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Chester Theatre Company Inc

EIN 22-3081088 · Chester, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHESTER THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCES CONTEMPORARY PROFESSIONAL EQUITY THEATRE IN AN INTIMATE SETTING, CREATING COMMUNITY AND OFFERING AUDIENCES FRESH PERSPECTIVES ON VITAL ISSUES. WE PRESENT EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCES, TELL DIVERSE STORIES, HOLD IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS, LEAD THEATRE TRIPS, EDUCATE ACROSS GENERATIONS, AND DEVELOP AND SUPPORT NEW WORK. WE ARE COMMITTED TO THEATRE AS A MEANS TO EXPLORE AND CELEBRATE OUR SHARED HUMANITY.

Income
$687,520
Spending
$751,659
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 65%
Employees
23
Volunteers
0

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: 69 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $648,213 spent. SEE SCHEDULE OFOUNDED IN 1990, CHESTER THEATRE COMPANY IS AN AWARD-WINNING INSTITUTION THAT PRODUCES FOUR PLAYS EACH SUMMER IN THE TOWN HALL THEATRE OF CHESTER, MA. EACH YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 5,000 PEOPLE ATTEND ITS PRODUCTIONS, WHICH ARE FOLLOWED BY THOUGHT-PROVOKING TALKBACKS, CAST CONVERSATIONS, OR PANEL DISCUSSIONS AT SPECIFIC PERFORMANCES. PRODUCTIONS FROM THE SUMMER OF 2024 INCLUDED: "THE THIN PLACE," "UNRECONCILED," "WILL SACRIFICE, AND "BIG BIG SKY."THE COMPANY HOSTS TWO EAGERLY AWAITED AND WELL-ATTENDED THEATRE TOURS ANNUALLY: A SPRING TRIP TO LONDON AND A FALL TRIP TO ANOTHER DESTINATION, SUCH AS CHICAGO, WASHINGTON DC, AND TORONTO. IN THE SPRING OF 2024 WE LED A GROUP TO LONDON AND IN THE FALL WE WENT TO THE SHAW FESTIVAL IN CANADA.

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 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 1998.

    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.