERS A SUPPORTIVE AND CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERY STUDENT IS FREE TO EXPLORE, PLAY, AND DEVELOP THEIR UNIQUE ARTISTIC VOICE.

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 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 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 May 1963.

    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.