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Whitefish Theatre Co

EIN 81-0381173 · Whitefish, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO NURTURE THE CREATIVE AND ARTISTIC PASSIONS OF THE COMMUNITY OF WHITEFISH BY BRINGING THE ARTS TO LIFE.

Income
$772,126
Spending
$703,829
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
13.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 47%
Employees
11
Volunteers
518

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 August 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. $504,769 spent. PRODUCED 9 COMMUNITY THEATRE PLAYS, 5 PROFESSIONAL MUSIC CONCERTS, AND 4 EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH, VETERANS, AND SENIORS WITH APPROXIMATELY 518 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATING IN ALL ASPECTS OF PRODUCTIONS. WE ALSO CO-PRODUCED 3 TRIBUTE MUSIC CONCERTS. FROM SEPT 2024 TO AUG 2025, 14,171 INDIVIDUALS ATTENDED PRODUCTIONS AND OUTREACHES, INCLUDING 1,822 SENIORS AND 2,173 STUDENTS, MANY FROM RURAL AREAS. WE ALSO BROUGHT BOTH PROFESSIONAL TOURING MUSICAL ENSEMBLES TO THE COMMUNITY. WE OFFERED THEATRE AND DANCE CLASSES TO LOCAL SCHOOL CHILDREN AND PRESENTED EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS AND DEMONSTRATIONS. OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES ARE ALSO OFFERED TO UNDERSERVED IN OUR COMMUNITY INCLUDING MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED, ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, AND SENIOR CITIZENS WHO ARE LIVING IN NURSING HOMES, ASSISTED LIVING CENTERS, AND THE VETERAN'S HOME. PRODUCED 9 COMMUNITY THEATRE PLAYS, 5 PROFESSIONAL MUSIC CONCERTS, AND 4 EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH, VETERANS, AND SENIORS WITH APPROXIMATELY 518 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATING IN ALL ASPECTS OF PRODUCTIONS. WE ALSO CO-PRODUCED 3 TRIBUTE MUSIC CONCERTS. FROM SEPT 2024 TO AUG 2025, 14,171 INDIVIDUALS ATTENDED PRODUCTIONS AND OUTREACHES, INCLUDING 1,822 SENIORS AND 2,173 STUDENTS, MANY FROM RURAL AREAS. WE ALSO BROUGHT BOTH PROFESSIONAL TOURING MUSICAL ENSEMBLES TO THE COMMUNITY. WE OFFERED THEATRE AND DANCE CLASSES TO LOCAL SCHOOL CHILDREN AND PRESENTED EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS AND DEMONSTRATIONS. OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES ARE ALSO OFFERED TO UNDERSERVED IN OUR COMMUNITY INCLUDING MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED, ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, AND SENIOR CITIZENS WHO ARE LIVING IN NURSING HOMES, ASSISTED LIVING CENTERS, AND THE VETERAN'S HOME.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 July 1983.

    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.