Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Park Square Theatre Company

EIN 41-1280683 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO ENRICH THE COMMUNITY BY PRODUCING AND PRESENTING EXCEPTIONAL LIVE THEATRE THAT TOUCHES THE HEART, ENGAGES THE MIND AND DELIGHTS THE SPIRIT.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
57%
Reserves
-3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 39%
Employees
87
Volunteers
350
Highest pay
$100,000, executive artistic 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

Weak: 38 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 150% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    57% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 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)
  1. $783,667 spent. GENERAL AUDIENCE PROGRAMMING:PARK SQUARE THEATRE HAS A 50-YEAR LEGACY OF PRODUCING HIGH-QUALITY INTELLECTUALLY ENGAGING AND ARTISTICALLY RICH PRODUCTIONS THAT INSPIRE AUDIENCES AND ARTISTS ALIKE. THE THEATRE ELEVATES DIVERSE VOICES THROUGH REGIONAL AND WORLD PREMIERES ALONGSIDE BELOVED AMERICAN CLASSICS. WITH STRATEGIC EFFORTS TO ATTRACT YOUNGER, MORE DIVERSE AUDIENCES THROUGH INCLUSIVE STORYTELLING AND REPRESENTATION, PARK SQUARE FOSTERS A DYNAMIC CULTURAL EXCHANGE THAT REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES.PARK SQUARE HAS EARNED NUMEROUS ACCOLADES, INCLUDING MPLS/ST. PAUL MAGAZINE'S "BEST MID-SIZED THEATRE," IVEY AWARDS, LAVENDER MAGAZINE THEATRE AWARDS, AND CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR ITS PRODUCTIONS. MOST RECENTLY, HOLMES/POIROT WAS CELEBRATED BY THE STAR TRIBUNE AS ONE OF THE TOP PLAYS TO SEE FOR THE FALL OF 2024.2025-26 SEASON: 50 YEARS - A SEASON OF CELEBRATION-IT'S ONLY A PLAY (SEPT. 2025) BY TERENCE MCNALLY, DIRECTED BY STEPHEN DIMENNA-GOOSEBUMPS: PHANTOM OF THE AUDITORIUM, DIRECTED BY ELLEN FENSTER-GHARIB-A CHORUS LINE BY NICHOLAS DANTE, EDWARD KLEBAN AND MARVIN HAMLISCH, DIRECTED BY STEPHEN DIMENNA-THE BUTLER DID IT BY JEFFREY HATCHER, DIRECTED BY DAVID IRA GOLDSTEIN2024-25 SEASON-HOLMES/POIROT BY JEFFREY HATCHER AND STEVE HENDRICKSON, DIRECTED BY DAVID IRA GOLDSTEIN- THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (DEC. 2024) BY BARBARA ROBINSON, DIRECTED BY ELLEN FENSTER-GHARIB: - THE GIN GAME (FEB. 2025) BY D.L. COBURN, DIRECTED BY FAYE M. PRICE: - BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY (MAY 2025) BY STEPHEN ADLY GUIRGIS, DIRECTED BY STEPHEN DIMENNACOMMUNITY PARTNERSIN ADDITION TO ITS OWN PROGRAMMING, PARK SQUARE SERVES AS A RENTAL SPACE FOR NUMEROUS THEATER COMPANIES. NOT ONLY IS THIS A REVENUE STREAM FOR PARK SQUARE, BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES SPACE FOR MID-SIZED/SMALL THEATERS TO PRESENT THEIR DISTINCTIVE WORKS AND STORIES, THEREBY EXPANDING OUR REACH AND INFLUENCE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THEATER MU, FULL CIRCLE, UNLABELED, PRIME PRODUCTIONS, TEATRO DEL PUEBLO, TRADEMARK, AND SPCPA ARE AMONG THE COMPANIES THAT ACTIVELY RENT OUR FACILITIES. YELLOW TREE IS EXPLORING A RESIDENCY FOR 2026. PARK SQUARE IS ALSO THE NEW HOME FOR THE