The Penn Theater Performance Company has hit the ground running as an official nonprofit.

“What we can do now is we can officially solicit donations, and donors can write them off on their taxes,” said Dane Winkler, one of the company’s co-chairmen. “Donations can go toward general supporting funds, things like rent payments, construction and general operating costs.”

The company, also co-chaired by Dean Selfridge, with Kenny Bonus as treasurer, will hold monthly fundraisers in 2017 to raise the money needed to fix up the Penn Theater. It’s a campaign called 12 months/12 events.

“Some of them will be pretty simple, but some of them will need a lot of planning,” Winkler said.

Before that, though, the company will collaborate with Butler Brew Works at 5 p.m. Dec. 4 for a fundraiser. The Beer Dinner will cost $55 per person to sit in the general dining area and $65 to sit in the brewery area.

The dinner will feature a custom menu, an eight-ounce beer with each course, and the debut of the brewery’s winter lager, “Hunker Down.” There also will be a 50/50 and basket raffle.

Tickets are on sale today at butlerbrewworks.com, penntheaterbutler.com and the Penn Theater Performance Company’s Facebook page.

The Penn Theater, owned by the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Butler, has sat dormant for years on Main Street. The nonprofit company is trying to revive it.

The roof already has been repaired and the front windows have been replaced.

“It’s pretty physically sound,” Winkler said.

However, the bathrooms need renovated and the rest of the inside needs thoroughly cleaned. The primary aim is for it to be able to pass a city inspection so the venue can hold live performances.

The company has no estimation of the total cost, because members will attempt to do at least some of the cleaning themselves. The company said that to steam-clean the upper auditorium seats and lobby will cost $1,500.

A meeting will be held at the Butler Art Center on Main Street to recruit volunteers for advertising, events and construction. The meeting is set for 6 p.m. Nov. 21. Some refreshments will be provided. The meeting will be hosted by Bonus. Penn Theater board members will attend.