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Friends of the Levitt Pavilion Inc

EIN 51-0190780 · Westport, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDE FREE AND ABUNDANT ACCESS TO THE PERFORMING ARTS; PRESENT AND SUPPORT A DYNAMIC AND MULTIFACETED SPECTRUM OF ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THE GLOBE; AND PRESERVE AND CULTIVATE AN OUTDOOR COMMUNITY DESTINATION WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO GET TO KNOW THE ARTS, NATURE, AND EACH OTHER.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
3
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$116,106, president & ceo

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

Fair: 64 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

Good: 70 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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. $1.6 million spent. THE LEVITT PAVILION PRODUCES ONE OF THE LARGEST AND LONGEST RUNNING OUTDOOR PERFORMING ARTS SERIES IN THE NATION. 2024 MARKED THE INDEPENDENT AND UNIQUE ORGANIZATION'S 50TH SEASON, DURING WHICH THE LEVITT PAVILION PRESENTED 60 SHOWS FREE-OF CHARGE TO THE PUBLIC AND PRESENTED A COMPELLING AND WIDE REACHING SERIES OF 17 PAID-TICKET SHOWS THAT INCLUDED NATIONAL AND REGIONAL TOURS, WHICH IN TURN INCLUDED CONNECTICUT DEBUTS FOR ACCLAIMED AS WELL AS EMERGING ARTISTS, AND ITS ANNUAL GALA. THE FREE AND PAID PROGRAMS' STYLE, GENRES AND FORMAT VARY AND ATTRACT PATRONS FROM THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST AND BEYOND. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE FACILITY THAT IS ITS HOME WHILE EXPANDING ITS PROGRAMMING AND REACH, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. OVER 75,000 PATRONS WERE WELCOMED AND ENGAGED. OVER THE COURSE OF FIVE DECADES, THE LEVITT PAVILION HAS WELCOMED AND ENTERTAINED OVER 2M PEOPLE AND COUNTING.

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 2024.

    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 June 1976.

    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.