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Palace Theatre Trust

EIN 23-7356019 · Manchester, NH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENRICH THE REGION'S CULTURAL LIFE AND SERVE AS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE THROUGH ITS STEWARDSHIP OF THE HISTORIC PALACE THEATRE. IT DOES SO BY PROVIDING A BROAD RANGE OF LIVE, HIGH QUALITY, PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES, AS WELL AS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERFORMERS AND AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES.

Income
$9.4 million
Spending
$7.7 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 58%
Employees
96
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$263,983, ceo

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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 25

    21 of 22 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

    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 (1)
  1. $5.0 million spent. ENRICHING THE REGION'S CULTURAL LIFE AND OFFERING A DIVERSE SELECTION OF EXTREMELY HIGH QUALITY LIVE PERFORMANCES AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PATRONS, ARTISTS, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE OF ALL AGES DEFINES THE PALACE THEATRE. FROM IN-HOUSE PRODUCED LIVE PROFESSIONAL MUSICAL THEATRE, TOP NAME PRESENTING ENTERTAINMENT, OTHER NON-PROFIT FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND RENTALS FOR MANY COMMUNITY EVENTS ARE ALL PART OF WHAT DEFINES THE PALACE THEATRE. APPROXIMATELY 120,000 PATRONS ATTENDED WITH OVER 252 PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS. YOUTH PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PALACE THEATRE/FOREVER EMMA STUDIOS YOUTH INITIATIVES WITH OVER 19,000 CHILDREN EXPERIENCING THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN VACATION CAMPS, SPECIALIZED ACTING COMPANIES AND VOCAL, DANCING OR ACTING CLASSES. ADDITIONALLY, MORE THAN 900 YOUTH, GRADES 2-12 PERFORMED IN A PALACE PRODUCTION. ENRICHING THE REGION'S CULTURAL LIFE AND OFFERING A DIVERSE SELECTION OF EXTREMELY HIGH QUALITY LIVE PERFORMANCES AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PATRONS, ARTISTS, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE OF ALL AGES DEFINES THE PALACE THEATRE. FROM IN-HOUSE PRODUCED LIVE PROFESSIONAL MUSICAL THEATRE, TOP NAME PRESENTING ENTERTAINMENT, OTHER NON-PROFIT FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND RENTALS FOR MANY COMMUNITY EVENTS ARE ALL PART OF WHAT DEFINES THE PALACE THEATRE. APPROXIMATELY 120,000 PATRONS ATTENDED WITH OVER 252 PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS. YOUTH PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PALACE THEATRE/FOREVER EMMA STUDIOS YOUTH INITIATIVES WITH OVER 19,000 CHILDREN EXPERIENCING THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN VACATION CAMPS, SPECIALIZED ACTING COMPANIES AND VOCAL, DANCING OR ACTING CLASSES. ADDITIONALLY, MORE THAN 900 YOUTH, GRADES 2-12 PERFORMED IN A PALACE PRODUCTION.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1999.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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