Passes our checks

Lobster Theater Project

EIN 10-0008474 · San Francisco, CA

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

What it says it does

KML's mission is to make fast, smart, inclusive, and fearless sketch comedy that makes people laugh.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

Reserves
10 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15
Income fell 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

Independent board
18 of 25
4 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15
Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8
Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7
Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5
Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10
Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5
Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
No reported misuse
10 of 10
Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)

$198,703 spent. Killing My Lobster is dedicated to producing high-quality, relevant, and fearless sketch comedy that makes people laugh. We are committed to finding the best and most diverse comedic talent in the Bay Area and bringing those artists together to create original and innovative shows. KML strives to represent the best of the Bay Area accurately and push the boundaries of what's possible in sketch comedy today. In 2024, KML produced 3 original sketch comedy shows: Mythed Opportunity, Toon Out, and The Skin We're In.
We continued to maintain our fellowship program. This program along with the BIPOC Scholarship program is designed to amplify voices from the Bay Area BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities by providing them with professional sketch comedy instruction through our writing and acting classes.
In 2024, we continued to require directors and instructors to utilize our Equitable Casting Guidelines and have begun implementing the Student Bill of Rights and Artist Bill of Rights. We remain committed to our inclusion goals of BIPOC and women writers on 100% of writing teams.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 December 2024.
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 May 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.