Lark Theater

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To maintain and advance the 1936 Art Deco Lark Theater as a single-screen/single-stage, state-of the-art community film and cultural center with exceptional programming to enhance the artistic, cultural, educational and social life of Marin County and the Bay Area.

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2025. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 20-0402743) · Dispute this line
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
93¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 15 volunteers and 26 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $591K a year · 34% of revenue · last 6 filings
A surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
93%
of spending
93% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$140K
to officers and key staff · 8% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 8% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
5.1 mo
of spending, in cash
5.1 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
6
named funders · $68K
6 funders name it on their filings.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$18K
0.3% of total assets
Liabilities are 0.3% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
15
of 15 voting members
15 of 15 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$2.6M
+89% vs prior year
Spent
$1.7M
To programs
93%
Net assets
$5.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$2.6M
FY2025▲ +89%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.7M
FY2021$2.1M
FY2022$1.3M
FY2023$1.5M
FY2024$1.4M
FY2025$2.6M
Expenses
$1.7M
FY2025▲ +18%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$927K
FY2021$720K
FY2022$991K
FY2023$1.3M
FY2024$1.4M
FY2025$1.7M
Net assets
$5.8M
FY2025▲ +19%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$3.1M
FY2021$4.5M
FY2022$4.7M
FY2023$5.0M
FY2024$4.9M
FY2025$5.8M

From the FY2025 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jun 2004.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

93 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 93% · $1.5M Management & general 7% · $117K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

19 people listed on the 990; $140K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$136,667Pt VII · Sec A
$3,125Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Eleanor Mednick’s $137K as CEO is at the 59th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3924 $1–10M arts & culture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Eleanor Mednick$136,667$120,000$120,000———
Ellie Mednick———$130,000$106,667$100,000
Joshua Costello$3,125—————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Lark Theater executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Enriches Marin County's life with diverse independent, international, classic, and family films, plus festivals and cultural events.

Questions for Lark Theater

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1 program · $1.5M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Enhanced the artistic, cultural and social life of marin county with quality independent, international, classic and family films, film festivals and multi-cultural events.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2025. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 20-0402743) · Dispute this line
$1.5Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
See all 6 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.6M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.0M
Other incomeLn 4–11$18K
Money outPt IX
$1.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.5M
Managementcol C$117K
Owns and owesPt X
$5.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$711K
Total assetsLn 16$5.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$18K
PeoplePt VI, VII
19
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a15
IndependentVI 1b15
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$3K
Other incomeLn 4–11$18K
Gains on assetsLn 7$18K
Total revenueLn 12$2.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$61K
SavingsLn 2$650K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$711K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$100
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$510K
Intangible assetsLn 14$6K
Other assetsLn 15$3K
Total assetsLn 16$5.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$18K
Net assetsLn 32$5.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 526
VolunteersI 615
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$172K$711K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$3K$510K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4.8M$4.6M
Total assetsLn 16$5.0M$5.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$20K$18K
Net assetsLn 32$4.9M$5.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$3K$3K$312
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$603K$542K$60K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$23K$20K$2K
Payroll taxesLn 10$41K$37K$4K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$17K$15K$2K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$65K$59K$6K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$13K$11K$1K
Office expensesLn 13$49K$45K$5K
Information technologyLn 14$11K$10K$1K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$182K$164K$18K
TravelLn 17$662$596$66
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$2K$1K$160
InterestLn 20$451$406$45
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$133K$120K$13K
InsuranceLn 23$33K$30K$3K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$449K$449K
All other expensesLn 24e$37K$37K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.7M$1.5M$117K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Jun 22, 2026 $2.6M$1.7M$918K$5.8M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Aug 8, 2025 $1.4M$1.4M−$43K$4.9M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Sep 5, 2024 $1.5M$1.3M$219K$5.0M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Nov 13, 2023 $1.3M$991K$290K$4.7M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Oct 21, 2022 $2.1M$720K$1.3M$4.5M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Sep 3, 2021 $1.7M$927K$822K$3.1M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support B · Donors D · Assets and endowments J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990
Part I · Summary $2,579,191 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $549,188$1,547,574
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $814,342$1,010,382
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $3,461$21,235
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,366,991$2,579,191
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $548,629$669,116
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $861,073$992,108
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,409,702$1,661,224
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$42,711$917,967
Part VI · Governance 15 of 15 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body15
VI-1b Independent voting members15
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,579,191 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,547,574
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,547,574
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,010,382$1,010,382
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $2,813$2,813
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $18,422$18,422
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,031,617$2,579,191
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,661,224 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $2,813 · Management $312$3,125
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $542,280 · Management $60,253$602,533
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $20,406 · Management $2,267$22,673
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $36,707 · Management $4,078$40,785
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $15,480 · Management $1,720$17,200
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $59,211 · Management $5,620$64,831
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $11,498 · Management $1,278$12,776
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $44,519 · Management $4,947$49,466
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $9,597 · Management $1,066$10,663
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $164,201 · Management $18,245$182,446
IX-17 TravelPrograms $596 · Management $66$662
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $1,440 · Management $160$1,600
IX-20 InterestPrograms $406 · Management $45$451
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $120,046 · Management $13,339$133,385
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $29,507 · Management $3,278$32,785
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $449,076$449,076
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $36,767$36,767
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,544,550 · Management $116,674 · Fundraising $0$1,661,224
Part X · Balance sheet $5,866,807 assets, 21 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $57,727$61,052
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $114,697$650,440
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $194$0
X-5 Loans to officers and key people$0
X-6 Loans to other insiders$0
X-7 Notes and loans receivable$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $100$100
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $4,769,349$4,636,251
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $2,817$510,278
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $6,156$5,869
X-15 Other assets$2,817
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,951,040$5,866,807
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $20,386$18,186
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $20,386$18,186
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $4,930,654$5,848,621
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $4,930,654$5,848,621
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,951,040$5,866,807
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $5,848,621 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,579,191
XI-2 Total expenses$1,661,224
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$917,967
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$4,930,654
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$5,848,621

Form 990 e-file FY2025 from the IRS (about our sources) · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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