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Great Lakes Theater Festival Inc

EIN 34-0901212 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SHARE THE PLEASURE, POWER AND RELEVANCE OF LIVE THEATER THROUGH MAIN STAGE PRODUCTIONS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY.

Income
$4.7 million
Spending
$5.2 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
6.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 61%
Employees
191
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$133,694, prod 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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    41 of 41 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 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 (2)
  1. $3.9 million spent. GREAT LAKES THEATER PRODUCES PLAYS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, OTHER AUTHORS/PLAYWRIGHTS, AND MUSICALS. DURING THE 2024-2025 SEASON, SIX PRODUCTIONS WERE PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING "INTO THE WOODS", "A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM", "A CHRISTMAS CAROL", "PETER AND THE STARCATCHER", "TWELFTH NIGHT", AND "NOISES OFF". A TOTAL OF 55,174 PEOPLE ATTENDED 150 PUBLIC PERFORMANCES AND STUDENT MATINEES.
  2. $531,517 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS: SCHOOL RESIDENCY PROGRAMMING (SPECIALLY TRAINED ACTOR-TEACHERS PROVIDE PERFORMANCES, DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF CURRICULA-SUPPORTING PLAYS/LITERATURE) VISITED 83 SCHOOLS AND ENGAGED 13,066 STUDENTS IN 11 OHIO COUNTIES. THE THEATER'S 36TH ANNUAL CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT (CMSD) "A CHRISTMAS CAROL" WRITING CONTEST ENGAGED AN ADDITIONAL 1,322 STUDENTS FROM 14 CMSD SCHOOLS.

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

  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 June 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 April 1964.

    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.