Herbert Berghof Studio Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 70 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
HB STUDIO, FOUNDED IN 1945 BY HERBERT BERGHOF AND UTA HAGEN, IS AN ARTISTIC HOME FOR ACTORS, PLAYWRIGHTS AND DIRECTORS AT EVERY LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT. WE PROVIDE A HAVEN FOR WORKING PROFESSIONALS, FREE FROM COMMERCIAL PRESSURES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
- Income
- $2.1 million
- Spending
- $2.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- -1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 84%
- Employees
- 96
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $86,484, executive/ artistic director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 10 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 65% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 70 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 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 August 31, 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)
- $2.0 million spent. (A) THE UTA HAGEN INSTITUTE FOR FULL TIME STUDY:ALL FY25 PROGRAMS WERE HELD IN-PERSON.(I) HAGEN SUMMER INTENSIVE: 6-WEEK, 5-DAY, FULL-TIME INTENSIVE PROGRAM FOCUSED ON UTA HAGEN'S APPROACH TO ACTING TECHNIQUE AND REHEARSAL PROCESS. 6/23/25 TO 8/01/25, 12 STUDENTS SERVED, 10 SCHOLARSHIPS GRANTED.(II) HAGEN TEACHERS LAB: A FIVE-DAY INTENSIVE FULL-TIME PROGRAM FOR ACTORS AND EDUCATORS INTERESTED IN TEACHING UTA HAGEN'S ACTING EXERCISES AND METHODOLOGY 08/11/25 TO 8/15/25, 12 STUDENTS SERVED, 2 SCHOLARSHIPS GRANTED. TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR 1 UTA HAGEN AWARD RECIPIENT WERE SPONSORED BY THE COLLEGE OF FELLOWS OF THE AMERICAN THEATRE.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)(B) STUDIO CLASSES FOR TRAINING AND PRACTICE: FALL, WINTER, SPRING, AND SUMMER TERMS: ACTING, ACTING IMPROVISATION, ACTING ON CAMERA, SCENE STUDY, ACTING TECHNIQUE, MOVEMENT & THE BODY, MUSICAL THEATER & SINGING, SPEAKING VOICE, SPEECH, DIRECTING, PLAYWRITING, AND MORE. 3231 ENROLLMENTS, IN 272 CLASSES/YEAR, SEPTEMBER THROUGH AUGUST, 1520 STUDENTS SERVED, 74 SCHOLARSHIPS GRANTED, 267 WORK-STUDY GRANTS. CLASSES WERE OFFERED IN BOTH ONLINE AND IN-PERSON FORMATS.(C) HB STUDIO SPECIAL WORKSHOPS: IN ADDITION TO THE REGULAR TERM-LENGTH STUDIO CLASS SCHEDULE, HB OFFERED SHORT TERM (1-5 SESSIONS) SKILL BUILDING AND SPECIAL FOCUS WORKSHOPS. 696 ENROLLMENTS IN 64 WORKSHOPS, 462 STUDENTS SERVED, 2 SCHOLARSHIPS GRANTED, 33 WORK-STUDY GRANTS. WORKSHOPS WERE CONDUCTED IN BOTH ONLINE AND IN-PERSON FORMATS FROM SEPTEMBER 16 THROUGH THE YEAR'S END.(D) RESIDENCY PROJECTS: HB STUDIO'S RESIDENCY PROGRAM PROVIDES SPACE FOR ARTISTS TO REHEARSE AND PRESENT A NEW WORK AT AN EARLY- TO MID-STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT WITH THE PRODUCTION CAPABILITY OF THE HB PLAYWRIGHTS FOUNDATION THEATER. SIX(6) WEEK-LONG RESIDENCIES, FEATURING 54 ARTISTS, CULMINATING IN A PUBLIC PRESENTATION. RESIDENCY PROJECTS INCLUDED: SONS OF AN UNKNOWN FATHER (2/3/25-2/9/25); PYRRHA, THE POET, AND PLANET EARTH (3/31/25-4/6/25); DIVERGENTS: QUE HARIAS POR AMOR?(6/9/25-6/15/25); MY BODY SAYS NO (6/23/25-6/29/25); WAITING: A QUEER BLACK TRAGICOMEDY IN TWO ACTS (7/7/25-7/13/25); AND LUCHA LIBRE (7/21/25-7/27/25); HB ALSO HOSTED ACTING OUT AND CONCH SHELL PRODUCTIONS. ACTING OUT IS A RESIDENT COMPANY OF FORMERLY INCARCERATED PERSONS THAT PRESENTED THE ODETS PROJECT (1/18/25-1/19/25), AN ACTING OUT BOOK EVENT (5/4/25), AND RICH: SONGS OF LOVE AND OUTRAGE (8/3/25). CONCH SHELL PRODUCTIONS IS A RESIDENT COMPANY SUPPORTING EMERGING VOICES OF THE CARIBBEAN DIASPORA AND THE CARIBBEAN THEATRE AND FILM SCENE AND PRESENTED ITS NEW WORKS FESTIVAL (12/6/24-12/7/24). HB