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Ten Chimneys Foundation Inc

EIN 39-1862290 · Genesee Depot, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TEN CHIMNEYS FOUNDATION PRESERVES AND SHARES THEATRE LEGENDS ALFRED LUNT AND LYNN FONTANNE'S HISTORIC ESTATE, SERVES AMERICAN THEATRE, AND OFFERS PUBLIC PROGRAMS IN KEEPING WITH THE LUNTS' INTERESTS AND VALUES.

Income
$877,879
Spending
$891,451
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
11.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
9
Volunteers
92
Highest pay
$237,675, president/ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% 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 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

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

Governance

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

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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 March 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)
  1. $662,114 spent. TEN CHIMNEYS, THE ESTATE LOVINGLY CREATED BY THEATRE LEGENDS ALFRED LUNT AND LYNN FONTANNE, IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS A WORLD-CLASS HOUSE MUSEUM AND NATIONAL RESOURCE FOR THEATRE, ARTS, AND ARTS EDUCATION. TEN CHIMNEYS IS MORE THAN A GREAT MUSEUM. IT IS A RELEVANT INSPIRATION FOR VISITORS AND A BEACON AND RESOURCE FOR AMERICAN THEATRE. IN ADDITION TO THE ESTATE'S RICH HISTORY, THE FOUNDATION IS NATIONALLY RENOWNED FOR ITS PROGRAMS FOR AMERICAN THEATRE AND PROGRAMS FOR THE PUBLIC. TEN CHIMNEYS OFFERS EXHIBITIONS, AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION, PLAY READINGS, MUSIC IN THE DRAWING ROOM, CONVERSATIONS AT TEN CHIMNEYS AND ESTATE TOURS. FOR AMERICAN THEATRE THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS HIGH SCHOOL OUTREACH, THEATRE RESOURCE PROGRAMS, AND THE LUNT-FONTANNE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 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 March 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 April 1997.

    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.