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Community Theater Project Corporation

EIN 31-1692848 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

KELLY STRAYHORN THEATER IS A HOME FOR CREATIVE EXPERIMENTATION, COMMUNITY DIALOGUE, AND COLLECTIVE ACTION ROOTED IN THE LIBERATION OF BLACK AND QUEER PEOPLE.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
24
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$104,316, co-executive 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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (4)
  1. $1.0 million spent. KST PRESENTS - KST PRESENTS BRINGS EVENING-LENGTH DANCE, THEATER, MUSIC, AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY PERFORMANCE WORKS, FROM LOCAL AND GLOBAL ARTISTS TO OUR PITTSBURGH STAGES ON AN ONGOING BASIS. KST WORKS WITH ARTISTS ON GRANT OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING NATIONAL DANCE/THEATER PROJECT, NATIONAL PERFORMANCE NETWORK CREATION FUND COMMISSIONS AND ADVANCING BLACK ARTS TO REALIZE THESE PROJECTS.
  2. $366,005 spent. RENTALS - KELLY STRAYHORN THEATER AND KST'S ALLOY STUDIOS ARE TWO PROFESSIONALLY-EQUIPPED VENUES LOCATED IN THE HEART OF EAST LIBERTY AND ALONG THE PENN AVENUE ARTS DISTRICT, RESPECTIVELY. THESE SPACES PLAY HOST TO A COLLECTION OF EXCITING REHEARSALS, FILM SHOOTS, AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND CAN ACCOMMODATE A WIDE RANGE OF EVENTS SUCH AS CONCERTS, DANCE PERFORMANCES, THEATER PRODUCTIONS, LECTURES, AND MEETINGS--ALL AT COMPETITIVE MARKET-BASED RATES WITH A FULL TEAM OF SUPPORT STAFF. KST'S PROVISION OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES ALLOWS FOR UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOOD POPULATIONS TO HAVE ACCESS TO THESE FACILITIES AND ECONOMICALLY IMPROVES THE KST NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH ART.
  3. $43,256 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMMING AT KELLY STRAYHORN THEATER FOCUSES ON PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE, COMMUNITY-CENTERED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH COLLABORATIONS WITH ARTISTS, EDUCATORS, AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. OUR FACILITIES SUPPORT A VARIETY OF CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, REHEARSALS, AND SKILL-BUILDING ACTIVITIES ACROSS CREATIVE, CULTURAL, AND PERFORMANCE-BASED DISCIPLINES, OFFERING FLEXIBLE SPACE FOR BOTH ONGOING INSTRUCTION AND SHORT-TERM EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
  4. $41,576 spent. OTHER- KST IS PROUD TO LAUNCH SPECIAL, TIME-LIMITED PROJECTS ADDRESSING SOCIOPOLITICAL ISSUES THAT FULFILL OUR ROLE AS A RESPONSIVE ARTS ORGANIZATION CHARGED WITH BEING A LEADER IN CULTURE AND SOCIAL CHANGE, ADDITIONALLY, KST PROVIDES SERVICES IN CURATION, PROJECT AND PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT FOR COMPANIES, SCHOOLS AND INDIVIDUALS SEEKING UNIQUE PERFORMANCE AND ARTS EXPERIENCES.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2016.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.

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