Colonial Theater Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO RESTORE AND OPERATE THE HISTORIC AUGUSTA COLONIAL THEATER FOR THE ARTISTIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND CHARITABLE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY. THE COLONIAL THEATER WILL BE A FAR-REACHING, VIABLE, RESTORED HISTORIC THEATER IN THE DOWNTOWN OF OUR STATE CAPITAL THAT WILL PROVIDE PROGRAMMING IN CULTURAL ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF PEOPLE OF ALL AGES LIVING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.
- Income
- $307,815
- Spending
- $108,589
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- -16.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 81%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $59,792, executive director
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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 65% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 240% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (1)
- $108,589 spent. TO RESTORE AND OPERATE THE HISTORIC COLONIAL THEATER. OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW YEARS, COLONIAL THEATER, INC. HAS ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING TO HELP SECURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE THEATER FOR FUTURE WORK, AND ENSURE SUCCESS IN FUNDRAISING EFFORTS:-EMPLOYING A CONSULTING FIRM TO CONDUCT A SURVEY TO ADD THE COLONIAL THEATER TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES-REMOVAL OF DEBRIS AND ASBESTOS-REPAIR AND REPLACE DAMAGED FLOORING-REPLACING THE ROOF TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR-DEVELOPING A PLAN WITH FEMA TO PROTECT THE BUILDING FROM FLOOD DAMAGE-INITIATING A STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS FOR THE FLOOR-GATHERING BIDS FOR FLOOR AND SUBFLOOR RECONSTRUCTION AND THE REPLACEMENT OF TIMBERS-EVALUATING ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, STRUCTURAL AND CIVIL ENGINEERING PLANS FOR CONSTRUCTION FIRMS TO BID ON-HELD SPECIALTY EVENTS INSIDE THE THEATER-COMPLETE HISTORICAL RESTORATION OF FACADE AND LOBBY-BEGIN INTERIOR RESTORATION PLANS INCLUDING WORK TOWARDS 50% DESIGN DRAWINGS-RESTORATION OF EXTERIOR WINDOWS AND DOORS-BEGIN PLANNING FOR STAGE EXPANSION AND RESTORATION.
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 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 December 2024.
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 July 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.