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Lantern Theater Company

EIN 23-2798692 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak33 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRODUCE PLAYS THAT INVESTIGATE AND ILLUMINATE WHAT IS ESSENTIAL IN THE HUMAN SPIRIT AND THE SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, TO PRESENT RELATED AUDIENCE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS, AND TO EDUCATE OUR REGION'S YOUTH USING THEATRICAL TECHNIQUES AND GREAT LITERATURE.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
70
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$96,544, artistic director

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

Weak: 33 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 15 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

    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 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)
  1. $1.3 million spent. DURING THE 2024/25 SEASON, WE PRODUCED ARTISTIC AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING THAT DREW 20,177 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS. WE PRODUCED 151 PUBLIC PERFORMANCES OF FOUR MAINSTAGE PLAYS, INCLUDING THE PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE OF THE WANDERERS BY ANNA ZIEGLER; THE PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE OF AMERICAN MOOR BY KEITH HAMILTON COBB; MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE; AND THE 39 STEPS ADAPTED BY PATRICK BARLOW FROM THE NOVEL BY JOHN BUCHAN. THESE PERFORMANCES WERE ATTENDED BY 15,787 PATRONS. WE ALSO PRESENTED 15 AUDIENCE ENRICHMENT EVENTS, WHICH REACHED 637 AUDIENCE MEMBERS.
  2. $101,703 spent. DURING THE 2024/25 SCHOOL YEAR, OUR EDUCATION PROGRAM INCLUDED IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES AND STUDENT MATINEE PERFORMANCES. WE PROVIDED OUR CLASSROOM CONNECTIONS RESIDENCY PROGRAM TO 1,114 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. WE HOSTED 1,911 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AT 14 STUDENT MATINEE PERFORMANCES. OTHER EDUCATION PROGRAMMING INCLUDED CPE TRAINING FOR TEACHERS WITH OUR BARD BASICS WORKSHOPS (18 SERVED).
  3. $100,000 spent. DURING THE 2024/25 SEASON, WE PRESENTED FREE ARTISTIC PROGRAMS IN OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH SERIES, SPOTLIGHT NORTHWEST, IN NORTHWEST PHILADELPHIA, SERVING A TOTAL OF 710 PARTICIPANTS. WE HOSTED 12 ARTISTIC PROGRAMS AND 6 STORYCORPS ICE CREAM SOCIALS.

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

  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 June 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 October 1995.

    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.