Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Near West Theatre

EIN 34-1881815 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NEAR WEST THEATRE CREATES LIFE-CHANGING THEATRE ARTS EXPERIENCES THAT EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
13.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
12
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$89,428, executive di

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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 51% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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 (1)
  1. $1.2 million spent. NEAR WEST THEATRE (NWT) IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY THEATRE AND FOUNDING ANCHOR INSTITUTION OF THE GORDON SQUARE ARTS DISTRICT IN THE DETROIT SHOREWAY NEIGHBORHOOD IN CLEVELAND. NWT PRIORITIZES ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION IN SERVING MARGINALIZED AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. THE NWT SERVICE MODEL INCLUDES PRODUCTIONS, PROGRAMS AND EVENTS. THEATRE PRODUCTIONS: EACH SEASON INCLUDES FIVE TO SIX FULL-SCALE LICENSED MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS IN ITS 275-SEAT MAINSTAGE THEATER AND 80-SEAT BLACK BOX THEATER. NEAR WEST THEATRE DIFFERS FROM MANY OTHER COMMUNITY THEATRES IN THAT PRODUCTIONS ARE DESIGNED AND DIRECTED BY PROFESSIONAL THEATRE ARTISTS. THE SEASON'S SHOWS ARE ALSO CHOSEN NOT JUST FOR THEIR AUDIENCE APPEAL AND QUALITY BUT FOR THE IMPORTANT THEMES AND MESSAGES THAT ARE INCLUDED. NWT PRODUCTIONS SERVE ALL AGES WITH DEDICATED PRODUCTIONS FOR SPECIFIC AGE GROUPS. NWT OFFERS A CHOOSE-WHAT-YOU-PAY TICKETING MODEL TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING: NWT INTRODUCED RISE, A FREE-TO-PARTICIPATE AFTER SCHOOL ARTS ENRICHMENT PROGRAM IN 2017 FOR AREA YOUTH AGES 8-15. SESSIONS RUN IN 12- WEEK CYCLES DURING THE FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS WITH A FINAL CULMINATING PRODUCTION IN THE SPRING. RISE FOCUSES ON DEVELOPING BOTH THEATRE ARTS SKILLS AS WELL AS SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS. NWT PROVIDES YOUTH WITH A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO LEARN, WHILE IMPROVING THEIR ABILITY TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND WITH PEER RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH SELF-MANAGEMENT, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND PROBLEM SOLVING AS A TEAM. NWT ALSO OFFERS A 4-WEEK SUMMER TECHNICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP FOR AREA TEENAGERS THAT INTRODUCE THEM TO THE BASIC SKILLS REQUIRED IN THEATRICAL PRODUCTION AND OTHER WELL-PAYING CAREERS. THESE SKILLS INCLUDE CARPENTRY, WELDING, VIDEO, SPECIAL EFFECTS, SCENIC PAINTING, AND DESIGN. NWT DELIVERS WORKSHOPS AND LONG-TERM RESIDENCIES EXTERNALLY IN AREA SCHOOLS AND SENIOR CENTERS CONTRACTING WITH TRAINED TEACHING ARTISTS. COMMUNITY EVENTS: NWT LAUNCHED THE POPULAR HISTORIC HAUNTS IN OCTOBER 2021 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WEST CLINTON BLOCK CLUB AND HAS BECOME A SIGNATURE EVENT NOW IN ITS THIRD YEAR IN 2023. WE OFFER DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR QUARTERLY TEACHING ACCEPTANCE AND LOVE WHILE PROVIDING SAFE SPACES FOR LGBTQ+ YOUTH AND FAMILIES. NWT HOSTS QUEER PROM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LGBT CENTER EVERY JUNE, PARTICIPATES IN VARIOUS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GORDON SQUARE ARTS