Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE AUDITORIUM THEATRE OF ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY ("THE AUDITORIUM"), AN ILLINOIS NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION, IS COMMITTED TO PRESENTING THE FINEST IN INTERNATIONAL, CULTURAL, COMMUNITY AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING TO CHICAGO AND TO THE CONTINUED RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION OF THE NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK AUDITORIUM THEATRE.
- Income
- $24.0 million
- Spending
- $23.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- -0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 78%
- Employees
- 434
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $735,358, 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
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 55% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 28 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $21.4 million spent. The Auditorium is a multi-disciplinary presenting organization, celebrating today's finest artistic talent and cutting-edge thought-leaders in dance, music, comedy, musical theater, and spoken word. The 2024/25 season highlights included Sigur Ros, Hillary Clinton, Sting, Ina Garten, Mean Girls the Musical, and Jason Isbell. The renowned Presented Dance Season included Step Afrika!, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Parsons Dance, and Hiplet Ballerinas. In partnership with the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra, we continued the Philm Series with 6 live to picture concert presentations. Additional programming included The Auditorium's self-produced musical experience, "Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz Gospel Messiah, Dance for Life 2025, featuring local dance artists to benefit the Chicago Dance Health Fund. Beyond 89 public performances and 4 student matinees presented this year, The Auditorium sustained its core creative engagement initiatives, including ArtsXChange, an immersive year long professional development program for educators; ADMIT ONE, which supports access for community groups facing barriers to attending live performances; Hearts to Art, a summer camp for youth who have experienced the loss of a parent; and the Dance Master Class series, offering local dancers access to internationally renowned artists. In total, 186,284 audience members attended public performances, with more than 1,000 touring and local artists participating. An additional 690 community members and tourists took part in National Historic Landmark tours of The Auditorium, and 7,652 individuals were served through education and outreach programs, many were youth from underserved neighborhoods across Chicago. Capital and preservation improvements to the National Historic Landmark Theatre advanced significantly. The Auditorium completed installation of a capacity curtain allowing flexible seating configurations and greater programming range, and replaced all 208 box level seats, substantially improving patron comfort. The organization also initiated the first phase of the Atrium and Skylight Restoration Project. Preservation consultants completed a detailed paint analysis that informed historically accurate wall coverings that will be installed as part of this transformative effort.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1982.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.