UMN BFA ACTING SENIOR SHOWCASE.EDUCATION PROGRAMSPARK SQUARE OFFERED IN BOTH THE 2024-25 SEASON AND 2025-26 SEASON FAL AND SPRING CLASSES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH AGES 5-17 ALONG WITH TEN WEEKS OF SUMMER CAMPS EACH YEAR. PARK SQUARE ALSO TEACHED A TECH THEATRE CLASS FOR THE ST PAUL CONSERVATORY OF PERFORMING ARTS WHICH IS TWO BLOCKS FROM THE THEATRE. STUDENTS FROM THE SCHOOL COME TO PARK SQUARE ONCE A WEEK FOR CLASS.2024/25 SEASON STATISTICS12,325 PEOPLE CAME TO PARK SQUARE PRODUCTIONS7,654 PEOPLE CAME TO PERFORMANCES OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER THEATRES AT PARK SQUAREA TOTAL OF 19,925 PEOPLE CAME TO PARK SQUARE THIS SEASONWE SOLD ALMOST HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN TICKETS FOR THE 24/25 SEASON.WE EMPLOYED:48 ACTORS AND UNDERSTUDIES9 MUSICIANS61 DESIGNERS, DIRECTORS, STAGE MANAGERS AND ASSISTANTS71 BACKSTAGE CREW12 PAINTERS24 ELECTRICIANS22 CARPENTERS10 LIGHT AND SOUND BOARD OPERATORS3 WARDROBE CREW17 FRONT OF HOUSE STAFF (BOX OFFICE, BARTENDERS AND HOUSE MANAGERS)41 TEACHING ARTISTS FOR CLASSES AND SUMMER CAMPS920 STUDENTS AGES 5-17 TOOK CLASSES AND SUMMER CAMPS247 PEOPLE WORKED AT PARK SQUARE THIS SEASON16 OPEN CAPTIONED PERFORMANCES4 AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCESSEASON TICKET SALES HAVE DOUBLED TO 500+ FROM LAST YEAR.
  2. $200,968 spent. STUDENT PROGRAMMING:BEGINNING IN 1987 AS A SMALL SCHOOL RESIDENCY PROGRAM, STEPPINGSTONE THEATRE (SST) INSPIRES YOUNG PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO EXPLORE STORIES, IDEAS, AND CULTURES THROUGH SUMMER CAMPS, SCHOOL-YEAR CLASSES, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, AND SHOWS STARRING YOUNG ACTORS. SST'S HISTORY OF PRODUCING AWARD-WINNING THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES IS ROOTED IN FINDING AND FEATURING DIVERSE VOICES. SINCE MERGING WITH PARK SQUARE THEATRE IN 2020, THE COMBINED PROGRAM - NOW PARK SQUARE EDUCATION - HAS BUILT ON STEPPINGSTONE'S STELLAR REPUTATION BY EXPANDING PROGRAMMING AND AUDIENCES, ENHANCING OUR ABILITY TO SERVE AN EVEN MORE DIVERSE POPULATION OF SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.PARK SQUARE TYPICALLY SERVES AN AUDIENCE OF APPROXIMATELY 25,000 TEENS ANNUALLY FROM ACROSS THE REGION. IN 2024, WE RESUMED STUDENT MATINEES AND RETURNED TO OFFERING IN-PERSON CLASSES, WITH A TOTAL OF 562 UNIQUE STUDENTS REGISTERED IN EDUCATIONAL CLASS OFFERINGS. THIS MARKED A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF EXPANDED OUTREACH, AS 273 OF THESE STUDENTS WERE NEW REGISTRANTS ENGAGING WITH OUR EDUCATION CLASSES FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE YEAR ALSO REFLECTED A SHIFT TOWARD YOUNGER PARTICIPANTS. BASED ON REGISTRATION ESTIMATES, 40% OF STUDENTS WERE AGES 4 TO 7, 30% WERE AGES 8 TO 10, 20% WERE AGES 11 TO 13, AND 10% WERE AGES 14 TO 18.

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

  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 August 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 September 1976.

    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.