Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Friends of the Paradise Theatre

EIN 46-4780502 · Paonia, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE NORTH FORK VALLEY BY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENABLE EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL AND OTHER COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY MULTI-MEDIA AND LIVE PERFORMANCES, SHARING STORIES THAT ENDURE, AND PROVIDING ACCESSIBILITY TO ALL AUDIENCES. AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION, WE FULFILL OUR MISSION THROUGH THE PRODUCTION OF CLASSIC PLAYS, FILM AND MUSICALS; DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION OF NEW WORKS BY ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING ARTISTS; EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES THAT ENRICH THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS; AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS THAT ENRICH AND ENGAGE ALL AUDIENCES

Income
$214,313
Spending
$250,342
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
12

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 45% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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. $199,762 spent. FOPT SERVES THE POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 9,000 PEOPLE OF THE NORTH FORK VALLEY IN WESTERN COLORADO BY PROVIDING A PUBLIC SPACE FOR COMMUNITY- RELATED ACTIVITIES AND BY FACILITATING CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. THE SERVICE AREA INCLUDES THE TOWNS OF PAONIA, HOTCHKISS AND CRAWFORD AND THE SURROUNDING RURAL AREAS AND IS APPROXIMATELY 250 MILES FORM A MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREA. FOPT PROVIDES YEAR-ROUND ENRICHMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH ART AND EDUCATION. IN KIND DONATIONS TO THE ORGANIZATION WAS 6,080 IN 2024

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 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 2014.

    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.