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Contemporary American Theatre Festival Inc

EIN 55-0711349 · Shepherdstown, WV

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRODUCE AND DEVELOP NEW AMERICAN THEATER.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
117
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$126,404, interim managing director

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

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

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

    25 of 25 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 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 (1)
  1. $1.8 million spent. IN 2025 AMERICAN THEATER MAGAZINE DECLARED CATF AS THE LAST REMAINING PROFESSIONAL THEATER PRODUCING A FULL SEASON OF NEW WORK IN REPERTORY. CATF'S 2025 SUMMER FESTIVAL SEASON INCLUDED FIVE NEW PLAYS EXPLORING THE EXPERIENCE OF GROWING UP VIETNAMESE-AMERICAN IN RURAL WEST VIRGINIA, THE REPERCUSSIONS OF SIGNIFICANT SIDE EFFECTS TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, AN IMAGINED CONVERSATION BETWEEN MARY MAGDALENE AND PETER 18 YEARS AFTER THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS, THE JOURNEY OF A DISABLED STORYTELLER, AND THE CHALLENGES RELATED TO BEING A GAY STUNTMAN IN HOLLYWOOD IN THE 1980S. THE SEASON WAS WELL-RECEIVED BY CRITICS AND AUDIENCES ALIKE AND WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF OVER 140 ARTISTS. CATF ALSO OFFERED A LARGE SELECTION OF TALKTHEATER EVENTS EXPLORING THE THEMES OF THE PLAYS AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERACTION BETWEEN ARTISTS AND AUDIENCES. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED A LECTURE BY AN EXPERT ON VIETNAMESE ADOPTIONS, BRUNCH WITH THE CATF ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AT A LOCAL BISTRO, AND A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH BY A PANEL OF LOCAL FAITH LEADERS. CATF PARTNERED WITH LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATION SPEAK STORY FOR ONE OF ITS TALKTUESDAY EVENTS AND PRODUCED A WORKSHOP READING OF A NEW MUSICAL ENTITLED STATIC, SET ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL AND HIGHLIGHTING THE USE OF MORSE CODE.OUTSIDE OF THE SUMMER FESTIVAL, CATF PRODUCED MULTIPLE 3-5 DAY WORKSHOPS AND READINGS TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE PLAYS FOR THE 2025 FESTIVAL AND BEYOND.CATF CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS USE OF THE HISTORIC CHURCH BUILDING AND CHURCHYARD THAT WAS DONATED IN 2023. THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED NEW PLAY READINGS, BOARD MEETINGS, AND COMMUNITY GATHERINGS AS WELL AS MAKING THE SPACE AVAILABLE FOR THE HISTORIC CHURCH TOUR, GARDEN TOUR, AND OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. IN ADDITION, CATF USES THE CHURCH BUILDING FOR REHEARSAL SPACE DURING THE SUMMER.SINCE THE FESTIVAL'S FOUNDING IN 1991, CATF HAS GROWN IN NATIONAL REPUTATION AND IS HIGHLY REGARDED AS ONE OF AMERICA'S IMPORTANT NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT CENTERS. EACH YEAR PATRONS COME FROM OVER 38 STATES AND MULTIPLE COUNTRIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BIRTH OF DARING NEW WORK. NUMEROUS REVIEWS, ARTICLES, AND FEATURE STORIES HAVE APPEARED IN MEDIA VENUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE WASHINGTON POST, THE BALTIMORE SUN, NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, THE NEW YORK TIMES, AMERICAN THEATRE MAGAZINE, AND THE NEW YORKER.

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 November 6, 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 June 1992.

    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 November 4, 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.