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Kinetic Theatre Co

EIN 46-5508633 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The mission of Kinetic Theatre is threefold: To use the language of theatre to engage the public in exploring the issues facing our diverse and rapidly changing world, to place the text, whether it be classical or contemporary, at the center of all we do, and to respect and fairly compensate the world class artists that write, perform, direct, and design our shows. Kinetic Theatre presented four plays in its 2025 season; the Pittsburgh premieres of Christopher Hampton's Embers (adapted from the novel by Sandor Marai), Martin McDonagh's Hangmen, Sam Tsoutsouvas's world premiere adaptation of Herman Melville's story, Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street, and a reprise of Mark Shanahan's play, A Sherlock Carol.

Income
$277,931
Spending
$276,327
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
0
Volunteers
55

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 December 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 (4)
  1. $48,297 spent. Kinetic Theatre produced the play Embers by Christopher Hampton, adapted from the novel by Sandor Marai. Embers played 12 performances, May 15-25, 2025, at Carnegie Stage, 25 West Main Street, Carnegie, PA 15106. Adapted from the acclaimed novel by Sandor Marai, Embers reunites two childhood friends fifty years after a mysterious event that shattered their friendship. Embers starred Broadway actors Sam Tsoutsouvas and Jack Wetherall.
  2. $63,952 spent. Kinetic Theatre produced a reprise engagement of its Pittsburgh premiere production of Mark Shanahan's acclaimed London and New York hit play, A Sherlock Carol, playing 11 performances, December 11-21, 2025 at Carnegie Stage, 25 West Main Street, Carnegie, PA 15106. The play hits all the right notes, seamlessly melding Charles Dickens' very familiar A Christmas Carol with a comparatively minor Conan Doyle story, The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle. it starred Kinetic associate artists and Pittsburgh favorites David Whalen and Simon Bradbury as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.
  3. $82,696 spent. Kinetic Theatre produced the Pittsburgh premiere of Martin McDonagh's London and Broadway hit play, Hangmen. Hangmen played 16 performances, August 7-24, 2025, at Carnegie Stage, 25 West Main Street, Carnegie, PA 15106. The play details the rivalry between pub owner Harry Wade and England's most famous hangman, Albert Pierrepoint.
  4. $12,867 spent. Kinetic Theatre produced the world premiere of Sam Tsoutsouvas's adaptation of Herman Melville's famous story, Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street. Bartleby played 10 performances, October 5-14, 2025, at the Tomayko Gallery, 5173 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224. Bartleby is a scrivener in a legal office who performs his job admirably until, to the consternation of his colleagues, he decides to work less and less and eventually ceases working altogether. The story, by Herman Melville (who wrote the novel Moby Dick), is now considered to be an absurdist masterpiece.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 February 2015.

    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.