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Geffen Playhouse
Geffen Playhouse reported $13.1 million in revenue and $15.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $82.18 went to program services, $12.41 to management and general costs and $5.41 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 47.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $301,512 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 9% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $16MFor 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 August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $13MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.2% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.4% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.4% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.13 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 47.9% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.7% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 44.2% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $301,512 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.94% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 13 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 11.9 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 22 of 24 | 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 expenseGeffen Playhouse is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to enriching the cultural life of los angeles through plays and educational programs that inform, entertain, and inspire. Founded by gilbert cates in 1994, Geffen Playhouse is named in honor of entertainment mogul and philanthropist david geffen, who made the initial donation to the theater. Noted for its intimacy and celebrated for its renowned mix of classic and contemporary plays as well as provocative world premiere productions, Geffen Playhouse presents a body of work that garners national recognition. Our artistic programming…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $288,461 | $0 | $13,051 | $301,512 |
| ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $265,385 | $0 | $8,816 | $274,201 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $153,942 | $0 | $7,694 | $161,636 |
| PRODUCER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $152,908 | $0 | $0 | $152,908 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $141,693 | $0 | $7,893 | $149,586 |
| DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $138,548 | $0 | $9,445 | $147,993 |
| ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE/LITERARY DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $128,285 | $0 | $12,000 | $140,285 |
| DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $123,153 | $0 | $15,975 | $139,128 |
13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Geffen Playhouse (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $791K (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–1b24 · 22 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 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 5312
- Volunteers Part I, line 636
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SITUATION MARKETING LLC Marketing | $168,169 |
| SPEC CONCEPTS Security services | $165,325 |
| THEATER DIRECT INC Telemarketing services | $149,314 |
| BULLSEYE MARKETING Marketing | $109,143 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 7 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
43 private foundations reported grants to Geffen Playhouse totaling $4.2M 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 Geffen Playhouse's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Geffen Playhouse, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Geffen Playhouse spent in FY2025, $82.18 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
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All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Geffen Playhouse's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, Geffen Playhouse reported that 82.2% of its $15.5 million in expenses went to program services, 12.4% to management and general and 5.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Geffen Playhouse pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Geffen Playhouse reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $301,512, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Geffen Playhouse get its money?
Of $13.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 47.9% came from contributions and grants (including 0.7% from government grants) and 44.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Geffen Playhouse a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 95-4492653 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 August 31, 2025, object 202621679349300542 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202501369349302610 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202401979349301550 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202330979349300128 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202211119349300231 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202141039349301609 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 95-4492653: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.