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Chicago Shakespeare Theater

EIN 36-3467607 · Chicago, IL

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 CREATE VIVID, ENTERTAINING THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES THAT INVIGORATE AND ENGAGE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND IDENTITIES BY ILLUMINATING THE COMPLEXITY, AMBIGUITY, AND WONDER OF OUR WORLD. SHARED HUMANITY AND UNFORGETTABLE STORIES - NOW THIS IS CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE.

Income
$17.2 million
Spending
$22.4 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
10.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 62%
Employees
399
Volunteers
2,635
Highest pay
$447,664, 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 42% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    51 of 53 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 (1)
  1. $18.9 million spent. A REGIONAL TONY AWARD RECIPIENT, CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER IS A LEADING INTERNATIONAL THEATER COMPANY THAT HAS DELIVERED EXCELLENT, POWERFUL, LIFE-CHANGING THEATER FOR FORTY YEARS. WITH SHAKESPEARE AT THE HEART OF THE ARTISTIC WORK, CST ALSO PRODUCES COMPELLING, CONTEMPORARY STORIES FROM FRESH ARTISTIC VOICES OF TODAY. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ARTISTIC DIRECTOR EDWARD HALL AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KIMBERLY MOTES, CST WELCOMES NEARLY 150,000 AUDIENCE MEMBERS TO 300+ PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS EACH YEAR IN CST'S THREE BEST-IN-CLASS VENUES: THE JENTES FAMILY COURTYARD THEATER, THE YARD, AND THE CARL AND MARILYNN THOMA UPSTAIRS STUDIO. CST BRINGS THE WORLD TO CHICAGO AND SENDS CHICAGO OUT INTO THE WORLD AS CHICAGO'S FOREMOST PRESENTER OF INTERNATIONAL THEATER, AND CONSISTENT PRODUCER OF NORTH AMERICAN AND WORLD PREMIERES. PRODUCTION ORIGINATING FROM CST HAVE GONE ON TO BROADWAY, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TOURS, GARNERING THREE TONY AWARDS, THREE OLIVIER AWARDS, AND TWO GRAMMY NOMINATIONS. THE THEATER FOSTERS A LIFELONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ARTS BY PROVIDING TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR MULTIGENERATIONAL AUDIENCES. SERVING MORE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS THAN ANY THEATER IN THE CITY, CST ANNUALLY WELCOMES MORE THAN 20,000 HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOLERS TO ATTEND 50+ DAYTIME MATINEE PERFORMANCES AND PARTICIPATE IN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS LIKE CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE SLAM. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHERS INCLUDE THE YEAR-LONG BARD CARE INTENSIVE FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS. CST'S INITIATIVES SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE'S CRUCIAL SKILLS, INCLUDING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES, CRITICAL LITERACY, AND MEANINGFUL COLLABORATION. LEARNERS OF ALL AGES DEEPEN THEIR ENGAGEMENT THROUGH PREAMBLE TALKS AND POST-SHOW DISCUSSIONS. THE $30 UNDER 30 DISCOUNTED TICKET PROGRAM FOR YOUNG ADULTS AND STUDENTS REDUCES BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION FOR THOUSANDS OF FIRST-TIME ATTENDEES. FUELED BY THE VITALITY OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, CST CONTRIBUTES SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE VIBRANCY AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE ECOSYSTEM. CST'S REACH EXTENDS BEYOND THE THEATER'S WALLS WITH FREE PROGRAMS LIKE SHAKES IN THE CITY, WHICH BRINGS PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPS TO PARKS, FESTIVALS, AND SHARED COMMUNITY SPACES ACROSS CHICAGO'S 77 NEIGHBORHOODS EACH SUMMER.

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 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 June 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 March 1987.

    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.

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.