Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Serendipity Theatre Co

EIN 36-4289710 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

A STORYTELLING ORGANIZATION THAT HOSTS STORY-SHARING EXPERIENCES AROUND AND BEYOND CHICAGO. THESE EXPERIENCES WHICH COME IN THE FORM OF PERFORMANCES, CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS, AND CORPORATE PROGRAMS, ARE ROOTED IN STORY AND SEEK TO FULFILL A VISION OF A WORLD DRIVEN BY EMPATHY.

Income
$583,364
Spending
$555,334
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
6
Volunteers
26
Highest pay
$76,129, artistic director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 July 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. $148,110 spent. STORYBUILDS: STORYBUILDS IS 2ND STORY'S STORY-CENTERED APPROACH TO WORKPLACE TEAM BUILDING, SKILL BUILDING, AND EMPATHY BUILDING TRAINING FOR BUSINESSES OF ALL SIZES AND TYPES. ADDITIONALLY, OUR IN-SCHOOL BRANCH OF STORYBUILDS SERVES K-12 AS WELL AS COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, TEACHERS, FACULTY, AND PARENTS. EACH ENGAGEMENT IS BUILT ON THE BELIEF THAT SHARING AND DEEPLY LISTENING TO PERSONAL STORIES CAN CREATE LONG-LASTING CONNECTIONS AND STRONGER COMMUNITIES. PEOPLE IMPACTED: 1,000 APPROXIMATELY. THIS PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY NAMED CULTUREBUILDS.
  2. $144,971 spent. PERFORMANCE PROGRAMMING: ANNUALLY, 2ND STORY WORKS WITH 100+ ARTISTS TO PRODUCE MORE THAN 20 EVENTS (BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE) CENTERED ON TRUE, FIRST-PERSON STORIES. PEOPLE IMPACTED: 1,500 APPROXIMATELY, INCLUDING VIRTUAL ATTENDEES.
  3. $43,507 spent. COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING: 2ND STORY OFFERS CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS WHERE STUDENTS OF ALL AGES AND EXPERIENCE LEVELS CAN LEARN OUR METHOD OF WRITING, CRITIQUING AND PERFORMING THEIR OWN STORIES. PEOPLE IMPACTED: 300 APPROXIMATELY.
  4. $20,290 spent. GENERAL PROGRAMMING EXPENSES INCLUDE CONSULTANTS, INSURANCE FEES, AND OCCUPANCY FEES THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO A SPECIFIC PROGRAMMING AREA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 July 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 2000.

    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.