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Happier Valley Comedy Inc

EIN 47-4942147 · Hadley, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HAPPIER VALLEY COMEDY BRINGS LAUGHTER, JOY, AND EASE TO WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS (AND THE WORLD) THROUGH THE PRINCIPLES OF IMPROVISATION. WE SERVE UP THE HAPPY THROUGH OUR TRAINING CENTER, SHOWS, AND PROFESSIONAL/PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. WE ARE COMMITTED TO USING THE TENETS OF IMPROVISATION AS A TOOL TO AMPLIFY EACH PERSON'S AUTHENTIC VOICE AND CREATIVITY IN AN INCLUSIVE, WELCOMING COMMUNITY INSPIRED AND EMPOWERED BY THE DIVERSITY OF ALL MEMBERS.

Income
$538,321
Spending
$384,526
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 53%
Employees
3
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$74,851, president

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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 57% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    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 (3)
  1. $169,690 spent. A COMPLETE TRAINING PROGRAM RUNNING AN AVERAGE OF 12 WEEKLY CLASSES AND 3 MONTHLY WORKSHOPS IN IMPROVISATIONAL AND COMEDY PERFORMANCE FROM BEGINNER TO ADVANCED. THERE WERE AN AVERAGE OF 150 STUDENTS PER SESSION OF DIVERSE AGES AND BACKGROUNDS ACTIVELY ENROLLED AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
  2. $44,262 spent. WEEKLY IMPROVISED COMEDY SHOWS FEATURING A VARIETY OF PERFORMERS AND FORMATS. WE ATTRACT AN AVERAGE OF 55 AUDIENCE MEMBERS PER SHOW.
  3. $62,685 spent. THE IMPROV TO IMPROVE PROGRAM BRINGS THE PRINCIPLES OF IMPROVISATION TO THE WORKPLACE STRENGTHENING COMMUNICATION, COLLABORATION, AND CREATIVITY. WE WERE HIRED FOR 27 EVENTS, WITH AN AVERAGE OF 25 ATTENDEES PER EVENT, AT DIFFERENT BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS.

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 September 2017.

    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.