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Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

EIN 25-1469002 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PRESENTING DIVERSE, QUALITY PERFORMING & VISUAL ART; MANAGING ARTS FACILITIES; ADVANCING ARTS EDUCATION; AND CREATING & DEVELOPING PITTSBURGH'S CULTURAL DISTRICT AS A DESTINATION FOR ENTERTAINMENT, BUSINESS, AND URBAN LIVING, THUS STIMULATING THE REGION'S ECONOMY.

Income
$83.8 million
Spending
$84.1 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 73%
Employees
575
Volunteers
418
Highest pay
$775,504, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    38 of 39 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $45.1 million spent. PROGRAMMING: THE TRUST PRESENTS A WIDE RANGE OF LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS EVENTS THAT ATTRACT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ANNUAL VISITORS FROM AROUND THE REGION TO PITTSBURGH'S CULTURAL DISTRICT. TICKETED EVENTS INCLUDE TOURING BROADWAY, CONTEMPORARY DANCE, LIVE MUSIC, CLOSE-UP MAGIC, AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY THEATER PRESENTATIONS. FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS INCLUDE THE ANNUAL DOLLAR BANK THREE RIVERS ARTS FESTIVAL, HIGHMARK FIRST NIGHT PITTSBURGH, ROTATING INDOOR GALLERY EXHIBITIONS, AND OUTDOOR PUBLIC ART INSTALLATIONS.
  2. $22.4 million spent. VENUE MANAGEMENT & REAL ESTATE: FOR MORE THAN FORTY YEARS, AND THROUGH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, THE CULTURAL TRUST HELPED TRANSFORM A ONCE-DOWNTRODDEN SECTION OF DOWNTOWN INTO A DYNAMIC 14-BLOCK HUB FOR ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT. THE TRUST MANAGES OVER 1.2M SQUARE FEET OF PROPERTY, INCLUDING A VARIETY OF ICONIC THEATERS INCLUDING THE BENEDUM CENTER, BYHAM THEATER, GREER CABARET THEATER, AND HARRIS THEATER; EDUCATION FACILITIES; SMALL PERFORMANCE AND REHEARSAL SPACES; AND OUTDOOR DESTINATIONS INCLUDING AGNES R. KATZ PLAZA, SEVERAL PUBLIC ART INSTALLATIONS, AND COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACES.
  3. $8.6 million spent. ARTS EDUCATION, ENGAGEMENT, AND SERVICE: THE TRUST ENGAGES WITH HUNDREDS OF EDUCATORS AND THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ANNUALLY THROUGH SPECIAL STUDENT PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS, CLASSES, AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT TAKE PLACE IN THE CULTURAL DISTRICT AND THROUGHOUT THE REGION. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES ARE DESIGNED TO REACH AND ENGAGE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES, CREATING MEANINGFUL ARTS EXPERIENCES. THE TRUST IS ALSO A LEADER IN COLLABORATION AMONG ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, INCREASING EFFICIENCIES AND DECREASING COSTS FOR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH ITS SHARED SERVICES PROGRAM AND TESSITURA CONSORTIUM MANAGEMENT.SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATIONFURTHER, THE TRUST HELPS ARTS ORGANIZATIONS WITH HIGHLY SUBSIDIZED RATES FOR PERFORMANCES/OFFICE SPACE, ALLOWING THEM TO INVEST MORE RESOURCES INTO THEIR CORE ARTISTIC MISSIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 July 1984.

    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.

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.