Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Chance Theater

EIN 11-3679644 · Anaheim, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHANCE THEATER'S MISSION IS TO FOSTER A MORE CONNECTED, COMPASSIONATE, AND CREATIVE COMMUNITY THROUGH SHARED EXPERIENCES AND STORYTELLING.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
16.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 46%
Employees
108
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$87,064, executive artistic director

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

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • 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

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 (4)
  1. $871,273 spent. IN 2024, CHANCE THEATER ENGAGED AUDIENCES WITH TICKETED PERFORMANCES AND MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS TO A VARIETY OF PRODUCTIONS, INCLUDING: HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS, ALMA, SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET, GLORIA, FANCY NANCY THE MUSICAL , JANE AUSTEN'S EMMA THE MUSICAL, AND FANCY NANCY: SPLENDIFEROUS CHRISTMAS.
  2. $98,972 spent. CHANCE'S SPEAK UP PROGRAM EMPOWERS LOCAL TEENS--INCLUDING THOSE AT RISK AND ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM, AS WELL AS LOCAL VETERANS --TO FIND THEIR VOICES AND SHARE THEIR UNIQUE STORIES THROUH A THEATER WORKSHOP SERIES. BY GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, WE GAIN THE CHANCE TO LISTEN, BUILDING UNDERSTANDING THAT LEADS TO GREATER EMPATHY. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE STRIVE TO CREATE A MORE CONNECTED, COMPASSIONATE, AND CREATIVE COMMUNITY. THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF OUR SPONSORS, ALL PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE FULL SCHOLARSHIPS.
  3. $80,948 spent. CHANCE DEVELOPMENTAL WORK INCLUDES CHANCE'S ON THE RADAR (OTR) NEW WORKS PROGRAM AS WELL AS BOOKED-IN EVENTS TO PARTNER WITH AND HOST LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO PRESENT THEIR OWN ARTISTIC PROGRAMS. CHANCE'S OTR INCLUDES A SCRIPT READING SERIES, PLAYWRIGHT RESIDENCY, AND COMMISSIONING PROGRAM--ALL DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING DIVERSE NEW STORIES BY EMERGING U.S. PLAYWRIGHTS. IN 2024, WE INVITED AUDIENCES TO ENGAGE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS THROUGH TICKETED EVENTS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS FEATURING THE FOLLOWING NEW WORKS: LIPSTICK LOBOTOMY, CALL YOUR MOTHER, BOAT SHOW, TENDERNESS AND GRATITUDE NUMBER FOUR AND BOAT SHOW (2ND READING WITH UPDATED SCRIPT).
  4. $41,647 spent. EQUIPMENT & SPACE RENTALS; CHANCE RENTS THEIR SPACE TO OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO USE THE BETTE AITKEN THEATER ARTS CENTER. RENTALS MAY INCLUDE CRIPE OR FYDA-MAR STAGE, CLASSROOM, AND LOBBY SPACE. TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT IS ALSO RENTED AS-NEEDED FOR THEATRICAL EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, OPEN MIC NIGHTS, WEDDINGS, AND VARIOUS OTHER EVENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2003.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.