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The Cleveland Play House
The Cleveland Play House reported $10.4 million in revenue and $11.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $77.35 went to program services, $19.18 to management and general costs and $3.47 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 56.6% of the total. Government grants made up 30.4%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $204,226 (ARTISTIC DIRECTOR). 4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 3% 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 $12MFor 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 $10MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.4% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 19.2% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.5% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.07 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 56.6% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 30.4% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 37.3% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $204,226 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.72% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 4 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 7.7 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 31 of 31 | 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 expenseTo present plays celebrating the human experience, to present repertoire of new plays and american classics, to focus on the work of the playwright, and to create a world-class institution to serve diverse audiences in the local, national, and international community
To contribute to the well-being of young people and the community with nationally acclaimed educational programs, to bond community with community, to bolster our knowledge of ourselves and others, and to amplify our artistic awareness as participants and practitioners
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $195,179 | $0 | $9,047 | $204,226 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $185,235 | $0 | $5,662 | $190,897 |
| EDUCATION DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $121,417 | $0 | $11,091 | $132,508 |
| DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $104,227 | $0 | $7,374 | $111,601 |
4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Cleveland Play House (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $395K (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–1b31 · 31 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 2Yes
- 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 4No
- 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 5426
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses onlyIndividuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
29 private foundations reported grants to The Cleveland Play House totaling $1.1M 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 The Cleveland Play House's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Cleveland Play House, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Cleveland Play House spent in FY2025, $77.35 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Democracy Now ProductionsNew York, NY · revenue $10M · programs 81.0% · 2024
- John Kirkpatrick Fund for Historic Cultural & Civic Understanding Aff FundOklahoma City, OK · revenue $10M · programs 63.2% · FY2025
- South Shore Playhouse AssociatesCohasset, MA · revenue $10M · programs 92.6% · FY2025
- Channel 5 Public BroadcastingReno, NV · revenue $10M · programs 54.3% · FY2025
- New York Live ArtsNew York, NY · revenue $10M · programs 80.7% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Ohio
Questions people ask
How much of The Cleveland Play House's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, The Cleveland Play House reported that 77.4% of its $11.9 million in expenses went to program services, 19.2% to management and general and 3.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Cleveland Play House pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Cleveland Play House reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $204,226, for the role of ARTISTIC DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Cleveland Play House get its money?
Of $10.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 56.6% came from contributions and grants (including 30.4% from government grants) and 37.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Cleveland Play House a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 34-6515260 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), 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 202641349349303919 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202531349349303923 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401369349303940 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331359349303738 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202231369349308368 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202111339349301036 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 34-6515260: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.