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Nonprofit · EIN 87-2882616

FRIENDS OF KENTUCKY THEATRE

Tax-exempt · LEXINGTON, KY 40507

Financials

$1.7M$1.5M2023$1.7M$1.7M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of FRIENDS OF KENTUCKY THEATRE by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2024990$1,720,867$1,720,872-$5$366,146$0$366,146
December 31, 2023990$1,715,317$1,528,367$186,950$362,364$0$362,364
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$129,633
Membership dues
$67,200
Program service revenue
$1,334,064
Investment income
$2,333
Net rental income
$18,605
Net income from sales of inventory
$203,444
Other revenue
$254,837

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$15,169
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$56,808
Other salaries and wages
$158,545
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$236,173
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Accounting fees
$14,043
Occupancy
$52,720
Travel
$320
Program services (functional)
$1,603,220
Management and general (functional)
$94,094
Fundraising (functional)
$23,558

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$362,364
Total assets, end of year
$366,146
Total liabilities, end of year
$0
Net assets, end of year
$366,146
Land, buildings and equipment
$15,458
Net assets without donor restrictions
$366,146
Gross receipts
$1,809,109
Employees
12
Volunteers
12
Year formed
2021
State of legal domicile
KY

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Lisa MeekBoard Chair
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Bradford QueenTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Anita CourtneySecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
Ashish PatelDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
Beverly FortuneDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Stephanie FitchDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Celeste LewisDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Edd MacKeyDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Maureen PetersDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 9 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Lisa MeekBoard Chair
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0
Bradford QueenTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Anita CourtneySecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Ashish PatelDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Raymond De LucaDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Stephanie FitchDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Celeste LewisDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Edd MacKeyDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Maureen PetersDirector
Trustee or director
1$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
214 E MAIN ST, LEXINGTON, KY 40507-1310
In care of
% LISA MEEK
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
Lisa Meek, 214 E Main St, Lexington, KY 405071310
Signed the 990
Hayward Wilkirson, Executive Director
Phone
(859) 231-6997
Return prepared by
Bourne Bookkeeping & Admin Srvcs

Mission

The Kentucky Theatre is a historic building in downtown Lexington, KY, that had fallen into disuse and disrepair. Purchased by the City of Lexington, The Friends of the Kentucky Theatre Inc is a nonprofit tasked with overseeing the restoration, maintenance, operation, and future expansion of the theater in a public-private partnership with the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government. The theater is used by the City, by Nonprofits & NGOs, and by the public for a myriad of local programs, live events, artists & entertainers, including offering modern & classic films, locally written & produced films, historical and other specialty films not available in commercial theatres, as well as film school partnerships with students & faculty at the University of Kentucky. The restoration and maintenance of the historical landmark property, over 100 years old, is an ongoing labor of love.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Program accomplishments

