1901 Church
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF 1901 CHURCH, INC. (DBA THE STEEPLES PROJECT) IS TO TRANSFORM HISTORIC, FORMER ETHNIC CHURCH BUILDINGS INTO DYNAMIC VENUES WITHIN THE CAMBRIA CITY CULTURAL DISTRICT OF JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
- Income
- $244,160
- Spending
- $192,098
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- -1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 68%
- Employees
- 2
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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 33% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 145% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $166,500 spent. THE FINAL DESIGN PHASE OF THE COLUMBA THEATRE PROJECT (DEVELOPMENT OF CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS) IS UNDERWAY, FOLLOWING A THREE-YEAR EFFORT TO RAISE THE 165,000 DESIGN FEE. FUNDS ARE BEING PROVIDED THROUGH A 75,000 AREA DEVELOPMENT GRANT FROM THE APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION, 35,000 FROM THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR THE ALLEGHENIES, 25,000 FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA HISTORICAL AND MUSEUM COMMISSION, 20,000 FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, 5,000 FROM THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND 5,000 IN 1901 CHURCH FUNDS. WHEN THE FINAL DESIGN PHASE HAS BEEN COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE SUMMER OF 2025, PHASE ONE OF THE COLUMBA THEATRE PROJECT WILL BE SHOVEL-READY. THE COLUMBA THEATRE PROJECT'S FIRST CONSTRUCTION PHASE WILL TURN 1901 CHURCH, INC.'S FORMER ST. COLUMBA CHURCH BUILDING INTO A PROFESSIONAL- QUALITY CENTER FOR DRAMATIC ARTS, WHICH JOHNSTOWN CURRENTLY LACKS. THE DESIGN TEAM INCLUDES AN ARCHITECT, WHO SPECIALIZES IN ADAPTIVE-REUSES FOR HISTORICAL BUILDINGS; A THEATRE-DEVELOPMENT CONSULTING FIRM; AN ACOUSTICAL CONSULTANT SPECIALIZING IN PERFORMING ARTS SPACES; A MEP ENGINEERING FIRM; AND A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER. DESIGN IS BEING DONE IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR'S STANDARDS FOR THE TREATMENT OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES, AND THE INTENTION IS TO SYNDICATE FEDERAL AND STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION TAX CREDITS TO HELP FUND CONSTRUCTION. IN TOTAL, BY THE END OF THIS LATEST DESIGN PHASE, 317,000 WILL HAVE BEEN INVESTED IN A FEASIBILITY STUDY, SCHEMATIC DESIGN, DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS FOR THIS PROJECT. THE FINAL DESIGN PHASE OF THE COLUMBA THEATRE PROJECT (DEVELOPMENT OF CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS) IS UNDERWAY, FOLLOWING A THREE-YEAR EFFORT TO RAISE THE 165,000 DESIGN FEE. FUNDS ARE BEING PROVIDED THROUGH A 75,000 AREA DEVELOPMENT GRANT FROM THE APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION, 35,000 FROM THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR THE ALLEGHENIES, 25,000 FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA HISTORICAL AND MUSEUM COMMISSION, 20,000 FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, 5,000 FROM THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND 5,000 IN 1901 CHURCH FUNDS. WHEN THE FINAL DESIGN PHASE HAS BEEN COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE SUMMER OF 2025, PHASE ONE OF THE COLUMBA THEATRE PROJECT WILL BE SHOVEL-READY. THE COLUMBA THEATRE PROJECT'S FIRST CONSTRUCTION PHASE WILL TURN 1901 CHURCH, INC.'S FORMER ST. COLUMBA CHURCH BUILDING INTO A PROFESSIONAL- QUALITY CENTER FOR DRAMATIC ARTS, WHICH JOHNSTOWN CURRENTLY LACKS. THE DESIGN TEAM INCLUDES AN ARCHITECT, WHO SPECIALIZES IN ADAPTIVE-REUSES FOR HISTORICAL BUILDINGS; A THEATRE-DEVELOPMENT CONSULTING FIRM; AN ACOUSTICAL CONSULTANT SPECIALIZING IN PERFORMING ARTS SPACES; A MEP ENGINEERING FIRM; AND A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER. DESIGN IS BEING DONE IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR'S STANDARDS FOR THE TREATMENT OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES, AND THE INTENTION IS TO SYNDICATE FEDERAL AND STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION TAX CREDITS TO HELP FUND CONSTRUCTION. IN TOTAL, BY THE END OF THIS LATEST DESIGN PHASE, 317,000 WILL HAVE BEEN INVESTED IN A FEASIBILITY STUDY, SCHEMATIC DESIGN, DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS FOR THIS PROJECT.
