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Great River Educational Arts Theatre

EIN 41-1909918 · Waite Park, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GREAT RIVER EDUCATIONAL ARTS THEATRE (GREAT) BRINGS THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER THROUGH SHARED THEATRE EXPERIENCES. WE ENSURE EVERYONE IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE ARTS.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
36
Volunteers
330
Highest pay
$102,946, executive 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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 60% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 (3)
  1. $1.8 million spent. GREAT RIVER EDUCATIONAL ARTS THEATRE (GREAT) ENRICHES LIVES AND BUILDS LASTING CONNECTIONS BY CHALLENGING, EDUCATING, ENTERTAINING, AND INSPIRING THROUGH VARIOUS HIGH-QUALITY THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES. OUR MISSION IS TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER THROUGH SHARED THEATRE EXPERIENCES AND ENSURE EVERYONE IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA HAS ACCESS TO THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE ARTS. EACH YEAR WE ENGAGE WITH OVER 62,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH PRODUCTIONS AND PERFORMANCES AS WELL OUTREACH PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTH. THROUGH OUR PRODUCTIONS, VOLUNTEERS CREATE SOCIAL CONNECTIONS WHILE AUDIENCES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CO-WORKERS TO BE ENTERTAINED. OUR EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMMING PATHWAYS ARE CREATED FOR YOUTH TO ENGAGE IN ARTS, BUILD CONFIDENCE, STRENGTHEN LEADERSHIP AND TEAMWORK SKILLS, AND DEEPEN RELATIONSHIPS. COLLECTIVELY, THIS WORK TRANSFORMS HOW OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY WORKS AND GROWS TOGETHER AS WE NURTURE FUTURE LEADERS, CONNECT AS HUMANS, AND DRIVE OUR LOCAL ECONOMY..
  2. GREAT'S PRODUCTION AND PERFORMANCE PROGRAMMING INCLUDES A SEASON OF SEVEN TO EIGHT SHOWS PRODUCED BY PROFESSIONAL ARTISTIC STAFF FEATURING ALL LOCAL VOLUNTEER ACTORS. FOUR PRODUCTIONS ARE PERFORMED AT THE 800-SEAT HISTORIC PARAMOUNT CENTER THE ARTS IN DOWNTOWN ST. CLOUD AND THREE ARE PERFORMED AT OUR 150-SEAT HELGESON LEARNING LAB THEATRE IN WAITE PARK, MN. EACH SEASON IS SELECTED WITH INPUT FROM OUR COMMUNITY OF AUDIENCES, ACTORS, AND ARTISTS. FEATURING BOTH PLAYS AND MUSICALS, OUR SEASONS ARE INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED TO SHARE A VARIETY OF STORIES WITH SOMETHING FOR ALL AGES. AUDIENCES EXPERIENCE THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THEATRE DURING PERFORMANCES AS THE STORIES BEING TOLD ENTERTAIN, CHALLENGE, EDUCATE, AND INSPIRE US. FOR ARTISTS, PARTICIPANTS, AND VOLUNTEERS THE TRANSFORMATION HAPPENS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF CREATING THE ART ITSELF. THE HANDS-ON SKILLS DEVELOPED VARY ACROSS ALL ASPECTS THAT ARE PART OF CREATING THEATRE - FROM SEWING COSTUMES, TO BUILDING SETS, TO ASSISTING BACKSTAGE, TO SKILLS SUCH AS PROJECTION, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, SINGING, DANCING, AND TEAMWORK THAT PERFORMING ON STAGE FOSTERS. IN ADDITION TO GROWING AS ARTISTS THEY ALSO GROW AS INDIVIDUALS BUILDING SKILLS SUCH AS CONFIDENCE AND COLLABORATION AS WELL AS MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH OTHERS.
  3. GREAT 'S OUTREACH PROGRAMMING LIVES OUT OUR DEDICATION TO INTRODUCE YOUTH TO THE POWER OF THEATRE THROUGH ONE OF THE LARGEST SUMMER THEATRE CAMP PROGRAMS IN THE STATE, AN ANNUAL YOUTH ARTIST MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, WEEKDAY STUDENT MATINEE PERFORMANCES, IN-SCHOOL MUSICAL-IN-A-WEEK RESIDENCIES, AND DRAMA WORKSHOPS PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT MEET YOUTH WHERE THEY ARE. PROVEN, TANGIBLE BENEFITS OF THEATRE EXPERIENCE INCLUDE: CULTIVATES COLLABORATION AND TEAMWORK, ENRICHES SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SKILLS, INCREASES SENSE OF HOPE FOR THE FUTURE, BUILDS CONFIDENCE, DEVELOPS EMPATHY, AND FOSTER SELF-DISCOVERY. THESE EXPERIENCES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE MULTIPLE WITHIN A YEAR, BUILD LIFE SKILLS AND FOSTER PERSONAL GROWTH THAT WILL A LASTING IMPACT FOR YEARS TO COME.

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 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 August 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 December 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.