Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Chagrin Valley Little Theatre

EIN 23-7150715 · Chagrin Falls, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood77 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHAGRIN VALLEY LITTLE THEATRE IS A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION WHICH EXISTS TO ENRICH THE CULTURAL LIFE OF THE CHAGRIN VALLEY AND NORTHEAST OHIO. THROUGH THE PRODUCTION OF LIVE THEATRE AND RELATED PROGRAMMING, IT ADVANCES THE SKILLS OF INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE PERFORMING ARTS AND PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$545,043
Spending
$427,507
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
9.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
6
Volunteers
225
Highest pay
$1,450, board member

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 77 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $159,720 spent. THEATER PRODUCTIONS: FOR THE PAST 95 YEARS, CHAGRIN VALLEY LITTLE THEATER HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED THROUGHOUT THE REGION AS A VENUE FOR HIGH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE PRODUCTIONS THAT SHOWCASE THE TALENTS OF AREA ACTORS AND ENTERTAIN THOUSANDS OF THEATER LOVERS. FOR THE 2024-2025 SEASON, THE THEATER PUT ON 6 PRODUCTIONS ON ITS 248 SEAT MAIN STAGE THEATER (55 PERFORMANCES), 1 PRODUCTION ON ITS 65 SEAT RIVER STREET THEATER (6 PERFORMANCES), ITS ANNUAL MURDER MYSTERY FUNDRAISER (2 PERFORMANCES), AND SPONSORED 1 PERFORMANCE OF THE KINGSTON TRIO. 339 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN THE MURDER MYSTERY AND 247 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE KINGSTON TRIO PERFORMANCE. OVER 11,800 AUDIENCE MEMBERS ATTENDED THE 7 PLAY SEASON.
  2. $9,515 spent. YOUTH THEATER: THE CVLT YOUTH THEATER PROGRAM OFFERS YOUNG ACTORS AND TECHNICIANS A PLACE TO LEARN THE BASICS OF ACTING AND THEATER PRODUCTION. DURING THE 2024-2025 SEASON, THE YOUTH THEATER PROGRAM HOSTED TWO ACTING/DANCE WORKSHIPS FOR 17 YOUNG PEOPLE DURING THE SPRING, AND A 3-WEEK SUMMER THEATER CAMP FOR 20 STUDENTS, CULMINATING IN 4 PERFORMANCES OF "PETER PAN IN 30 MINUTES" FOR 252 AUDIENCE MEMBERS.
  3. $10,196 spent. CVLT ALSO OFFERS ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING THROUGH ITS COLLABORATION WITH THE CHAGRIN DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL AND ITS AFFILIATION WITH THE CHARGRIN FALLS STUDIO ORCHESTRA., AS WELL AS RENTALS TO OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS. THE CHAGRIN DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL, WHICH RENTS CVLT AS ONE OF ITS VENUES, ATTRACTS OVER 5,000 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO VIEW NUMEROUS DOCUMENTARY FILMS AT THE THEATER AND OTHER VENUES AROUND THE CITY OV 5 DAYS IN OCTOBER. THE CHAGRIN FALLS STUDIO ORCHESTRA STAGED TWO PERFORMANCES OF ITS ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CONCERT IN DECEMBER, 2024 AND A SPIRIT OF AMERICA CONCERT IN THE SPRING OF 2025. OVER 40 PERFORMERS PARTICIPATED, ATRRACTING OVER 640 AUDIENCE MEMBERS TO THE 3 CONCERTS. THE THEATER ALSO RENTED ITS SMALLER SPACES TO THE OHIO REALTORS, PARK SYNAGOGUE AND AN IMPROV TROUPE FOR THEIR EVENTS DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. CVLT ALSO OFFERS ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING THROUGH ITS COLLABORATION WITH THE CHAGRIN DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL AND ITS AFFILIATION WITH THE CHARGRIN FALLS STUDIO ORCHESTRA., AS WELL AS RENTALS TO OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS. THE CHAGRIN DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL, WHICH RENTS CVLT AS ONE OF ITS VENUES, ATTRACTS OVER 5,000 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO VIEW NUMEROUS DOCUMENTARY FILMS AT THE THEATER AND OTHER VENUES AROUND THE CITY OV 5 DAYS IN OCTOBER. THE CHAGRIN FALLS STUDIO ORCHESTRA STAGED TWO PERFORMANCES OF ITS ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CONCERT IN DECEMBER, 2024 AND A SPIRIT OF AMERICA CONCERT IN THE SPRING OF 2025. OVER 40 PERFORMERS PARTICIPATED, ATRRACTING OVER 640 AUDIENCE MEMBERS TO THE 3 CONCERTS. THE THEATER ALSO RENTED ITS SMALLER SPACES TO THE OHIO REALTORS, PARK SYNAGOGUE AND AN IMPROV TROUPE FOR THEIR EVENTS DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.
  4. $154,007 spent. TO ENRICH THE CULTURAL LIFE OF THE CHAGRIN VALLEY AND NORTHEAST OHIO. THROUGH THE PRODUCTION OF LIVE THEATRE AND RELATED PROGRAMMING, IT ADVANCES THE SKILLS OF INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE PERFORMING ARTS AND PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL ANDOUTREACH PROGRAMS TO THE COMMUNITY.
  5. TO ENRICH THE CULTURAL LIFE OF THE CHAGRIN VALLEY AND NORTHEAST OHIO. THROUGH THE PRODUCTION OF LIVE THEATRE AND RELATED PROGRAMMING, IT ADVANCES THE SKILLS OF INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE PERFORMING ARTS AND PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL ANDOUTREACH PROGRAMS TO THE COMMUNITY.

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 February 1973.

    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.