Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Flea Theater Inc

EIN 13-3904262 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak28 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE WORK TO CREATE A CULTURE WHERE BLACK, BROWN AND QUEER ARTISTS AND THEIR AUDIENCES CAN COMMUNE, CREATE ART ON THEIR OWN TERMS AND LIVE IN THEIR FULL EXPRESSION AND CULTURAL TRUTHS. WE WILL SUPPORT WORK THAT IS NOT STRICTLY DEFINED BY TRADITIONAL DESIGNATIONS LIKE "OFF-OFF-BROADWAY OR "THEATER". WHILE WE ARE A NYC BASED COMPANY, WE ENCOURAGE ARTISTS TO BE UNBOUND BY GEOGRAPHY OR PHYSICAL BUILDINGS. WE ALSO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUDIENCES TO DEEPEN THEIR KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICE AND INTEREST IN EXPERIMENTAL ART BY BLACK, BROWN AND QUEER ARTISTS.

Income
$920,911
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
-1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 44%
Employees
66
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$111,485, co-president/executive 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

Weak: 28 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 147% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 39 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 13 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

    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 (1)
  1. $1.8 million spent. THE FLEA'S 2024 WORLD PREMIERE WAS BATHHOUSE.PPTX, WRITTEN BY JESS I. VALLES AND DIRECTED BY CHAY YEW. MOVING BETWEEN (A)HISTORICAL LECTURE, RE-ENACTMENT, AND CRUISING GROUND, BATHHOUSE.PPTX IS AN ODE TO THE PLACES THAT HOLD QUEER AWAKENING, DESIRE, AND LONGING; THE GHOSTS WHO INHABIT THEM; AND THEIR THREAT OF EXTINCTION. BATHHOUSE.PPTX RECEIVED ITS WORLD PREMIERE FROM MARCH 22 - APRIL 21, 2024. DUE TO THIS PRODUCTION'S OVERWHELMING SUCCESS, THE FLEA EXTENDED THE RUN FOR 12 PERFORMANCES THROUGH MAY 6. VALLES WAS A 2024 TOW PLAYWRIGHT IN RESIDENCE AT THE FLEA. BATHHOUSE.PPTX WAS CALLED "A FEVER DREAM, BOTH POETIC AND MYSTIFYING" BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, AND GAY CITY NEWS EXCLAIMED, "BATHHOUSE.PPTX IGNITES OFF-OFF BROADWAY WITH ARTISTRY AND HEART... STUNNINGLY ORIGINAL." BATHHOUSE.PPTX WAS PUBLISHED IN 2024 BY YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS.THE FLEA COMPLETED OUR PILOT RESIDENT COMPANY PROGRAM, WHICH OFFERS THREE-YEAR RESIDENCIES TO A COHORT OF COMPANIES FROM OUR COMMUNITY THAT REQUIRE SUPPORT IN THEIR ARTISTIC AND OPERATIONAL CAPACITIES. THE A NEW COHORT OF TWO COMPANIES WAS SELECTED FOR 2025 AND INCLUDES VIBE THEATER EXPERIENCE, A BROOKLYN-BASED PERFORMING ARTS NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES FREE THEATER AND MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMMING, ACADEMIC AND WELLNESS SUPPORT SERVICES, YOUTH LEADERSHIP, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO BIPOC GIRLS, YOUNG WOMEN, AND GENDER-EXPANSIVE YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 13-26 THROUGHOUT NYC AND NATIONWIDE; AND TRIBE, A MULTIDISCIPLINARY ART COLLECTIVE THAT CULTIVATES SPACE TO CREATE A PLATFORM FOR ARTISTS INSPIRED BY THE AFROFUTURISM MOVEMENT, LED BY DORIS DUKE AWARD RECIPIENT AND MACARTHUR FELLOW SHAMEL PITTS.THE FLEA EXPANDED OUR JUNETEENTH PUBLIC PERFORMANCES PROGRAM IN 2024, COMMISSIONING AND PRODUCING THE WORK OF EIGHT ARTISTS WHO PRESENTED THEIR WORK FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT VENUES ACROSS NYC, INCLUDING THE AFRICAN BURIAL GROUND, LINCOLN CENTER ATRIUM, AND GOVERNORS ISLAND.THE FLEA ALSO PRODUCED THE NEW YORK PREMIERE OF AN INTERDISCIPLINARY OPERA, RITUAL OF BREATH: THE RITE TO RESIST, PRESENTED AT LINCOLN CENTER IN JULY 2024 IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HOPKINS CENTER AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE. THE OPERA TELLS A STORY OF LOSS AND CONVICTION TOLD FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ERICA GARNER, ERIC GARNER'S DAUGHTER. THE WORK WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH DOZENS OF "COMMUNITY ACTIVATIONS" ACROSS THE CITY LED BY A COMMUNITY PRODUCER THAT ENGAGED THOUSANDS OF NEW YORKERS ACROSS THE BOROUGHS IN BOTH FINE ARTS AND RACIAL JUSTICE ACTIVATIONS. THE OPERA WAS PERFORMED WITH A PROFESSIONAL COMPANY AND A 75-PERSON COMMUNITY CHOIR AND WAS FREE TO THE PUBLIC.FINALLY, IN DECEMBER, THE FLEA WON A FINISHING COMMISSION TO PARTNER WITH UNDER THE RADAR FESTIVAL TO DEVELOP OUR 2025 MAINSTAGE WE COME TO COLLECT: A FLIRTATION, WITH CAPITALISM WITH OBIE-AWARD WINNING ARTIST JENNIFER KIDWELL. THAT DEVELOPMENT BEGAN IN 2024 WITH A WORKSHOP AND CONTINUED INTO THE NEW YEAR.

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 December 2000.

    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.