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Friends of the Historic Playhouse Theatre Inc

EIN 84-2346220 · Randolph, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT ENRICHMENT TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH A NON-PROFIT MOVIE THEATRE EXPERIENCE.

Income
$220,696
Spending
$113,918
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
-2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 54%
Employees
2
Volunteers
7

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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 48% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 86% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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.

  • 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. $112,754 spent. THE FRIENDS OF THE HISTORIC PLAYHOUSE THEATRE WAS ESTABLISHED TO SUSTAIN AND IMPROVE THE PLAYHOUSE MOVIE THEATRE SO THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS MAY ENJOY THOUGHTFUL ENTERTAINMENT AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT IN A LOCAL, SHARED SETTING. THE PLAYHOUSE MOVIE THEATRE FIRST OPENED AT ITS RANDOLPH LOCATION ON AUGUST 4, 1919, AND HAS SURVIVED TO BE ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING SINGLE-PURPOSE THEATERS TO REMAIN IN OPERATION IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS ELIGIBLE FOR INCLUSION ON THE NATIONAL REGISTRY OF HISTORIC PLACES AND IS A CHERISHED ASSET OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THE PLAYHOUSE SHOWS BOTH "FIRST RUN," POPULAR FILMS AND LESSER-KNOWN "ART FILMS- AND DOCUMENTARIES TO PROVIDE CINEMATIC OPTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY. WE STARTED THE YEAR WITH A RUN OF FIVE CONSECUTIVE BEST PICTURE OSCAR NOMINEES. IN APRIL, BESS O'BRIEN, ACCOMPANIED BY FOLKS FEATURED IN HER FILM, BROUGHT JUST GETTING BY, HER DOCUMENTARY ON HOMELESSNESS IN VERMONT, TO THE PLAYHOUSE. JAY CRAVEN LIKEWISE BROUGHT LOST NATION, HIS NEW FILM ABOUT THE FOUNDING OF OUR REPUBLIC, IN JULY. WE SCREENED THE ANIME FILM LOOK BACK AND THE DOCUMENTARIES BLINK AND THE WOMEN'S ADVENTURE TOUR 2024. AND FOR EIGHT WEEKS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER WE RAN SATURDAY MATINEES OF CLASSIC CHILDREN'S MOVIES AT DRASTICALLY REDUCED PRICES. WHILE OUR VISION INCLUDES INFORMING AND INSPIRING OUR PATRONS, WE ARE ALSO COMMITTED TO PURE ENTERTAINMENT THROUGH THE SHOWING OF A HOST OF HOLLYWOOD HITS. WE WELCOMED WELL OVER 5,000 PATRONS TO THE MOVIES THIS PAST YEAR THE FRIENDS OF THE HISTORIC PLAYHOUSE THEATRE WAS ESTABLISHED TO SUSTAIN AND IMPROVE THE PLAYHOUSE MOVIE THEATRE SO THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS MAY ENJOY THOUGHTFUL ENTERTAINMENT AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT IN A LOCAL, SHARED SETTING. THE PLAYHOUSE MOVIE THEATRE FIRST OPENED AT ITS RANDOLPH LOCATION ON AUGUST 4, 1919, AND HAS SURVIVED TO BE ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING SINGLE-PURPOSE THEATERS TO REMAIN IN OPERATION IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS ELIGIBLE FOR INCLUSION ON THE NATIONAL REGISTRY OF HISTORIC PLACES AND IS A CHERISHED ASSET OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THE PLAYHOUSE SHOWS BOTH "FIRST RUN," POPULAR FILMS AND LESSER-KNOWN "ART FILMS- AND DOCUMENTARIES TO PROVIDE CINEMATIC OPTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY. WE STARTED THE YEAR WITH A RUN OF FIVE CONSECUTIVE BEST PICTURE OSCAR NOMINEES. IN APRIL, BESS O'BRIEN, ACCOMPANIED BY FOLKS FEATURED IN HER FILM, BROUGHT JUST GETTING BY, HER DOCUMENTARY ON HOMELESSNESS IN VERMONT, TO THE PLAYHOUSE. JAY CRAVEN LIKEWISE BROUGHT LOST NATION, HIS NEW FILM ABOUT THE FOUNDING OF OUR REPUBLIC, IN JULY. WE SCREENED THE ANIME FILM LOOK BACK AND THE DOCUMENTARIES BLINK AND THE WOMEN'S ADVENTURE TOUR 2024. AND FOR EIGHT WEEKS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER WE RAN SATURDAY MATINEES OF CLASSIC CHILDREN'S MOVIES AT DRASTICALLY REDUCED PRICES. WHILE OUR VISION INCLUDES INFORMING AND INSPIRING OUR PATRONS, WE ARE ALSO COMMITTED TO PURE ENTERTAINMENT THROUGH THE SHOWING OF A HOST OF HOLLYWOOD HITS. WE WELCOMED WELL OVER 5,000 PATRONS TO THE MOVIES THIS PAST YEAR

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 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 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 November 2020.

    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.