ALSO HOSTED SPIDERWOMAN THEATER, THE OLDEST CONTINUALLY RUNNING INDIGENOUS FEMINIST THEATER COMPANY IN THE AMERICAS, WHICH PRESENTED A STORYWEAVING WORKSHOP PERFORMANCE (5/16/25-5/17/25), AND BASEMENT THEATRICS, AN EMERGING THEATRE COLLECTIVE DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW WORK THROUGH READINGS, WORKSHOPS, PRODUCTIONS, AND ARTIST-CENTERED COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING. THESE RESIDENCY PROJECTS AND HOSTED COMPANIES ENGAGED 137 ARTIST, PRESENTED 17 PUBLIC PERFORMANCES AND PRESENTATIONS, AND SERVED AN AUDIENCE OF 714.(E) COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP: WINSTON TRANSITIONSHB PARTNERED WITH NONPROFIT PRIVATE NYC-BASED WINSTON PREPARATORY SCHOOL, AN INNOVATIVE DAY SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES. HB TEACHING ARTISTS WORKED WITH STUDENTS IN WINSTON'S 'TRANSITIONS' PROGRAM--THOSE WHO HAVE GRADUATED FROM 12TH GRADE, BUT NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO TRANSITION TO THE WORKFORCE OR COLLEGE. THE PROGRAM SERVED 30 YOUNG ADULTS, WITH 13 60-MINUTE SESSIONS OVER 9 MONTHS, USING ACTORS' TOOLS TO SUPPORT SELF-EXPRESSION, INDEPENDENT LEARNING, COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL SKILLS. HB ALSO WELCOMED AN INTERN FROM WINSTON TO WORK ON-SITE IN THE STUDIO'S OFFICE TO TRAIN IN WORKPLACE SKILLS.(F) PUBLIC PROGRAMS: THEATER PROGRAM(I) HB STUDIO WORKS-IN-PROGRESS PRODUCTIONS AND PUBLIC EVENTS:TWENTY EIGHT (28) PUBLIC EVENTS OVER 32 DATES, FEATURING 367 ARTISTS AND SERVING AN AUDIENCE OF 794. SINGING VOICE PRESENTATIONS, 11/21/24, 3/11/25, 3/13/25, 3/16/25, 5/27/25, 6/1/25, 8/17/25; ACTING THE SONG PRESENTATIONS, 11/22/24, 3/12/25, 3/14,/25, 5/30/25, 6/2/25; INDEPENDENT STUDY PROJECT LAB PRESENTATIONS, 11/24/24, 3/12/25, 6/3/25, 8/20/25; ACTING FOR TEENS PRESENTATIONS, 11/24/24, 3/23/25, 6/1/25; STAGE COMBAT PRESENTATION, 3/18/25; PLAYWRITING WORKSHOP WITH JOSE RIVERA, 5/9/25; BEHIND THE STUDIO DOORS OPEN HOUSES, 3/15/25, 5/31/25; TESTIMONY: THEATRE AS WITNESS TO OUR TIMES, 4/22/25; AMERICAN SCOREBOARD, 5/19/25; HB STUDIO TONY AWARD VIEWING PARTY, 6/8/25; VELVET RAGE: A QUEER-ASS PLAY, 6/19/25-6/22/25; RICH: SONG OF LOVE AND OUTRAGE, 8/3/25; AND THE HELEN GALLAGHER MEMORIAL, 8/4/25.(II) WORKS-IN-PROGRESS READINGS:HB HOSTED EIGHT(8) STAGED READINGS OF NEW FULL-LENGTH PLAYS AND ESTABLISHED WORKS IN DEVELOPMENT PRESENTED IN THE HB PLAYWRIGHTS THEATRE AND THE HELEN GALLAGHER STUDIO THEATRE, FEATURING 56 ARTIST, TO A TOTAL AUDIENCE OF 197. READINGS FEATURED: VELVET RAGE: A QUEER ASS PLAY (4/12/25), RHINOCEROS (4/9/25), IMPLICIT MEMORY SYSTEM: A JUNGIAN FARCE (4/26/25),BHAI BHAI BHAI (5/11/25), ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST (5/17/25), THE AUDITIONEERS (5/18/25), EXIT THE KING (5/31/25), AND STAY CALM (6/7/25).(III) MODERATED PUBLIC TALKS: PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS WITH ARTISTS ABOUT CONTEMPORARY THEATER CONCERNS. FOUR(4) PUBLIC TALKS WERE HELD IN FY25, FEATURING 22 ARTISTS AND SERVING AN AUDIENCE OF 106. TOPICS INCLUDED: A CONVERSATION WITH MAX CASELLA AND MICHAEL BECKETT (3/9/25); CROWDFUNDING FOR CREATIVES: TURNING COMMUNITY INTO CAPITAL WITH ZAQ LATINO (5/3/25); THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ROUNDTABLE (5/24/25); AND A CONVERSATION WITH HADI TABBAL (6/1/25); AND THREE(3) PODCAST CONVERSATIONS (HB INSIGHT SERIES): THE TESTIMONY PROJECT, PT.1: THEATRE AS A WITNESS TO OUR TIMES WITH FRANK WOOD AND EMILY ADLER; THE TESTIMONY PROJECT, PT.2: NOEL COWARD'S LEGACY AT HB STUDIO WITH ALAN PALLY AND FRANK WOOD; AND THE TESTIMONY PROJECT, PT.3 WITH TINA SATTER AND FRANK WOOD.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 December 1993.
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.