Geva Theatre Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CREATE AND PRODUCE SINGULAR THEATRE PRODUCTIONS AND PROGRAMS THAT SERVE THE ROCHESTER REGION AND BEYOND, BY ILLUMINATING THE FULLNESS OF OUR MANY HUMAN EXPERIENCES.
- Income
- $7.1 million
- Spending
- $8.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- -2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 60%
- Employees
- 258
- Volunteers
- 359
- Highest pay
- $184,928, artistic director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 30% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 2535 of 35 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 July 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)
- $7.0 million spent. GEVA THEATRE'S PRIMARY FOCUS IS THE PRODUCTION AND PRESENTATION OF PROFESSIONAL THEATRE PRODUCTIONS IN ITS 571-SEAT WILSON STAGE AND 180-SEAT FIELDING STAGE THEATRES. THESE PERFORMANCES SERVE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF MONROE COUNTY AND THE 11 SURROUNDING COUNTIES NEAR ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.
- $262,814 spent. EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS ARE INTEGRAL TO THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION. OVER 20,000 YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SERVED EACH YEAR VIA WORKSHOPS, DISCOVERY GUIDES, ARTIST-EDUCATOR COLLABORATIONS, ATTENDANCE AT THEATRE PRODUCTIONS, THE GEVA-SUNY BROCKPORT ALLIANCE, AND A PRE-PROFESSIONAL SUMMER TRAINING CONSERVATORY. GEVA SERVES PATRONS THROUGH PROLOGUES, SUNDAY SALON TALKBACKS, AND SIGN-INTERPRETED AUDIO-DESCRIBED, AND OPEN-CAPTIONED PERFORMANCES. THE ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT PRODUCES COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS AT GEVA ON-AND OFF-SITE. IT LEADS AFFILIATIONS WITH LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL PARTNERS IN CONNECTION WITH MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF ART AND EVENTS.
- $72,116 spent. NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT AND LITERARY PROGRAMS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE ORGANIZATION'S SERVICE TO THE NATIONAL FIELD AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. GEVA PROVIDES DEVELOPMENTAL WORKSHOPS AND PERFORMANCES FOR OUR ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE AND OTHER REGIONAL AND NATIONAL PLAYWRIGHTS, BOTH ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING, WITH AN EYE TOWARD PRODUCING THEM IN THE SUBSCRIPTIONS SEASONS. GEVA'S LITERARY DEPARTMENT PROVIDES EXTENSIVE DRAMATURGICAL SUPPORT AND OTHER RESOURCES TO ARTISTS AS THEY DEVLEOP THEIR VOICES AND BODIES OF WORK.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending July 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1972.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.