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Passes our checks

Kimmel Center Inc

EIN 23-2865855 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE KIMMEL CENTER, INC., D/B/A ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY, HAS A MISSION IS TO SHARE THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE PERFORMING ARTS AND ARTS EDUCATION WITH THE WIDEST POSSIBLE AUDIENCE.

Income
$71.2 million
Spending
$75.1 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 71%
Employees
0
Volunteers
70
Highest pay
$1.2 million, member/pres & ceo (thru 12/24)

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

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 15 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $63.4 million spent. THE KIMMEL CENTER, INC., D/B/A ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY (THE CENTER), OPERATES AND MAINTAINS WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCE VENUES INCLUDING THE KIMMEL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC, AND THE MILLER THEATER. THE CENTER PROVIDES STATE-OF-THE-ART VENUES AND SUPPORT FACILITIES FOR RESIDENT COMPANIES AND A BROAD RANGE OF OTHER REGIONAL PERFORMANCE GROUPS AT BELOW COSTS. THE CENTER PRESENTS ARTISTIC PROGRAMMING OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY THAT SERVES DIVERSE AUDIENCES AND BRINGS WORLD-RENOWNED ARTISTS TO PHILADELPHIA. THE CENTER ALSO PROVIDES VITAL ARTS EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING TO SERVE THE INTERESTS OF A BROAD AND DIVERSE AUDIENCE AND INVESTS IN BURGEONING LOCAL TALENT WITH JAZZ AND THEATER RESIDENCY PROGRAMS WHICH ACT AS AN INCUBATOR FOR NEW WORKS OF ART.
  2. $779,411 spent. TO PROVIDE VITAL ARTS EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING TO SERVE THE INTERESTS OF A BROAD AND DIVERSE AUDIENCE.

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 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 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 May 1997.

    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.