Guthrie Theatre Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE GUTHRIE THEATER ENGAGES EXCEPTIONAL THEATER ARTISTS IN THE EXPLORATION OF BOTH CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY PLAYS, CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE TO ONE ANOTHER AND TO THE WORLD. THROUGH ITS EXTRAORDINARY ARTISTS, STAFF AND FACILITY, THE GUTHRIE IS COMMITTED TO THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA AND, FROM ITS PLACE ROOTED DEEPLY IN THE TWIN CITIES, INFLUENCES THE FIELD AS A LEADING 21ST-CENTURY ARTS ORGANIZATION.
- Income
- $32.9 million
- Spending
- $32.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 49%
- Employees
- 671
- Volunteers
- 235
- Highest pay
- $772,045, 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: 61 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2540 of 41 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 (2)
- $25.0 million spent. THEATER PERFORMANCES: DURING THE 2024-2025 SEASON, THE GUTHRIE THEATER PRESENTED A VIBRANT SEASON OF CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY WORKS THAT ENGAGED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PATRONS AND ENRICHED THE CULTURAL LIFE OF THE TWIN CITIES. THE SEASON OPENED WITH THE LEHMAN TRILOGY, AN INVENTIVE, ANTI REALIST PRODUCTION IN WHICH THREE ACTORS PORTRAYED 71 CHARACTERS, PROMPTING AUDIENCES TO REFLECT ON THE ORIGINS AND CONSEQUENCES OF AMERICA'S FINANCIAL SYSTEMS. ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE, CREATED AND PERFORMED BY PATRICK PAGE, OFFERED A PROVOCATIVE EXPLORATION OF SHAKESPEARE'S VILLAINS AND PROVIDED A TIMELY LENS ON HUMAN CHOICE AND MORALITY. THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY STAGING OF A CHRISTMAS CAROL WELCOMED MORE THAN 55,000 ATTENDEES AND INTRODUCED A NEW SCROOGE WHOSE PERFORMANCE BROUGHT FRESH HUMOR AND WARMTH TO THE BELOVED HOLIDAY TRADITION. PRODUCTIONS SUCH AS THE HEART SELLERS CELEBRATED ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGH AN INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP STORY, WHILE A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM DELIGHTED AUDIENCES WITH ITS JOYFUL, VISUALLY RICH INTERPRETATION OF SHAKESPEARE'S CLASSIC. AGATHA CHRISTIE'S THE MOUSETRAP CAPTIVATED THEATERGOERS WITH ITS ICONIC MYSTERY, AND THE NACIREMA SOCIETY OFFERED A NUANCED PORTRAYAL OF A SELDOM DEPICTED SEGMENT OF BLACK AMERICAN SOCIETY. THE SEASON CONCLUDED WITH CABARET, WIDELY PRAISED AS A MAJOR LOCAL THEATER EVENT FOR ITS POWERFUL STORYTELLING AND ARTISTIC IMPACT. COLLECTIVELY, THESE PRODUCTIONS PROVIDED OVER 400 OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO EXPERIENCE LIVE THEATER THAT SPARKED CONVERSATION, IMAGINATION, AND SHARED UNDERSTANDING.
- $670,166 spent. EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT: DURING THE 2024-2025 SEASON, THE GUTHRIE'S EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS DEEPENED PUBLIC CONNECTION TO THE THEATER THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES SERVING AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES. THE MAINSTAGE SEASON ENGAGEMENT SERIES OFFERED APPROXIMATELY 25 EVENTS, INCLUDING PLAY CLUBS, ARTIST CONVERSATIONS, AND COMMUNITY FOCUSED PROGRAMS SUCH AS AN INDIGENOUS ARTIST'S MARKET, ENGAGING PATRONS IN THE STUDY AND PRACTICE OF THEATER. THE THEATER IN FOCUS INITIATIVE EXPANDED ACCESS TO THEATRICAL LEARNING BY OFFERING EDUCATORS ARCHIVED PRODUCTIONS OF SHAKESPEARE'S HAMLET, HENRY V, AND A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, ALONG WITH GUTHRIE DESIGNED CURRICULUM FOR CLASSROOM USE. NEARLY 200 YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN WEEK-LONG SUMMER CAMPS TAUGHT BY PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS, WITH 72 SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO REDUCE FINANCIAL BARRIERS; SEVERAL PAST PARTICIPANTS HAVE RETURNED AS PERFORMERS OR GONE ON TO PURSUE FURTHER TRAINING AT UNIVERSITIES WORLDWIDE. THE GUTHRIE ALSO SUSTAINED KEY PARTNERSHIPS, INCLUDING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA'S BFA ACTING TRAINING PROGRAM AND WITH YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS PROJECT SUCCESS AND INSPIREMSP, COLLECTIVELY CONNECTING THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS TO SUBSIDIZED THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES. ENGAGEMENT WITH THE NATIVE ADVISORY COUNCIL (NAC) INFORMED LAND STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES AND ANNUAL PROGRAMMING, AND SUPPORTED CONTRIBUTIONS OF MORE THAN $20,000 SINCE 2023 TO LOCAL NATIVE LED NONPROFITS. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUR WEEK GUTHRIE ACTORS LAB SUPPORTED ABOUT 12 EMERGING TWIN CITIES THEATER ARTISTS IN ADVANCING THEIR CRAFT AND EXPANDING THEIR PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS.
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 November 6, 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 July 1962.
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 November 4, 2026.
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