Olney Theatre Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CORPORATION'S OBJECTIVES ARE THE PROMOTION AND PRODUCTION OF THEATRICAL WORKS, THROUGH THE PRESENTATION OF ORIGINAL, CLASSICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PLAY IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE THEATRES AND AUDITORIUMS.
- Income
- $19.3 million
- Spending
- $10.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 35 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 37%
- Employees
- 291
- Volunteers
- 300
- Highest pay
- $212,639, artistic director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 35.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 48% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 38% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2530 of 32 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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)
- $6.7 million spent. OLNEY THEATRE OPERATES FOUR STAGES IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD. EACH SEASON IS SELECTED TO APPEAL TO A BROAD AUDIENCE. SEASONS FEATURE 7-9 PRODUCTIONS, INCLUDING WORLD AND AMERICAN PREMIERES AND IMAGINATIVE RETELLINGS OF WELL-KNOWN PLAYS AND MUSICALS. COMPLEMENTING THESE PRODUCTIONS, OLNEY THEATRE PRESENTS THE WORK OF OTHER THEATER COMPANIES LOCATED IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION AND ACROSS THE WORLD. THE THEATRE ALSO CURATES UP TO 50 FREE AND LOW-COST ENGAGEMENT EVENTS ANNUALLY THAT ENHANCE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND APPRECIATION FOR THE ARTS.
- $303,402 spent. A CORE COMPONENT OF OLNEY THEATRE'S MISSION IS TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF THEATER-MAKERS AND AUDIENCES. THE APPRENTICE TRAINING PROGRAM PROVIDES MENTORSHIP AND HANDS-ON PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR UP TO 16 EARLY-CAREER THEATER-MAKERS ANNUALLY. ADDITIONALLY, FULL-TIME EDUCATION STAFF AND CONTRACTED TEACHING ARTISTS IMPLEMENT A RANGE OF PROGRAMS FOR K-12 STUDENTS THAT DEVELOP CREATIVE, COMMUNICATION, PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE IN-SCHOOL WORKSHOPS AND RESIDENCIES AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL THEATER CAMPS.
- $226,698 spent. OLNEY THEATRE CENTER'S SUMMERTIME SERIES, OLNEY OUTDOORS, IS PERFORMED, ON THE OUTDOOR ROOT FAMILY STAGE AT OMI'S PAVILION. INCORPORATING LOCAL AND NATIONAL ACTS, THE PROGRAM INCLUDES BROADWAY AND TELEVISION STARS, LOCALLY KNOWN AND EMERGING STAGE PERFORMERS, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED TRIBUTE BANDS, CONCERT-VERSIONS OF NEW AND CLASSIC MUSICALS, CABARET SALUTES TO POPULAR MUSIC ARTISTS, SING ALONGS, PRINCESS PARTIES, PETTING ZOOS, AND DRAG SHOWS. OLNEY THEATRE'S ANNUAL FREE, ALL-DAY, OPEN HOUSE, "SUMMERFEST," OCCURS DURING OLNEY OUTDOORS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending July 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1979.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.