American Musical & Dramatic Academy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
AMDA IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING AN UNSURPASSED PERFORMING ARTS EDUCATION TO A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF CREATIVE ARTISTS. AMDA SEEKS TO BE BOTH THE SCHOOL AND THE STAGE, WHERE STUDENTS ARE GIVEN THE SUPPORT AND THE FREEDOM TO FIND THEIR VOICE AND TO DESIGN AND CREATE THEIR OWN UNIQUE ARTISTIC VISION. WE STRIVE TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS, CONFIDENCE, IMAGINATION AND POWER TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITY AS ARTISTS, ENTREPRENEURS, VISIONARIES, LIFELONG LEARNERS AND CONSCIENTIOUS CITIZENS OF THE WORLD. TO ACHIEVE THIS, AMDA PROVIDES RIGOROUS, PERFORMANCE-BASED TRAINING AND AN INDUSTRY-FOCUSED EDUCATION EXPERIENCE THAT INSPIRES EXCELLENCE AND PREPARES ARTISTS WITH AN APPRECIATION FOR THE UNIVERSAL POWER OF TRANSFORMATION THROUGH ART. ABOVE ALL, WE WANT TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS THAT COMMITMENT, PASSION, AND JOY ARE THE HALLMARKS TO A SUCCESSFUL CAREER.
- Income
- $127.5 million
- Spending
- $143.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- -6.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 99%
- Employees
- 1,534
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $672,888, president/director - see sch j.
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
Weak: 31 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 94% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 256 of 8 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
10 of 10Gave 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 (4)
- $97.1 million spent. INSTRUCTION: PROVIDE FULL-TIME POST SECONDARY TRAINING FOR APPROXIMATELY 1,500 STUDENTS IN THE PERFORMING ARTS. TWO PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS-A TWO-YEAR CONSERVATORY PROGRAM AND A FULL FOUR-YEAR BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS DEGREE IN MULTIPLE FIELDS OF STUDY (MUSICAL THEATER, ACTING, DANCE THEATER AND PERFORMING ARTS). INSTRUCTION-RELATED SERVICES ALSO INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT AND RELATED STUDENT SERVICES.
- $19.8 million spent. AUXILLIARY SERVICES: PROVIDES SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE INSTRUCTION OF THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION INCLUDING STUDENT HOUSING, FOOD SERVICES, BOOKSTORE, AND RELATED SERVICES.
- AMDA ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH AN UNRELATED ORGANIZATION TO HELP THE ORGANIZATION BUILD AND GROW A THEATER AND PERFORMING ARTS INDUSTRY IN THEIR COUNTRY. AMDA IS TO FILL THE ROLE OF A STRATEGIC PARTNER TO PROVIDE SUPPORT IN DESIGNING AND BUILDING PROGRAMS, CURRICULUM AND CONTENT IN LINE WITH BEST PRACTICES. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THIS PARTNERSHIP WILL EXIST FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
- HOUSING: TO LESSEN THE BURDENS OF THE GOVERNMENT, AMDA PROVIDED SHELTER TO THE POOR AND DISTRESSED OR UNDERPRIVILEGED.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1964.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.