Overture Center Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES THE OVERTURE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, A PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS CENTER. ITS MISSION IS TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS AND THE COMMUNITY BY CREATING, ENCOURAGING, AND CATALYZING EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCES. THE OVERTURE CENTER PRESENTS A BROAD SPECTRUM OF HIGH QUALITY PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS. THE CENTER RAISES FUNDS TO SUPPORT FREE AND LOW-COST COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AS WELL AS OTHER PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES TO ADVANCE THE MISSION. NINE LOCAL PERFORMING ARTS COMPANIES ARE RESIDENT ORGANIZATIONS OF THE CENTER.
- Income
- $27.8 million
- Spending
- $26.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 2.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 69%
- Employees
- 545
- Volunteers
- 500
- Highest pay
- $210,039, cfo/cbo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 30% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 23 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $22.8 million spent. OVERTURE CENTER HOSTS OVER 700 EVENTS WITH OUR BOX OFFICE SELLING APPROXIMATELY 365,000 TICKETS ANNUALLY. OVERTURE CENTER PRESENTS A DIVERSE MIX OF PERFORMANCES, INCLUDING BROADWAY, NATIONAL TOURS, CABARET, LECTURES, COMEDY, CONCERTS, DANCE AND LOCAL ARTS PERFORMANCES. OVERTURE CENTER IS THE PERFORMANCE HOME TO NINE LOCAL, NONPROFIT RESIDENT ARTS COMPANIES WHO ANNUALLY SELL OVER 100,000 TICKETS TO THEIR PERFORMANCES AND RECEIVE RENTAL SUBSIDIES AND SOME SHARED SERVICES FROM OVERTURE TO SUPPORT THEIR WORK. OVERTURE CENTER FULFILLS THE CORE OF ITS MISSION THROUGH FOURTEEN EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS TO ENSURE EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCES IN THE ARTS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. NEARLY 190,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY ATTEND FREE/LOW-COST PERFORMANCES AND EXHIBITS OR PARTICIPATE IN ITS SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS. THIS REPRESENTS 37% OF THE 500,000+ TOTAL ANNUAL ARTISTIC EXPERIENCES. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE 'ONSTAGE STUDENT FIELD TRIPS' THAT PROVIDE NEARLY 18,000 PREK-12 STUDENTS WITH ACCESS TO DAYTIME PERFORMANCES AT THE CENTER, 'KIDS IN THE ROTUNDA' FREE FAMILIES PERFORMANCES THAT SERVE 24,000 PEOPLE AND THE JERRYS, A HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL EXCELLENCE PROGRAM THAT ENGAGES OVER 100 SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE. OVER 3,300 ARTISTS PERFORM OR EXHIBIT AT OVERTURE, WITH 72% OF THESE ARTISTS RESIDING WITHIN DANE COUNTY. THE CENTER ALSO SERVES AS A UNIQUE EVENT VENUE FOR WEDDINGS, CORPORATE EVENTS, AND OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EVENTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.