DISTRICT, AND HOSTS VARIOUS COMMUNITY GROUPS IN OUR FACILITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN 2025, NWT LAUNCHED A FREE OUTDOOR PLAZA CELEBRATION CONCERT SERIES FOR PRIDE, JUNETEENTH AND HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. NEAR WEST THEATRE (NWT) IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY THEATRE AND FOUNDING ANCHOR INSTITUTION OF THE GORDON SQUARE ARTS DISTRICT IN THE DETROIT SHOREWAY NEIGHBORHOOD IN CLEVELAND. NWT PRIORITIZES ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION IN SERVING MARGINALIZED AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. THE NWT SERVICE MODEL INCLUDES PRODUCTIONS, PROGRAMS AND EVENTS. THEATRE PRODUCTIONS: EACH SEASON INCLUDES FIVE TO SIX FULL-SCALE LICENSED MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS IN ITS 275-SEAT MAINSTAGE THEATER AND 80-SEAT BLACK BOX THEATER. NEAR WEST THEATRE DIFFERS FROM MANY OTHER COMMUNITY THEATRES IN THAT PRODUCTIONS ARE DESIGNED AND DIRECTED BY PROFESSIONAL THEATRE ARTISTS. THE SEASON'S SHOWS ARE ALSO CHOSEN NOT JUST FOR THEIR AUDIENCE APPEAL AND QUALITY BUT FOR THE IMPORTANT THEMES AND MESSAGES THAT ARE INCLUDED. NWT PRODUCTIONS SERVE ALL AGES WITH DEDICATED PRODUCTIONS FOR SPECIFIC AGE GROUPS. NWT OFFERS A CHOOSE-WHAT-YOU-PAY TICKETING MODEL TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING: NWT INTRODUCED RISE, A FREE-TO-PARTICIPATE AFTER SCHOOL ARTS ENRICHMENT PROGRAM IN 2017 FOR AREA YOUTH AGES 8-15. SESSIONS RUN IN 12- WEEK CYCLES DURING THE FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS WITH A FINAL CULMINATING PRODUCTION IN THE SPRING. RISE FOCUSES ON DEVELOPING BOTH THEATRE ARTS SKILLS AS WELL AS SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS. NWT PROVIDES YOUTH WITH A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO LEARN, WHILE IMPROVING THEIR ABILITY TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND WITH PEER RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH SELF-MANAGEMENT, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND PROBLEM SOLVING AS A TEAM. NWT ALSO OFFERS A 4-WEEK SUMMER TECHNICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP FOR AREA TEENAGERS THAT INTRODUCE THEM TO THE BASIC SKILLS REQUIRED IN THEATRICAL PRODUCTION AND OTHER WELL-PAYING CAREERS. THESE SKILLS INCLUDE CARPENTRY, WELDING, VIDEO, SPECIAL EFFECTS, SCENIC PAINTING, AND DESIGN. NWT DELIVERS WORKSHOPS AND LONG-TERM RESIDENCIES EXTERNALLY IN AREA SCHOOLS AND SENIOR CENTERS CONTRACTING WITH TRAINED TEACHING ARTISTS. COMMUNITY EVENTS: NWT LAUNCHED THE POPULAR HISTORIC HAUNTS IN OCTOBER 2021 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WEST CLINTON BLOCK CLUB AND HAS BECOME A SIGNATURE EVENT NOW IN ITS THIRD YEAR IN 2023. WE OFFER DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR QUARTERLY TEACHING ACCEPTANCE AND LOVE WHILE PROVIDING SAFE SPACES FOR LGBTQ+ YOUTH AND FAMILIES. NWT HOSTS QUEER PROM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LGBT CENTER EVERY JUNE, PARTICIPATES IN VARIOUS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GORDON SQUARE ARTS DISTRICT, AND HOSTS VARIOUS COMMUNITY GROUPS IN OUR FACILITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN 2025, NWT LAUNCHED A FREE OUTDOOR PLAZA CELEBRATION CONCERT SERIES FOR PRIDE, JUNETEENTH AND HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.

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 February 1999.

    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.