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Safe House for the Performing Arts

EIN 01-0908118 · San Francisco, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SAFEhouse for the Performing Arts incubates new performing art through residencies, workshops and performance.

Income
$127,592
Spending
$139,818
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Highest pay
$6,868, secretary

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 (3)
  1. $53,400 spent. RAW (resident artist workshop): The RAW program provides rehearsal space, mentorship, marketing, and production support for Bay Area artists. The goal of RAW is to provide a consistent source of support for emerging and established artists to create and perform new work without the stress of self producing. In FY2024-25, SAFEhouse produced approximately 40 groups in the RAW program.
  2. $29,700 spent. West Wave Dance Festival (WWDF): WWDF is an annual festival that has been produced in San Francisco for over 30 years. The festivals mission is to unite Bay Area dance by bringing together veteran and newly-established choreographers from all cultures and disciplines, in and beyond the Bay Area, and provide them an opportunity to present work in a professional venue in order to experiment, develop and refine repertories, and build audiences. In FY2024-25, West Wave was produced at the SAFEhouse venue in San Francisco and featured 11 artists.
  3. $35,600 spent. AIRspace: AIRspace is the longest running residency program specifically for queer artists. It was founded in 1987 to help artists with HIV/AIDS. It was re-designed to specifically support QTBIPOC artists. It is a year-long residency that includes mentorship, financial compensation, performance opportunities, and the ability to work with the SAFEhouse leadership team to drive the organization's equity initiatives. In FY24, SAFEhouse recieved dedicated funding from the California Arts Council to support two AIRspace artists for year-long residencies.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2011.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.