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Stella Adler Studio of Acting

EIN 13-4112234 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak19 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 78 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE STUDIO'S MISSION IS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WITH THE PURPOSE OF NURTURING THEATRE ARTISTS WHO VALUE HUMANITY, THEIR OWN AND OTHERS, AS THEIR FIRST AND MOST PRECIOUS PRIORITY WHILE PROVIDING ART AND EDUCATION TO THE GREATER COMMUNITY.

Income
$9.2 million
Spending
$9.8 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-6.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%
Employees
236
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$130,700, president & artistic direc

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

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 121% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 78 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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)
  1. $8.3 million spent. THE STUDIO CONDUCTS FULL AND PART-TIME PROGRAMS AND OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF INDIVIDUAL WORKSHOPS FOR PROFESSIONAL AND ASPIRING PROFESSIONALS IN NEW YORK, NY AND LOS ANGELES, CA. STUDENTS MAY ALSO STUDY AT THE STUDIO THROUGH NEW YORK UNIVERSITY'S TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS PROGRAM. THE STUDIO HAS AN ADDITIONAL ROBUST CORE OF PROGRAMS THAT SERVE THE PUBLIC. THE STELLA ADLER OUTREACH DIVISION PROVIDES FREE PROGRAM TO SEVERELY UNDER-SERVED INNER-CITY POPULATIONS AND HAS A MANDATE TO ADDRESS THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE. THE STUDIO'S ART SERIES ACTIVITY IS AIMED AT PROVIDING WORLD-CLASS CULTURAL PROGRAMMING TO THE BROADER PUBLIC AT FREE OR LOW-COST ADMISSIONS. THIS CULTURAL CENTER ACTIVITY FOCUSES ON MAKING HIGH ART ACCESSIBLE TO THE MAN AND WOMAN ON THE STREET.

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

  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 November 6, 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 August 2025.

    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 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 November 4, 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.