Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Hopewell Valley Childrens Theatre

EIN 22-3626262 · Pennington, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceFair53 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HOPEWELL VALLEY CHILDREN'S THEATRE (HVCT) IS A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT OFFERS WINTER AND SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN IN GRADES 1-12. OUR PERFORMANCE-BASED THEATRE PROGRAMS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE IN FULL STAGE MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS.

Income
$244,506
Spending
$237,637
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%
Employees
10
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$21,867, executive director

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 53 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 5 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

    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.

  • 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. $207,253 spent. HOPEWELL VALLEY CHILDREN'S THEATRE IS A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT HAS PROVIDED WINTER AND SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN IN GRADES 1-12 SINCE 1998. THE PERFORMANCE-BASED THEATRE PROGRAMS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE IN FULL STAGE MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS, INCLUDING SINGING, DANCING AND ACTING. HVCT RECEIVES ABOUT 140-150 REGISTRATIONS ANNUALLY FOR THESE PROGRAMS. THE THEATRE HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE BUILD CONFIDENCE, CHARACTER AND SELF-ESTEEM AS THEY GROW AS INDIVIDUALS, LEARN TO WORK AS A TEAM AND DEVELOP LIFE-LONG APPRECIATION FOR THE ARTS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2019.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.