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Historic Howard Theatre Inc

EIN 85-2582618 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak0 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

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

What it says it does

THE HISTORIC HOWARD THEATRE FOUNDATION, INC. AIMS TO ACTIVELY PRESERVE AND CELEBRATE THE RICH HISTORY, CULTURE, AND MUSIC OF THE HOWARD THEATRE. WE ACHIEVE THIS THROUGH A VARIETY OF ENGAGING PUBLIC EVENTS, INCLUDING TOURS, GALAS, PRODUCTIONS, MASTER CLASSES, SHOWCASES, CONCERTS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO ENRICH THE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT THE THEATER. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO PUBLISHING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS SUCH AS BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, AND ONLINE RESOURCES. THESE INITIATIVES WILL HELP INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION OF THE HOWARD THEATRES LEGACY AND ITS CURRENT PROGRAMMING, FOSTERING A DEEPER CONNECTION WITH OUR HERITAGE. THE FOUNDATION WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HOWARD THEATRE PHYSICAL PLANT INCLUDING FACILITY MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$154,000
Spending
$207,216
Reserves
-3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 0 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 1190% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 35% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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, 2024, 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. $206,624 spent. PUBLIC EVENTS, GALA PRODUCTIONS, SHOWCASES AND CONCERTS PRODUCED IN THE HOWARD THEATRE AND OTHER LOCATIONS WITHIN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND NATIONWIDE ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS AGENTS FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES ENUMERATED IN THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION RELATIVE TO THE PRESERVATION OF THE LEGACY AND CURRENT PROGRAMS OF THE HISTORIC HOWARD THEATRE. SUCH ACTIVITY WILL BE FUNDED BY GRANTS, DONATIONS AND FEES AND WILL FUND PROGRAMING AND ADVANCE THE LEGACY OF THE HISTORIC HOWARD THEATRE AND SUPPORTING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND PROGRAMS. APPROXIMATELY 90 PERCENT OF THE TIME WILL BE ALLOCATED TO THIS ACTIVITY.
  2. FUNDRAISING FUNDED BY DONATIONS ONLINE BY ON ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES ENUMERATED IN THE ARTCLES OF
  3. PUBLICATION BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS AGENTS BOTH IN PRINT AND ONLINE OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, INCLUDING BOOKS PAMPHLETS AND ONLINE

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 2024.

    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.