Lakewood Theatre Company
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO INSPIRE AND NURTURE A LOVE OF THEATRE AND THE ARTS WITH THE FOLLOWING MISSION: THE MAINTENANCE OF A PERMANENT MULTI-ARTS AND THEATRE FACILITY. THE SPONSORSHIP AND COORDINATION OF EDUCATION AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMING IN VISUAL ARTS, THEATRE AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.
- Income
- $3.4 million
- Spending
- $2.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 10.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 44%
- Employees
- 59
- Volunteers
- 726
- Highest pay
- $155,209, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 2521 of 21 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (4)
- $1.7 million spent. LAKEWOOD THEATRE PRESENTS MUSICALS, ORIGINAL WORKS & A DIVERSE SELECTION OF MODERN AND CLASSIC THEATRE WITH 10-12 PRODUCTIONS ANNUALLY (RESIDENT AND TOURING). LAKEWOOD CONSISTENTLY INCLUDES FULL SCALE MUSICALS AND ORIGINAL WORKS IN ITS SEASON, AND PRIDES ITSELF ON WORKING WITH NEW AND/OR EMERGING ARTISTS AND GROUPS TO BRING INNOVATIVE PERFORMANCES AND ART EVENTS TO OUR AUDIENCE. LAKEWOOD THEATRE IS THE OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING THEATRE COMPANY IN THE PORTLAND, OREGON METRO AREA, ATTRACTING OVER 40,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR. LAKEWOOD ALSO PROVIDES 50-60 CLASSES EACH QUARTER IN THEATRE, DANCE, TV, AND ART TO STUDENTS AGES 3-ADULT WITH RESIDENT AND VISITING ARTISTS.
- $334,529 spent. THE LAKE OSWEGO FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS IS A COMMUNITY WIDE CELEBRATION ATTRACTING ON AVERAGE 25,000 PEOPLE PER YEAR. IT FOCUSES ON ARTS EDUCATION, PERFORMANCE AND EXHIBITION. THE 4-DAY EVENT INCLUDES GUEST ARTISTS, MUSIC, LIVE THEATRE PERFORMANCE, ARTISANS DISPLAYING THEIR CRAFT, ART CLASSES, LECTURES AND EXHIBITIONS.
- $30,784 spent. THE YOUTH OUTREACH PROGRAM AT LAKEWOOD IS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH IN THE GREATER PORTLAND AREA TO PARTICIPATE, BOTH AS ARTISTS AND AUDIENCE, IN ALL THAT LAKEWOOD HAS TO OFFER. LAKEWOOD STRIVES TO BRING OPPORTUNITIES TO THE UNDERSERVED YOUTH IN THE REGION WHOM, BECAUSE OF GEOGRAPHIC, SOCIO-ECONOMIC, CULTURAL OR LANGUAGE BARRIERS, HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO ARTS EDUCATION. THIS PROGRAM FACILITATES CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUTH, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS, RESULTING IN OPEN COLLABORATIONS AND A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO CONTINUE TO CREATE MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES. LAKEWOOD CENTER RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING AN INVITING, DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR PARTICIPANTS, AS ARTISTS, STUDENTS, AND AUDIENCE. DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR OVER 200 STUDENTS FROM PRESCHOOL TO HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM.CURRENT YOUTH OUTREACH PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: IN-PERSON ART, THEATRE AND DANCE WORKSHOPS TAUGHT IN PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS. THESE INCLUDE BILINGUAL (ENGLISH/SPANISH) WORKSHOPS. ON-LINE ART WORKSHOPS. ALSO INCLUDING BILINGUAL (ENGLISH/SPANISH) WORKSHOPS. SUPPORT OF ART PROGRAMS ALREADY EXISTING IN LOCAL SCHOOLS BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, MATERIALS AND VISITING ARTISTS. A WEEK OF COLOR: A BILINGUAL (ENGLISH/SPANISH) ART INSTRUCTION BOOKLETS AND VIDEO SERIES, DISTRIBUTED TOGETHER WITH ART KITS TO AREA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. YOUTH ART EXHIBIT AT THE LAKE OSWEGO FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS, INCLUDING ALL ART CREATED BY STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE YOUTH OUTREACH PROGRAM. AWARDS RECEPTION FOR ALL ARTISTS AND FAMILIES PARTICIPATING IN THE YOUTH ART EXHIBIT. INVITATIONS FREE OF CHARGE TO THEATRE PROGRAMS AT LAKEWOOD FOR FAMILIES PARTICIPATING IN THE YOUTH OUTREACH PROGRAM.
- $219,570 spent. LAKEWOOD CENTER FOR THE ARTS PROVIDES FACILITIES USED BY INSTRUCTORS, GROUPS AND OTHERS IN THE ARTS THROUGH CLASSES, DEMONSTRATIONS, EXHIBITIONS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS SUPPORTING ARTS IN THE COMMUNITY. LAKEWOOD COORDINATES A FULL RANGE OF OFFERINGS IN ACTING, VISUALS ARTS, DESIGN, TELEVISION, FILM, GALLERY EXHIBITIONS, LECTURES AND CONCERTS. THESE PROGRAMS SERVE OVER 3,000 STUDENTS ANNUALLY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1961.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 7, 2026.
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