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Old Town Playhouse Inc

EIN 38-2095449 · Traverse City, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BE A VOLUNTEER-BASED ORGANIZATION PROMOTING QUALITY COMMUNITY THEATRE EXPERIENCES FOR THE PEOPLE OF NORTHWEST MICHIGAN BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT IN THE THEATRICAL ARTS.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
5.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 55%
Employees
44
Volunteers
429
Highest pay
$69,132, executive 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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $659,457 spent. THIS YEAR WE PROVIDED 25 COMMUNITY THEATRE PRODUCTONS WHICH PROMOTED THE CULTURE AND LITERARY DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NORTHERN MICHIGAN COMMUNITY. WE PROVIDED OPPORTUITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE DRAMATIC ARTS. TICKET SALES COMPRISED OF OVER 16,705 SEATS. WE ALSO PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL ARTISTS TO PRESENT PERFORMANCES TO OUR PATRONS. WE WERE ONE OF THE VENUES FOR THE TRAVERSE CITY COMEDY FESTIVAL WHICH PRIVIDED PERFORMANCES OF MULTIPLE COMEDIANS.
  2. $250,338 spent. WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES BY OFFERING OVER 770 CLASS SPOTS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS THROUGH OUR EDUCATIONAL ARM OF THE THEATRE. WE ALSO HAD 103 ATTEND OUR ADULT ACTING WORKSHOPS.
  3. $1,743 spent. WE PRODUCED READERS STYLE PRODUCTIONS. MEMBERS WHO PERFORM IN THESE PRODUCTIONS RANGE IN AGE FROM 55 TO 94 YEARS OF AGE. THEY PERFORMED IN OUR FACILITY AND ALSO DID COMMUNITY OUTREACH. THIS ENCOURAGES LIVELONG PARTICIPATION IN THE THEATRE ARTS. ONCE A MONTH WE HAVE AN INSTRUCTION WITH A MASTERS IN THEATRE TEACHING THE SENIOR MEMBERS ACTING TECHNIQUES.
  4. WE INVITE OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS TO ATTEND OUR DRESS REHEARSALS. WE PARTICIPATE IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY FESTIVALS BY SENDING ACTORS AND SINGERS TO PERFORM.

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 July 1977.

    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.

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