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Two River Theatre Company

EIN 52-1857757 · Red Bank, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CREATE GREAT AMERICAN THEATER BY DEVELOPING AND PRODUCING NEW WORKS AND WORLD MASTERPIECES THAT MOST RICHLY DIRECT OUR GAZE TO THE LIFE OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT. WE CULTIVATE AN AUDIENCE THAT CHERISHES THE INTIMATE JOY OF THEATER, ENRICHED WHEN SHARED BY A COMMUNITY OF OTHERS.

Income
$7.0 million
Spending
$9.1 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 47%
Employees
255
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$249,723, art director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 41 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 21 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 June 30, 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. $5.8 million spent. TWO RIVER'S 2024/25 SEASON FEATURED PRODUCTIONS FROM THE AMERICAN CANON, CONTEMPORARY AND CLASSIC ALIKE, THAT EXPLORE THEMES THAT APPEAL TO AN EXPANSIVE COMMUNITY AND THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE. WE PRODUCED WORKS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM FROM ONE OF THE MOST PROLIFIC AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHTS TO A WRITER'S FIRST-EVER PRODUCTION. AS WE CONTINUED TO REBUILD OUR AUDIENCES WITH MORE ECLECTIC AND INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING, WE SAW A SURGE IN POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM OUR PATRONS, DONORS, AND ARTISTIC COMMUNITIES. THIS EXCITING SEASON INCLUDED: AMERICAN MARIACHI BY JOSE CRUZ GONZALEZ, DIAL M FOR MURDER BY JEFFREY HATCHER, THE WORLD PREMIERE OF VOS! BY CHRISTINA PUMARIEGA, AND THE PRICE BY ARTHUR MILLER.
  2. $379,554 spent. TWO RIVER'S ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS INTRODUCE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO THEATER AND CULTIVATE A NEW GENERATION OF THEATERGOERS. UTILIZING ARTS PRACTICE AND ARTS EXPOSURE, INITIATIVES INCLUDE: COMMUNITY PLAYMAKING: A NEW JOINT INITIATIVE WITH PROJECT WRITE NOW THAT FOSTERS CREATIVITY AND CONNECTION WITHIN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY; A LITTLE SHAKES: AN ABRIDGED SHAKESPEARE PLAY, PERFORMED BY HIGH SCHOOLERS; METRO SCHOLARS: A YEAR-LONG PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS TO LEARN THE OPERATIONS OF A THEATER THROUGH WORKSHOPS, PERFORMANCES AND ASSISTANTSHIP; SUMMER INTENSIVES: A MULTI-WEEK CAMP WHERE STUDENTS CREATE AND PERFORM A SHOW IN ONE WEEK; STUDENT MATINEES & HAVE A SEAT: FREE TICKETS AND TRANSPORT TO A TRT SHOW; PLAY DATE: FREE CHILDCARE AND DISCOUNT TICKETS FOR CARETAKERS; THE ART OF SOCIAL JUSTICE: FREE WORKSHOPS THAT SUPPORT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE THROUGH ART; SENSORY INCLUSIVE SHOWS: SHOWS CREATED TO WELCOME PEOPLE ON THE SPECTRUM; EMERGING PROFESSIONALS: A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT SERVES AS AN INCUBATOR FOR EARLY-CAREER THEATER PROFESSIONALS, AND; BILINGUAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNT BASIE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, THIS PROGRAM DEVELOPS EMPLOYMENT READINESS SKILLS AND PROVIDES JOBS TO LOCAL SPANISH-SPEAKING ADULTS AGES 16+.
  3. $633,511 spent. TWO RIVER SIGNIFICANTLY INVESTS INTO ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES TO CHAMPION THE NEXT VOICES IN THE THROUGH NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT. EACH YEAR, WE PRODUCE 4-6 ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS; HOST WRITERS' RETREATS WITH OUR REGIONAL THEATER PARTNERS; COMMISSION AT LEAST ONE TO TWO PLAYWRIGHTS EACH SEASON; AND PRODUCE CROSSING BORDERS/CRUZANDO FRONTERAS FESTIVAL, A FREE PUBLIC EVENT THAT FEATURES FREE PLAY READINGS AND LIVE MUSIC BY LATINE ARTISTS. SINCE 2010, WE HAVE PRODUCED THE WORLD OR AMERICAN PREMIERES OF 23 PLAYS AND MUSICALS, 8 OF WHICH WERE TWO RIVER COMMISSIONS. COMMISSIONS IN DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE PLAYS AND MUSICALS BY CHRISTOPHER ANSELMO & JARED CORAK, NGOZI ANYANWU, JACLYN BACKHAUS, JESSICA HAGEDORN, JOE ICONIS, JAMES IJAMES, ELIANA PIPES, AND CHRISTINA PUMARIEGA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 1994.

    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.