  • 2024 was an enormously busy year for the Kentucky Theatre. We sold more than 51,000 tickets to 266 independent, foreign, documentary, and regional films of artistic and/or cultural merit. Supported local nonprofit organizations through donations and rental discounts. Partnered with ten community organizations on film events. Organized four special film/live music events. Presented eight unique screenings with director Q&As and/or panel discussions. Continued seven original curated film series or festivals, including Central Kentucky's first competitive international film festival. SUPPORTING LOCAL NONPROFITS: Each year, The Kentucky Theatre joins forces with local nonprofits to help them raise money for their efforts. We may provide the venue rent-free, discount our rental fees, split ticket proceeds from a special event, or donate a portion of ticket proceeds from regularly scheduled films. For example: For CatVideoFest 2024 we donated a portion of ticket sales to Halfway Home Rescue, Inc [a 501(c)(3) organization] to support their animal rescue efforts. We also hosted their feline adoption fair in our lobby during the film screening. During the Special Screenings of the Oscar-winning Animated Film Flow we donated a portion of each ticket sale to the Woodford Humane Society [a 501(c)(3) organization]. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS: The Kentucky Theatre places great emphasis on forging partnerships with community organizations. Here is a brief list of some of the partner events that took place in 2024. For THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY an event featuring Fellini: Four Films, which is a four-film retrospective of the work of the great Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini planned in coordination with and hosted by University of Kentucky film scholars Raymond De Luca and Matteo Benassi. We sold 440 tickets to this series. Additionally, we featured The Best of Billy: Four Classic Films by Billy Wilder, which was a four-film retrospective of the work of the legendary filmmaker Billy Wilder planned in coordination with and hosted by University of Kentucky film scholar Jordan Brower. We sold 334 tickets to this series. With the UK ART MUSEUM we hosted ART ON SCREEN, which seeks to broaden an interest in the arts through the creative pairing of films about art and artists with entertaining discussions by notable speakers from the world of art and art history. For BCTC we hosted a Screening of Student Films. We partnered with the Bluegrass Community and Technical College and the University of Kentucky to showcase short films by student filmmakers at these two institutions. LIVE EVENTS: In addition to movies we provided the venue for many local orgs. ORIGINS JAZZ: The Origins Jazz Series was founded to fulfill the role that jazz clubs play in many American cities. Origins is a hub for audiences and performers to come together and celebrate the art, culture, and community of jazz. Origins Jazz is dedicated to high quality performances in compelling venues, jazz literacy, and uniting our community through music. The Kentucky Theatre was proud to partner with Origins Jazz to bring nationally prominent jazz performers to our venue in 2024. This partnership continues in 2025. THE LEXINGTON URBAN LEAGUE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS: We teamed up with this community-based organization to present a screening of Hoodlum in celebration of Black History Month. GET HAAPI KY: The Kentucky Theatre partnered to host three films in celebration of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month. VALVOLINE, INC. AFRICAN AMERICAN AND BLACK EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUP: We teamed up with this organization to present a free screening of the film 42: The Jackie Robinson Story, in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. SPECIAL FILM AND LIVE MUSIC EVENTS: These events featured music from our historic 1920s pipe organ, as well as local choirs, and techno audio-visual special effects. For example, we presented Silent Film Classic The Freshman with Live Organ Accompaniment. We screened this classic 1925 silent film with live organ accompaniment by Andrew E. Simpson. Simpson is one of America's foremost silent-film musicians. He has performed across the US, Europe, and South America. He is the resident film accompanist at the National Gallery of Art and a resident accompanist at the Library of Congress. Diva: A Special Screening and Tribute to Wilhelmenia Fernandez: We partnered with the University of Kentucky Opera Program and the Kentucky State Choir to salute the life and musical career of the late Wilhelmenia Fernandez with this concert and special screening of Diva. A famed opera singer, Fernandez starred In Diva and spent many years in Lexington after retiring from the world of opera. Silent Film Classic The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari with Live Organ Accompaniment. Filmed in 1920, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a masterpiece of German expressionism and arguably the first true horror film. Internationally renowned theater organist Tedde Gibson provided live accompaniment for this classic of the silent era. Negativland + SUE-C with a Special Live Double-Feature Legendary sound-collage group Negativland and "real-time cinema" visual artist SUE-C collaborated to stage their latest audio-visual performance about our minds, our realities, and the