Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Refracted Theatre Company

EIN 84-3090225 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

REFRACTED THEATRE COMPANY CREATES INNOVATIVE THEATER TO SPONSOR CURIOSITY ANDEMPATHIC DISCOURSE AROUND DIVISIVE ISSUES. IN DOING SO REFRACTED GENERATES A SPECTRUM OFCOLORFUL COMPLEXITY AROUND ISSUES AND STORIES YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW.

Income
$143,935
Spending
$115,038
Reserves
6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%

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

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

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

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 (3)
  1. $93,811 spent. MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION: DREAM HOU$E BY ELIANA PIPES AND THE SHORTLIST FESTIVAL: REFRACTED'S PLANNED PRODUCTION OF DREAM HOU$E EXPLORED GENTRIFICATION, CULTURAL INHERITANCE, AND THE COST OF PROGRESS THROUGH THE STORY OF TWO SISTERS NAVIGATING THE SALE OF THEIR FAMILY HOME. THE PRODUCTION WAS CANCELLED BEFORE ITS 6-WEEK RUN IN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER OF 2026 (WHICH WOULD HAVE INCLUDED 24 PERFORMANCES). THE SHORTLIST FESTIVAL (2025): THE SHORTLIST WAS A FREE, PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN FESTIVAL OF WORKSHOPS AND STAGED READINGS THAT INVITED AUDIENCES INTO REFRACTED'S SEASON-BUILDING PROCESS WHILE CELEBRATING CHICAGO ARTISTS AND SUPPORTING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES THROUGH FUNDRAISING FOR ICIRR.
  2. $587 spent. ROLE CALL A COMMUNITY READING AND DISCUSSION SERIES WHERE PARTICIPANTS GATHER TOCOLD-READ PLAYS THAT PROVOKE NUANCED QUESTIONS AND ENCOURAGE RESPECTFUL DISAGREEMENT.
  3. $1,557 spent. OTHER PROGRAMMING, WORKSHOP PRODUCTIONS DEVELOPMENTAL PRODUCTIONS THAT SUPPORT ARTISTS IN EXPLORING CHALLENGING IDEAS THROUGH BOLD, FORM-BENDING NEW WORK. OTHER PROGRAMMING INCLUDES, OPEN HOU$E AT AMPT CHICAGO (2025): OPEN HOU$E WAS AN IMMERSIVE AFTERNOON AT AMPT CHICAGO THAT WELCOMED AUDIENCES BEHIND THE SCENES OF REFRACTED'S WORK THROUGH ART, FOOD, COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, AND AN INTRODUCTION TO THE COMPANY'S UPCOMING PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING DREAM HOU$E.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 October 2019.

    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.