Arden Theatre Company
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FOUNDED IN 1988, ARDEN THEATRE COMPANY IS A PROFESSIONAL REGIONAL THEATRE COMPANY IN OLD CITY, PHILADELPHIA, DEDICATED TO BRINGING TO LIFE GREAT STORIES BY GREAT STORYTELLERS ON THE STAGE, IN THE CLASSROOM, AND IN THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS HONORS INCLUDING: 89 AWARDS AND 455 NOMINATIONS FROM THE BARRYMORE AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN THEATRE; THE PRESTIGIOUS "GREAT FRIEND TO KIDS AWARD" FROM THE PLEASE TOUCH MUSEUM FOR ARDEN CHILDREN'S THEATRE WORK; AND THE "KEYSTONE OF ACCESSIBILITY" BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR OUR EFFORTS TO MAKE OUR WORK MORE ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE.
- Income
- $6.1 million
- Spending
- $6.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 4.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 57%
- Employees
- 276
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $168,233, producing artistic directo
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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 27 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $5.1 million spent. IN OUR MOST RECENTLY COMPLETED 2024/25 SEASON, WE PRESENTED FIVE MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS AND TWO CHILDREN'S THEATRE PRODUCTIONS, FOR A TOTAL OF 393 PERFORMANCES PRODUCED, 261 THEATRE PROFESSIONALS EMPLOYED, AND MORE THAN 94,000 THEATREGOERS WELCOMED THROUGH OUR DOORS. OUR MAINSTAGE SEASON FEATURED POTUS BY SELENA FILLINGER, INTIMATE APPAREL BY LYNN NOTTAGE, HOLY GRAIL OF MEMPHIS BY MICHAEL HOLLINGER, AUGUST WILSON'S KING HEDLEY II, AND JONATHAN LARSON'S TONY AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL, RENT. FOR ARDEN CHILDREN'S THEATRE, WE PRODUCED PETER PAN, BASED ON THE BELOVED CHILDREN'S BOOK BY J.M. BARRIE, AND THE HOBBIT, ALSO AN ADAPTATION OF THE CLASSICAL FANTASY NOVEL BY J.R.R. TOLKIEN.
- $75,461 spent. IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR GOAL OF MAKING ARTS EDUCATION ACCESSIBLE, WE CONTINUED ARDEN FOR ALL PROGRAMMING IN 14 LOCAL SCHOOLS, BENEFITING 3,694 UNIQUE STUDENTS, 2,198 THROUGH AFA RESIDENCY (IN-SCHOOL) AND 1,496 THROUGH AFA STAGE (TICKET ACCESS), AND DISTRIBUTING 4,192 SHOW-RELATED BOOKS.
- $8,186 spent. OUR ARDEN DRAMA SCHOOL (ADS) WELCOMED 1,648 STUDENTS TO ADS AND ARDEN SUMMER CAMP COMBINED DURING THE 2024/25 SEASON, DISTRIBUTED OVER $35K IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO 47 STUDENTS. ALONGSIDE OUR YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS, WE CONTINUED TO INVEST IN THE ARDEN PROFESSIONAL APPRENTICES PROGRAM, WITH THREE FUTURE THEATRE LEADERS MATRICULATING THROUGH THE SEASON-LONG APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1989.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.