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Friends of the Strand Theatre

EIN 46-3330177 · Rockland, ME

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood74 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE CORPORATION IS TO OWN AND OPERATE THE STRAND THEATER IN ROCKLAND MAINE FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. THE ORGANIZATION WILL: MAKE AVAILABLE CULTURAL AND CREATIVE EVENTS AND TRADITIONAL THEATER; PROMOTE AND ADVANCE SHARED CULTURAL AND CREATIVE EXPERIENCES IN THE COMMUNITY; ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY PRESERVING AND MAINTAINING THE STRAND THEATRE AS A HISTORIC AND VALUABLE COMMUNITY ASSET; AND ENGAGE IN ANY OTHER LAWFUL ACTIVITY THAT MAY BE AUTHORIZED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH SECTION 501(C)(3).

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
17
Volunteers
45

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $824,368 spent. THE FRIENDS OF THE STRAND THEATRE, INC. OWNS, MAINTAINS, AND OPERATES THE STRAND THEATRE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY OF FILM, MUSIC, THEATER, AND ARTS SUPPORTERS. THE THEATER OFFERS A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM OF FILM, LIVE MUSIC AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS; THE THEATERS DIVERSE PROGRAMMING SHOWS ITS COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE NEEDS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THE STRAND'S EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE ARTS PROGRAMMING TO LOCAL STUDENTS. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE LIVE PERFORMANCES OF MUSIC, THEATRE, AND DANCE AT THE STRAND; VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON CLASSROOM VISITS FROM PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS; ARTS LEARNING WORKSHOPS; FILM AND HD EVENT SCREENINGS; AND HISTORICAL TOURS OF THE THEATER. WE ALSO MAKE LOW OR NO COST TICKETS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS OF ANY AGE FOR OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMS, INCLUDING FILMS, MET OPERA BROADCASTS, NT LIVE BROADCASTS, AND LIVE PERFORMANCES. ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY RENT THE STRAND TO HOLD THEIR FUNDRAISERS AND OTHER EVENTS. THE FRIENDS OF THE STRAND THEATRE SUBSIDIZES THESE EVENTS BY OFFERING SPECIAL DISCOUNTED RATES TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THEIR EVENTS AND FUNDRAISING EFFORTS, AND ALSO TO PROVIDE A VENUE ON MAIN STREET WHERE SUCH COMMUNITY EVENTS CAN BE CENTRALLY LOCATED. THE SUBSIDIZED RATES ALLOW THE RENTING ORGANIZATIONS THE FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE THEIR EVENTS FREE OR LOW-COST AS WELL AS ENABLING THEM TO RE-INVEST THE FUNDS RAISED FROM THE EVENTS INTO THEIR OWN BUDGETS. THE FRIENDS OF THE STRAND THEATRE, INC. OWNS, MAINTAINS, AND OPERATES THE STRAND THEATRE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY OF FILM, MUSIC, THEATER, AND ARTS SUPPORTERS. THE THEATER OFFERS A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM OF FILM, LIVE MUSIC AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS; THE THEATERS DIVERSE PROGRAMMING SHOWS ITS COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE NEEDS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THE STRAND'S EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE ARTS PROGRAMMING TO LOCAL STUDENTS. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE LIVE PERFORMANCES OF MUSIC, THEATRE, AND DANCE AT THE STRAND; VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON CLASSROOM VISITS FROM PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS; ARTS LEARNING WORKSHOPS; FILM AND HD EVENT SCREENINGS; AND HISTORICAL TOURS OF THE THEATER. WE ALSO MAKE LOW OR NO COST TICKETS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS OF ANY AGE FOR OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMS, INCLUDING FILMS, MET OPERA BROADCASTS, NT LIVE BROADCASTS, AND LIVE PERFORMANCES. ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY RENT THE STRAND TO HOLD THEIR FUNDRAISERS AND OTHER EVENTS. THE FRIENDS OF THE STRAND THEATRE SUBSIDIZES THESE EVENTS BY OFFERING SPECIAL DISCOUNTED RATES TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THEIR EVENTS AND FUNDRAISING EFFORTS, AND ALSO TO PROVIDE A VENUE ON MAIN STREET WHERE SUCH COMMUNITY EVENTS CAN BE CENTRALLY LOCATED. THE SUBSIDIZED RATES ALLOW THE RENTING ORGANIZATIONS THE FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE THEIR EVENTS FREE OR LOW-COST AS WELL AS ENABLING THEM TO RE-INVEST THE FUNDS RAISED FROM THE EVENTS INTO THEIR OWN BUDGETS.

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 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 June 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 November 2013.

    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.