evolving forms of media and technology that orchestrate our perceptions. The evening included a screening of Stand by for Failure: A Documentary About Negativland. We partnered with local orgs to offer several Q&A PANEL DISCUSSION EVENTS. Under the Southern Cross: The Art and Legacy of Henry L. Faulkner + Q&A with Filmmaker Jean Donahue: Much has been said about Henry Faulkner's life as a colorful Lexington character, artist, and lifelong friend of Tennessee Williams. Yet are we appreciating Faulkner for what is most important? With recent research, we're finding that Faulkner may be a much more important figure in the larger gay historical narrative. Under the Southern Cross will find Faulkner's place in this narrative. This film premiere and Q&A was attended by 626 people. The Outsiders + Q&A with Actor C. Thomas Howell: A one-time-only screening of the classic film, The Outsiders, with special guest and film star C. Thomas Howell. This screening and Q&A was attended by 310 people. Wildcat + Q&A with Filmmaker Ethan Hawke: Filmed in Kentucky and directed and co-written by four-time Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke, Wildcat invites the audience to weave in and out of celebrated Southern Gothic writer Flannery O'Connor's mind as she ponders the great questions of her writing: Can scandalous art still serve God? Does suffering precede all greatness? Can illness be a blessing? This pre-release screening and director Q&A was attended by 811 people. The Philadelphia Eleven Film Screening + Panel Discussion: This documentary explores the pioneering women who helped transform the Episcopalian church and pave the wave for women in the priesthood. We partnered with The Episcopal Diocese of Lexington to host this screening and panel discussion. Remembering the Future with Herb Greene + Q&A with the Filmmakers A young architect questioning her career decision takes an intimate look at the intricate legacy of her great-uncle Herb Greene and the overlooked, groundbreaking Organic Architecture movement he ignited from the heart of the US in the 1950s. Lila Cohen investigates the trajectory of Greene's life from his Jewish upbringing in depression-era New York to becoming a pioneer in Oklahoma under a changed name. A free screening of a portion of a feature-length documentary in production along with a Q&A with the filmmaker. Ghostlight Film Screening + Q&A with Director and Lexington Native Alex Thompson. The First Omen + Q&A with Director and Lexington Native Arkasha Stevenson. And Small Things Like These + An Introduction by and Q&A with New York Times Best-selling Author and Kentucky Poet Laureate Silas House. We offered four CURATED FILM SERIES in 2024. Twelve Lions Film Festival: Lexington's first competitive international film festival, Twelve Lions is a four-day event showcasing quality independent film from around the world. Through film premieres, retrospectives, workshops, panels, meet-and-greets, and other networking events, we aim to further the careers of emerging filmmakers and to deepen the film lover's appreciation of cinema in all its richness and diversity. In 2024 more than 1,000 people attended 64 film screenings. The Rosa Goddard International Film Series: An annual celebration of cinema classics from around the world. Psychedelic Cinema: This series explores the world of psychedelic music concert film. The series is a partnership between The Kentucky Theatre and Expansion: Lexington's Psychedelic Experience & Music Festival. ART ON SCREEN seeks to broaden an interest in the arts through the creative pairing of films about art and artists with entertaining discussions by notable speakers from the world of art and art history. Freaky Frid
    Expenses $1,603,220 · grants $15,169 · revenue $1,334,064

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026Not on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
87-2882616
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
2022
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$366,146
Income (IRS master file)
$1,809,109

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2024$1,720,867$1,720,872$366,146XML
990December 2023$1,715,317$1,528,367$362,364XML
990December 2022$1,204,624$1,092,763$171,516IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 87-2882616).

Questions about FRIENDS OF KENTUCKY THEATRE

What is the EIN of FRIENDS OF KENTUCKY THEATRE?
The employer identification number (EIN) of FRIENDS OF KENTUCKY THEATRE is 87-2882616.
Is FRIENDS OF KENTUCKY THEATRE tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2022.
Are donations to FRIENDS OF KENTUCKY THEATRE tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does FRIENDS OF KENTUCKY THEATRE file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of FRIENDS OF KENTUCKY THEATRE due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did FRIENDS OF KENTUCKY THEATRE last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
Who is the principal officer of FRIENDS OF KENTUCKY THEATRE?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names Lisa Meek.
Who are the officers and directors of FRIENDS OF KENTUCKY THEATRE?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 9 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.
How much revenue does FRIENDS OF KENTUCKY THEATRE have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $1,720,867, expenses of $1,720,872 and total assets of $366,146 at year end.

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