Avalon Theatre Project Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
522360410
IRS 990 coverage
2018–2025
Forms available
Form 990 2025, Form 990-T 2025
Location
Washington, DC, USA
Phone
2029662149
Rating
83
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Performing Arts Centers

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$2,573,533
Expenses
$2,384,737
Assets
$5,250,307
Liabilities
$941,700

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

15 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • BILL OBERDORFER (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)

Highest reported compensation

  • BILL OBERDORFER (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $124,654 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

The avalon theatre is a nonprofit, community-supported center dedicated to the exhibition of film, film education, and historic preservation of our 1923 building. Through the power of film, our mission is to entertain, educate, inspire, and engage the greater Washington, dc community while providing a welcoming space for all.

What it reported doing in 2025

Film programming: the avalon theatre is a nonprofit member and community supported film and education center committed to the preservation and use of its historic, landmarked 1923 building to serve as a cultural resource dedicated to the art of motion pictures.the avalon's programs include a diverse range of independent and arthouse films, free student film education programs and special programs that appeal to a diverse population of filmgoers interested in thought provoking international and american independent films many of which are screened in the Washington, dc area solely at the avalon. The avalon's special programs often feature post-film discussions further enhancing the intrinsic and educational value of viewing films in a community film center. The avalon rents its theater to other non-profits and independent filmmakers at reasonable rates as part of its mission to build community and support independent filmmakers. The avalon offers a diverse group of special programs targeted at various audiences including the wednesday signature series, exhibition on screen, national theater live, science on screen and weekend family matinees.

Operating model

Revenue model
Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised and expenses are high relative to revenue.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 73
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 91
  • Sustainability: 52
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 80.8%; rating input score 81
  • Program expense ratio: 79.1%; rating input score 79
  • Fundraising efficiency: $4.36 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 93.3%; rating input score 93; 24th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Fail
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 7.3%; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.2; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.18; rating input score 37; 37th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 5.2%; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 5.7% per year; rating input score 100; 40th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 5.9% per year; rating input score 100; 44th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 2.6% per year; rating input score 100; 20th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 80.8% of revenue deployed · 79.1% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 14 of 15 board members independent · 7 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 2 filed program accomplishments · $1.9M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $125K · 15 people listed
  • Consistency: 32 of 32 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 5 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 8 filing years from 2018 to 2025
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 12/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 49/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: CEO compensation review process not reported.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 37/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 55/100.