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Playhouse Square Foundation
Playhouse Square Foundation reported $89.1 million in revenue and $94.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $88.48 went to program services, $9.14 to management and general costs and $2.38 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 79.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $892,385 (President/CEO). 26 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 42% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $94MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $89MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 88.5% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.1% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.4% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.15 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 16.5% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 2.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 79.9% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $892,385 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.95% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 26 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 27.4 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 59 of 60 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseThe Foundation's purpose is to operate and sustain on a financially viable basis a performing arts center presenting and producing works of artistic excellence for the benefit of all citizens. The Foundation presented 1,208 performances in Fiscal Year 25, which were attended by approximately 1.1 million guests. Approximately 60,000 students and teachers attended Children's theater performances. The Foundation has over 12 performance stages with a capacity of nearly 10,000
The Foundation is committed in its actions to enhance and develop that portion of downtown Cleveland known as "Playhouse Square" by not only operating the theaters as discussed in 4(a), but also by renovating and developing complementary commercial, residential and retail properties in the Playhouse Square District
The Foundation is committed to offer a variety of educational activities that develop new audiences and enhance connections with existing audiences within Northeast Ohio region. Over 400,000 students and adults were engaged by the education department and approximately 184,000 individuals participated in education workshops and classes
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President/CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $854,402 | $0 | $37,983 | $892,385 |
| Interim COO (until 6/25) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $548,686 | $0 | $37,983 | $586,669 |
| Senior VP Development Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $350,825 | $0 | $50,046 | $400,871 |
| Senior VP Programming Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $321,011 | $0 | $60,954 | $381,965 |
| Senior VP Ticket Sales & Marketing Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $313,245 | $0 | $35,630 | $348,875 |
| VP Facilities (until 12/24) Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $234,692 | $0 | $42,801 | $277,493 |
| Director Ticket Sales & SVC Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $212,481 | $0 | $28,165 | $240,646 |
| COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $182,056 | $0 | $9,928 | $191,984 |
26 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Playhouse Square Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.5M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b60 · 59 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5848
- Volunteers Part I, line 62,000
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| NPI Audio Visual Solutions Tech Services | $450,869 |
| Ritenour Group General Contractor | $275,317 |
| Kone Inc Elevator Services | $129,921 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
55 private foundations reported grants to Playhouse Square Foundation totaling $555K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Playhouse Square Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Playhouse Square Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Playhouse Square Foundation spent in FY2025, $88.48 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Solomon R Guggenheim FoundationNew York, NY · revenue $88M · programs 66.4% · 2024
- Denver Center for the Performing ArtsDenver, CO · revenue $89M · programs 86.1% · FY2025
- Denver Art MuseumDenver, CO · revenue $87M · programs 83.6% · FY2025
- California Academy of SciencesSan Francisco, CA · revenue $89M · programs 74.8% · FY2025
- The Detroit Institute of ArtsDetroit, MI · revenue $86M · programs 69.3% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Ohio
Questions people ask
How much of Playhouse Square Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Playhouse Square Foundation reported that 88.5% of its $94.1 million in expenses went to program services, 9.1% to management and general and 2.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Playhouse Square Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Playhouse Square Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $892,385, for the role of President/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Playhouse Square Foundation get its money?
Of $89.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 16.5% came from contributions and grants (including 2.0% from government grants) and 79.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Playhouse Square Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-7304942 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202631289349302243 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202510989349301446 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401309349303735 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202321239349302657 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202211369349308976 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202111349349300236 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-7304942: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.