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Marthas Vineyard Playhouse Inc

EIN 22-2518286 · Tisbury, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MARTHA'S VINEYARD PLAYHOUSE IS A PROFESSIONAL, NON-PROFIT WORKING THEATER DEDICATED TO INSPIRING, ENRICHING AND ENTERTAINING OUR DIVERSE ISLAND COMMUNITY. WE BELIEVE THAT THEATER HAS THE POWER TO TRANSFORM LIVES.

Income
$693,570
Spending
$775,816
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
-11.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
41
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$78,204, artistic & executive direc

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

Weak: 45 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Fair: 65 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $528,997 spent. MV PLAYHOUSE OPERATES YEAR-ROUND, PRESENTING A WIDE SELECTION OF CONTEMPORARY AND CLASSIC PLAYS; NURTURING AND DEVELOPING NEW PLAYS THROUGH STAGED READINGS, PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS AND WORLD PREMIERES; AND PRODUCING AND PRESENTING PLAYS, MUSICAL REVUES, POETRY CAFES, ART EXHIBITS, MOVIES AND MUCH MORE ON OUR INTIMATE PATRICIA NEAL STAGE AND IN OUR MARILYN MEYERHOFF LOBBY, BOTH LOCATED IN OUR HISTORIC THEATER IN DOWNTOWN VINEYARD HAVEN.
  2. $23,561 spent. MARTHA'S VINEYARD PLAYHOUSE IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH CHILDREN; EDUCATING AND ENTERTAINING THEM. DURING THE SUMMER, THE FABULISTS: THEATER FOR CHILDREN PERFORMS EVERY WEEK FOR FAMILIES AND OUR SUMMER STARS CHILDREN'S THEATER CAMP IS A SMALL, FRIENDLY CAMP FOCUSING ON CREATING THEATER AND EXPLORING ARTISTIC EXPRESSION THROUGH PLAY-MAKING, PERFORMANCE, MUSIC, MOVEMENT, IMPROVISATION AND SCENIC DESIGN. YEAR-ROUND AND SUMMER VISITORS BECOME FRIENDS AND LEARN TO WORK TOGETHER. WINTER STARS IS MV PLAYHOUSE'S AFTER-SCHOOL THEATER PROGRAM, OPEN TO ALL ISLAND CHILDREN IN GRADES 4 TO 9, WITH OR WITHOUT THEATER EXPERIENCE.
  3. THE HISTORIC MARTHA'S VINEYARD PLAYHOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1833. A COMPLETE RENOVATION, RESTORATION, AND EXPANSION OF THE HISTORIC THEATER BUILDING (2011 - 2014) TOOK PLACE AND THE PLAYHOUSE ENTERED ITS NEW CHAPTER AS THE "GATEWAY" TO THE WILLIAM STREET HISTORIC DISTRICT AND THE LEAD PARTNER OF THE VINEYARD HAVEN HARBOR CULTURAL DISTRICT.

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 April 1984.

    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.