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American Friends of Chicken Shed Inc

EIN 30-0099170 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE, MAINTAIN AND ADVANCE EDUCATION OF THE ARTS; TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVE THEATER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND ABILITIES.

Income
$733,098
Spending
$635,454
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
3
Volunteers
27
Highest pay
$75,285, ceo & president

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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% 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 96% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $305,474 spent. CHICKENSHED PLAYERS: INCLUSIVE THEATRE WORKSHOPS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE (AGES 5-18) AND MY LITTLE ADVENTURE: INCLUSIVE THEATRE WORKSHOPS FOR VERY YOUNG CHILDREN (AGES 2-4).
  2. $72,742 spent. ADVENTURES FROM THE SHED: INCLUSIVE AND IMMERSIVE PERFORMANCES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN (AGES 25) AND THEIR FAMILIES.
  3. $66,823 spent. THE COMPANY ANNUALLY PRODUCES TWO MAINSTAGE MUSICAL SHOWS WITH ITS CHICKENSHED PLAYERS: A DEVISED PRODUCTION IN JUNE AND A FULLY SCRIPTED MUSICAL IN DECEMBER. IN 2024, THE JUNE DEVISED PRODUCTION WAS CALLED "4 MINUTES 28 SECONDS." THE PLAY WAS WRITTEN IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CHICKENSHED PLAYERS STUDENTS AND STAFF AND HAD AT ITS FOCAL POINT THE SOLAR ECLIPSE OCCURRING IN APRIL 2024. STUDENTS MET WITH ASTROPHYSICISTS, ASTRONOMERS, AND ROCKET SCIENTISTS TO GAIN UNDERRSTANDING OF THE PHENOMENON AND THEN WROTE A MUSICAL PLAY THAT INCLUDED 62 STUDENTS, MANY OF WHOM WITH DISABILITIES, ON STAGE.THE DECEMBER 2024 SHOW WAS"THE TOYMAKER'S CHILD," AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL ADAPTATION OF THE "PINNOCHIO" STORY, FEATURING A ROBOT AS OPPOSED TO THE TRADITIONAL PUPPET. COMPANY MEMBERS PREPARED FOR THE SHOW BY WORKING WITH ROBOTICS EXPERS AND A ROBOTICS COMPETITION TEAM. 70 CAST MEMBERS PERFORMED IN THIS PRODUCTION.
  4. $25,343 spent. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS - ADVENTURES IN SCHOOLS
  5. $7,083 spent. SUMMER RESIDENCY UK

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 August 2002.

    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.