Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Independent Shakespeare Co Inc

EIN 20-1004993 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE BRING LOS ANGELES TOGETHER THROUGH EXUBERANT, SURPRISING PRODUCTIONS OF CLASSICAL PLAYS AS WELL AS NEW WORKS. WE ADDRESS THE INEQUITY OF ACCESS TO THE PERFORMING ARTS THROUGH FREE AND LOW-COST PROGRAMMING. WE CREATE THEATER THAT IS DYNAMIC, INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE; ENRICHING OUR COMMUNITY AND REACHING NEW THEATER AUDIENCES.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
34
Volunteers
65
Highest pay
$95,962, managing 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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 70% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 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

    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 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 (3)
  1. $394,194 spent. GRIFFITH PARK FREE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL - 40 PERFORMANCES WERE PRESENTED FREE TO AUDIENCES: AS YOU LIKE IT BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. APPROXIMATELY 25,000 INDIVIDUALS ATTENDED.
  2. $230,853 spent. STUDIO PRODUCTIONS - THE ORGANIZATION PRESENTED THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTIONS AT THE INDOOR STUDIO THEATER: HAMLET, SOLUS ADAPTED BY DAVID MELVILLE HAD 12 PERFORMANCES AND APPROXIMATELY 375 ATTENDED. HAPPY DAYS BY SAMUEL BECKETT HAD 14 PERFORMANCES AND APPROXIMATELY 450 ATTENDED. A CHRISTMAS CAROL WITH CHARLES DICKENS HAD 14 PERFORMANCES AND APPROXIMATELY 800 ATTENDED. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HOSTED IAMBIC LAB, A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS, READINGS, AND SALONS.
  3. $9,578 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS - IN THE COMMUNITY, THE ORGANIZATION HOLDS STUDIO CLASSES IN SCENE STUDY FOR PROFESSIONAL AND NONPROFESSIONAL ACTORS. IT EXECUTED CURRICULUM AND WORKSHOPS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HOSTED PLAYERS IN THE PARK, A FAMILY WORKSHOP PRESENTED BEFORE SELECT PERFORMANCES OF THE GRIFFITH PARK FREE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY APPROXIMATELY 65 PEOPLE.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.