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Brightside Theatre Inc

EIN 27-1016240 · Naperville, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENLIGHTEN, EDUCATE AND ENTERTAIN THROUGH THE LIVE PERFORMANCE OF COMEDIES AND INSPIRATIONAL STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

Income
$444,100
Spending
$388,553
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
9.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 69%
Employees
2
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$21,800, artistic director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 August 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 (1)
  1. $293,986 spent. BRIGHTSIDE THEATRE (BST) ENLIGHTENS, EDUCATES, AND ENTERTAINS THROUGH COMEDIES AND INSPIRATIONAL STORIES FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE. PRESENTING A UNIQUE BLEND OF AWARD-WINNERS, PREMIERES, MODERN WORKS AND TIMELESS CLASSICS, OUR PRODUCTIONS ARE MEANT TO INFORM OUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR REFLECTION.BRIGHTSIDE THEATRE WAS GRANTED 501(C)(3) STATUS ON NOVEMBER 20, 2009 AND BEGAN PROGRAMMING IN 2011. BST IS THE ONLY PROFESSIONAL NON-PROFIT THEATRE COMPANY IN NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS, ONE OF CHICAGO'S WESTERN SUBURBS. BST PROVIDES UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL, HIGH-QUALITY ARTISTIC EXPERIENCES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES. WE STRIVE TO PRODUCE SHOWS ON AN INTIMATE SCALE THAT PROVIDE AN ESCAPE FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF DAILY LIFE, INVITING OUR AUDIENCES TO LAUGH AND SING ALONG WITH US WHILE THEY SPEND TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES. BST'S ANNUAL SEASON INCLUDES THREE FULL-SCALE MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS, A MUSICAL THEATRE CONCERT SERIES, AND, SINCE 2020, A FREE SUMMER IN THE PARKS SERIES. IN ADDITION TO OUR MAINSTAGE SEASON, BST IS COMMITTED TO FOSTERING THE GROWTH OF YOUNG ARTISTS THROUGH OUR YEAR-ROUND BST YOUTH PROJECT EDUCATIONAL ARTS PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT BOTH ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. IN THE UPCOMING SEASON, BST YOUTH PROJECT WILL OFFER SUMMER CAMPS, A FALL AND SPRING MUSICAL, AND PRIVATE VOCAL TRAINING.BST SERVES A GROWING AUDIENCE OF OVER 7,000 PATRONS ANNUALLY, THE MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE FROM DUPAGE COUNTY. WE WERE RECENTLY HONORED WITH NAPERVILLE MAGAZINE'S AWARD FOR BEST ENTERTAINMENT VENUE FOR SEVEN YEARS IN A ROW AND NAMED BEST OF THE BEST IN DUPAGE COUNTY FOR ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT BY GLANCER MAGAZINE IN 2023, 2024, AND 2025. OVER THE PAST YEAR, PARTICIPATION IN OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS HAS NEARLY DOUBLED, ENGAGING OVER 100 STUDENTS AGES 6-18. WE ARE PROUD TO CONSISTENTLY BE THE LARGEST NOT-FOR-PROFIT EMPLOYER OF LOCAL ARTISTS IN NAPERVILLE, MOST RECENTLY HIRING MORE THAN 150 CONTRACTED ARTISTS FOR OUR 2024-25 SEASON.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 November 2009.

    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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