- WHILE DESIGN WORK HAS BEEN UNDERWAY, THE COLUMBA THEATRE PROJECT HAS REOPENED THIS FORMER IRISH CHURCH BUILDING AND IS OFFERING IT AS A ROUGH SPACE FOR THEATRE COMPANIES TO USE FOR REHEARSALS, AUDITIONS, WORKSHOPS, CLASSES AND PERFORMANCES. THIS HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH 35,000 IN OPERATING SUPPORT GRANTS FROM THE COLCOM FOUNDATION OF PITTSBURGH. TO DATE, THEATRE COMPANIES HAVE PERFORMED A "PEAKY BLINDERS" INTERPRETATION OF "MACBETH,- AND "LION IN WINTER." A COMMUNITY PRODUCTION OF "FIDDLER ON THE ROOF" USED COLUMBA FOR REHEARSAL SPACE, AND AN AREA BAND, "ENDLESS MIKE AND THE BEAGLE CLUB," RECORDING AN ALBUM IN COLUMBA. A ROCK ARTIST, JASMINE CAIN ALSO HAS PERFORMED HOLIDAY SHOWS THERE. NOW PLANS ARE IN THE WORKS TO USE COLUMBA AS AN INFORMAL THEATRE WORKSHOP BY ACTORS, DIRECTORS AND PLAYWRIGHTS; AND PERFORMANCES ON THE SCHEDULE FOR 2025 INCLUDE "NUMBER THE STARS,- AND "DARK OF THE MOON." WHILE DESIGN WORK HAS BEEN UNDERWAY, THE COLUMBA THEATRE PROJECT HAS REOPENED THIS FORMER IRISH CHURCH BUILDING AND IS OFFERING IT AS A ROUGH SPACE FOR THEATRE COMPANIES TO USE FOR REHEARSALS, AUDITIONS, WORKSHOPS, CLASSES AND PERFORMANCES. THIS HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH 35,000 IN OPERATING SUPPORT GRANTS FROM THE COLCOM FOUNDATION OF PITTSBURGH. TO DATE, THEATRE COMPANIES HAVE PERFORMED A "PEAKY BLINDERS" INTERPRETATION OF "MACBETH,- AND "LION IN WINTER." A COMMUNITY PRODUCTION OF "FIDDLER ON THE ROOF" USED COLUMBA FOR REHEARSAL SPACE, AND AN AREA BAND, "ENDLESS MIKE AND THE BEAGLE CLUB," RECORDING AN ALBUM IN COLUMBA. A ROCK ARTIST, JASMINE CAIN ALSO HAS PERFORMED HOLIDAY SHOWS THERE. NOW PLANS ARE IN THE WORKS TO USE COLUMBA AS AN INFORMAL THEATRE WORKSHOP BY ACTORS, DIRECTORS AND PLAYWRIGHTS; AND PERFORMANCES ON THE SCHEDULE FOR 2025 INCLUDE "NUMBER THE STARS,- AND "DARK OF THE MOON."
- THROUGH A GRANT OF 69,000 FROM THE KATHERINE MABIS MCKENNA FOUNDATION OF LATROBE, PA, 1901 CHURCH WILL BE ABLE TO REPLACE A TROUBLESOME AND UNRELIABLE HEATING PLANT IN ITS GRAND HALLE ON BROAD STREET. THE GRANT WILL ENABLE THE INSTALLATION OF TWO NEW BURNHAM STEAM MAX BOILERS OF 550,000 BTUS EACH BETWEEN THE HEATING SEASONS OF 2025. THE EXISTING BOILERS DATE TO THE 1980S AND HAVE BEEN COSTING 1901 CHURCH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY IN MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING COSTS - FIXES THAT SERVE ONLY TO KEEP THE SYSTEM OPERATING MARGINALLY BUT ARE UNABLE TO ADDRESS THE ROOT ISSUES OF THE OBSOLETE SYSTEM. THE NEW GAS-FIRED BURNHAM SYSTEM NOT ONLY WILL BE RELIABLE BUT WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS COSTLY TO OPERATE GIVEN THEIR GREATER ENERGY EFFICIENCY. THROUGH A GRANT OF 69,000 FROM THE KATHERINE MABIS MCKENNA FOUNDATION OF LATROBE, PA, 1901 CHURCH WILL BE ABLE TO REPLACE A TROUBLESOME AND UNRELIABLE HEATING PLANT IN ITS GRAND HALLE ON BROAD STREET. THE GRANT WILL ENABLE THE INSTALLATION OF TWO NEW BURNHAM STEAM MAX BOILERS OF 550,000 BTUS EACH BETWEEN THE HEATING SEASONS OF 2025. THE EXISTING BOILERS DATE TO THE 1980S AND HAVE BEEN COSTING 1901 CHURCH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY IN MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING COSTS - FIXES THAT SERVE ONLY TO KEEP THE SYSTEM OPERATING MARGINALLY BUT ARE UNABLE TO ADDRESS THE ROOT ISSUES OF THE OBSOLETE SYSTEM. THE NEW GAS-FIRED BURNHAM SYSTEM NOT ONLY WILL BE RELIABLE BUT WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS COSTLY TO OPERATE GIVEN THEIR GREATER ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
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
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.
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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 2026.
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