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Touchstone

EIN 23-2073331 · Bethlehem, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 1981, TOUCHSTONE THEATRE IS A PROFESSIONAL NOT-FOR-PROFIT THEATRE DEDICATED TO THE CREATION OF ORIGINAL WORK. AT ITS CENTER IS A RESIDENT ENSEMBLE OF THEATRE ARTISTS ROOTED IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY OF BETHLEHEM, THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OF ENSEMBLE THEATRES.THE ENSEMBLE: 1) CREATES ORIGINAL THEATRE AND RE-IMAGINES SELECT TEXTS THROUGH A HEIGHTENED THEATRICAL VOCABULARY. 2) TOURS AND PRESENTS ORIGINAL AND ENSEMBLE-CREATED WORKS. 3) OFFERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT INSPIRE STUDENTS OF ANY AGE TO DISCOVER THEIR UNIQUE CREATIVE VOICE AND PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY TRAINING TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF THEATRE ARTISTS. 4) TRANSFORMS AUDIENCES THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING PROJECTS.

Income
$620,243
Spending
$543,924
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
7
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$60,000, ex officio, non-voting

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 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 August 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 (3)
  1. $246,192 spent. PRODUCTION: TOUCHSTONE IS A PROFESSIONAL, ENSEMBLE-BASED THEATRE OFFERING A SEASON OF ORIGINAL PRODUCTIONS CREATED BY ITS RESIDENT ENSEMBLE OF ARTISTS, AS WELL AS PRESENTING NEW WORK BY VISITING GUEST ARTISTS. THE 2024-25 SEASON FEATURED NINE UNIQUE PERFORMANCES, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH WERE WORLD PREMIERES. TOUCHSTONE OFFERS A "PAY-WHAT-YOU-WILL" TICKET OPTION, OPENING UP THE THEATER'S UNIQUE PROGRAMMING TO AUDIENCES OF ALL INCOME LEVELS. COMMUNITY-BUILDING PROGRAMS ARE REGULARLY PRODUCED AND FOCUS ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY'S STRESSES AND SUCCESSES TO ILLUMINATE THE HUMAN CONDITION. THE THEATRE ANNUALLY PRODUCES THE ARTS-BASED, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN FESTIVAL UNBOUND, WITH THE MAJORITY OF ITS EVENTS BEING FREE TO THE PUBLIC. THE THEATRE ALSO TOURS SELECT PRODUCTIONS TO SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, THEATERS, AND FESTIVALS.
  2. $131,285 spent. EDUCATION: TOUCHSTONE PROVIDES TWO CORE ARTS-IN-EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO AREA SCHOOLS - YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS' LAB, GUIDING ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF WRITING THEIR OWN ORIGINAL PLAYS USING THEATRE GAMES AND EXERCISES; AND BUILDING BRIDGES, WHICH EMPLOYS THEATRE-MAKING AS A MEANS TO BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE AND POSITIVE SELF-EXPRESSION FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DEALING WITH EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, AND BEHAVIORAL DIFFICULTIES. IN ADDITION, THE THEATRE OFFERS CAMP TOUCHSTONE AND TEEN ENSEMBLE, TWO IN-HOUSE SUMMER PROGRAMS THAT TEACH BASIC THEATRE SKILLS AND HOW TO CREATE ORIGINAL THEATRE COLLABORATIVELY. THE THEATRE ALSO OFFERS CUSTOM RESIDENCIES FOR SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, AND MORE BY REQUEST.
  3. $75,161 spent. MFA: TOUCHSTONE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MORAVIAN UNIVERSITY, OFFERS A MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN PERFORMANCE CREATION. STEMMING FOR THE THEATRE'S 20+ YEAR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, THE MFA IS PARTS ARTS INCUBATOR, PART APPRENTICESHIP - STUDENTS CREATE ORIGINAL SOLO AND ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCES, IN BOTH PRODUCTION AND LAB SETTINGS, AND TEACH THEATRE IN THE COMMUNITY WHILE RECEIVING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES IN ARTS ADMINISTRATION AND PRODUCTION. STUDENTS ARE EMBEDDED WITH TOUCHSTONE FOR THE ENTIRE PROGRAM, ADDING PROFESSIONAL CREDITS TO THEIR RESUMES ALONGSIDE THEIR EDUCATION. SPECIALIZING IN SOCIALLY ENGAGED PERFORMANCE CREATION AND COMMUNITY -BASED WORK, TOUCHSTONE THEATRE IS A PROFESSIONAL RESIDENT ENSEMBLE COMMITTED TO USING ART TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 November 6, 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 August 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 January 1979.

    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 November 4, 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.