Peoples Theatre Project Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ROOTED IN WASHINGTON HEIGHTS AND INWOOD, THE PEOPLES THEATRE (FORMERLY PEOPLES THEATRE PROJECT) MAKES THEATRE WITH AND FOR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES TO BUILD A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE WORLD.
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 12.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 77%
- Employees
- 76
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $162,175, executive artistic director
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
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 32% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 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 (3)
- $224,290 spent. SCHOOL & COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS OUR TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS PARTNERS WITH APPROXIMATELY 20 ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS NEW YORK CITY, PRIMARILY IN UPPER MANHATTAN AND THE BRONX. THROUGH CULTURALLY SUSTAINING, STUDENT- CENTERED THEATRE CURRICULA, STUDENTS COLLABORATIVELY CREATE ORIGINAL PERFORMANCES WHILE BUILDING CONFIDENCE, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION. THE PROGRAM SERVES APPROXIMATELY 900 K-12 STUDENTS ANNUALLY, INCLUDING MANY MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS.
- $445,197 spent. ACADEMY FOR THEATRE, LEADERSHIP & ADVOCACY THE PEOPLES THEATRE ACADEMY IS A RIGOROUS, MULTI-YEAR THEATRE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN UPPER MANHATTAN. THROUGH ENSEMBLE-BASED TRAINING, PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP ORIGINAL THEATRE, STRENGTHEN LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY SKILLS, AND BUILD CONFIDENCE AS ARTISTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. THE ACADEMY PROVIDES A SUPPORTIVE ARTISTIC ENVIRONMENT THAT CENTERS DIVERSE CULTURAL EXPERIENCES AND OFFERS FULL SCHOLARSHIPS TO ALL PARTICIPANTS.
- $697,480 spent. PRODUCING IMMIGRANT THEATRE THE PEOPLES THEATRE DEVELOPS AND PRODUCES ORIGINAL THEATRICAL WORKS THAT CENTER IMMIGRANT STORIES AND PERSPECTIVES. WORKING WITH PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS FROM DIVERSE CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS, THE ORGANIZATION CREATES ENSEMBLE-BASED PRODUCTIONS THAT EXPLORE THEMES OF IDENTITY, BELONGING, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. PERFORMANCES ENGAGE AUDIENCES ACROSS NEW YORK CITY AND AMPLIFY VOICES AND EXPERIENCES OFTEN UNDERREPRESENTED ON OUR NATIONS STAGES.
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
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 June 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 September 2010.
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.