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Playwrights Center Inc

EIN 41-6170139 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak17 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PLAYWRIGHTS' CENTER CHAMPIONS PLAYWRIGHTS AND NEW PLAYS TO BUILD UPON A LIVING THEATER THAT DEMANDS NEW AND INNOVATIVE WORKS. THE CENTER FOCUSES ON BOTH SUPPORTING PLAYWRIGHTS AND PROMOTING NEW PLAYS TO PRODUCTION AT THEATERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
-41.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
241
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$163,080, managing 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

Weak: 17 out of 100. Higher than 1% 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

    2 of 20

    It owes 75% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 165% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 80% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 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

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

    21 of 21 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 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 (3)
  1. $951,844 spent. MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MCKNIGHT, JEROME, AND TIDES FOUNDATIONS, FELLOWSHIPS PROVIDE APPROXIMATELY $365,000 EACH YEAR FOR RESIDENCIES, COMMISSIONS, HEALTH ANV LIVING STIPENDS, AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDS. THROUGH THESE FELLOWSHIPS, THE PLAYWRIGHTS' CENTER FUNCTIONS AS A HOME FOR : TWO MINNESOTA-BASED MCKNIGHT FELLOWS IN PLAYWRITING: ONE NATIONALLY-BASED MCKNIGHT NATIONAL RESIDENCY AND COMMISSION FELLOW, THREE MCKNIGHT THEATER ARTIST FELLOWS, FOUR NATIONALLY-BASED JEROME FELLOWSHIPS FOR EMERGING PLAYWRIGHTS; TWO MANY VOICES FELLOWS OF COLOR (ONE MINNESOTA-BASED); TWO MINNESOTA-BASED MANY VOICES MENTEES, AND THREE VENTUROUS PLAYWRIGHT FELLOWS EACH RECEIVE AN AWARD OF $50,000 OVER TWO YEARS, AS WELL AS A PRODUCTION SUBSIDY GRANT OF UP TO $50,000 TO SUPPORT A PRODUCTION OF THE PLAY AT A THEATER OF THE PLAYWRIGHT'S CHOOSING. THROUGHOUT THEIR TWO-YEAR FELLOWSHIPS, THE PLAYWRIGHTS ARE IN RESIDENCE AT THE PLAYWRIGHTS' CENTER WHERE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO AN INDIVIDUALLY-TAILORED LINEUP OF NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT AND ADVOCACY RESOURCES.
  2. $1.1 million spent. THE CORE WRITER PROGRAM GIVES 25-30 PLAYWRIGHTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY THE TIME AND TOOLS TO DEVELOP NEW WORKS FOR THE STAGE. ALL CORE WRITERS RECEIVE PLAY DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS AT THE CENTER IN COLLABORATION WITH PROMINENT DIRECTORS, ACTORS, DRAMATURGS, AND DESIGNERS. SELECTED WORK BY CORE WRITERS MAKES UP THE FORMAL SEASON OF PUBLIC READINGS: THE ANNUAL PLAYLABS FESTIVAL AND RUTH EASTON NEW PLAY SERIES. THE CENTER ALSO PROMOTES CORE WRITERS AND GIVES THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH PRODUCING THEATERS, COLLEGES, AND UNIVERSITIES THROUGH THE REGULARS AND NEW PLAYS ON CAMPUS PROGRAMS.WE OFFER ONLINE PLAYWRITING AND TELEVISION-WRITING COURSES TAUGHT BY TODAY'S LEADING WRITERS IN THE FIELD FOR STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
  3. $315,630 spent. MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO ALL AND PROVIDES MORE THAN 1,500 PLAYWRIGHTS WORLDWIDE WITH TOOLS, RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT. BENEFITS INCLUDE A DATABASE OF PLAYWRITING OPPORTUNITIES, ONLINE AND IN-PERSON CLASSES AND SEMINARS, ACCESS TO READINGS WITH PROFESSIONAL ACTORS, DRAMATURGICAL SERVICES, AND MORE. IN ADDITION, THE PLAYWRIGHTS' CENTER'S NEW PLAYS ON CAMPUS PROGRAM SERVES DOZENS OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES NATIONWIDE, PROVIDING SCRIPT-MATCHING SERVICES, ARRANGING PLAYWRIGHT RESIDENCIES, AND OFFERING IMMERSIVE APPRENTICESHIPS TO STUDENT PLAYWRIGHTS.

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 September 1975.

    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.