Exposed Brick Theatre
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of Exposed Brick Theatre is to tell untold stories, center omitted narratives and create art at the intersection of identities. We seek to change the canon of theater - one story at a time.
- Income
- $241,916
- Spending
- $252,515
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 50%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 26
- Highest pay
- $63,500, co-artistic director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 (5)
- $132,952 spent. New Play Development and Performances. In 2025, Exposed Brick Theatre (EBT) produced the Through Our Eyes 2 - New Plays Festival. This Festival showcased the work of Twin Cities playwrights from historically excluded communitites, and was the culmination of a year-long Through Our Eyes playwriting cohort. The Festival included the world premiere productions of Burn & Dash by Sunny Thao and Quinceañera by Mayra Gurrola Calderón as well as three staged readings of new work. EBT also toured the play Muyehpen by Ehkhudah Zar, the first ever K'nyaw(Karen)-American play in the U.S., to Worthington, Minnesota; and hosted a stage reading of Zar's newest work, Tohkibaw & Nawthoemaw at Urban Village. Number benefitting: 1366
- $40,376 spent. Education: In 2025, EBT taught workshops at several middle, high school, colleges and universities in Minnesota. Over 90% of middle & high school classes were taught at either Minneapolis public schools or St. Paul Public High Schools, and over 95% of all workshops were offered for no cost to the schools. Workshops included Scenes from Muyehpen, a theater workshop using scenes from the first ever K'nyaw(Karen)-American play in the U.S.; Introductory Playwriting, Acting & Social Justice Theater classes. EBT also taught classes to college & universities, including partnership with OnStage to bring scenes from the Through Our Eyes 2 Festival plays into college classrooms to inspire dialogue about issues in the plays; as well as using theater as a way to create connections for incoming first year students at Southwest Minnesota State University. Number benefitting: 1421
- $27,470 spent. Artist Training: EBT provides quality arts classes to Twin Cities based artists. Artist Training includes the Through Our Eyes playwriting cohort, a paid, year-long cohort for 6 Twin Cities playwrights. Playwrights attend monthly classes, and are paired with mentors to support the development of a new play. In 2025, the cohort culminated with the Through Our Eyes 2 - New Play Festival, which was included in the New Plays Service Accomplishments category. In addition to the Cohort, in which playwrights are selected, EBT also provides Artist Training classes. While these classes are open to all artists, the classes center artists from historically excluded communities. EBT removes access barriers by offering classes at no cost & reimbursing transportation and childcare for in person classes. Classes taught into 2025 included a five week Storytelling for the Stage workshop series and a Crafting a Monologue workshop. Total Benefitting: 68
- $11,664 spent. Community Engagement: Community Engagement takes many forms, but is the work that we do in partnership with other organizations to use theater as a way of building community & engaging in inclusive storytelling events. 2025 collaborations include partnering with Speaking Out Collective for an intergenerational puppet show & puppet making workshop for children & families; and partnering with Theatre Mu and The SEAD Project for Diaspora After Dark, an evening of storytelling based on ghost stories. Number benefitting: 275
- $15,269 spent. Consulting. Using an arts-based focus, Exposed Brick provides consulting that focuses on increasing cultural competency and creating belonging. In 2025, EBT led workshops and training for several arts and funding organizations, and concluded a year-long equity audit project looking at arts funding in the state of Minnesota. EBT presented the findings from the audit at the 2025 Grantmakers in the Arts Conference. Note that the number benefitting only includes those who directly participated in workshops or trainings, and does not include the numerous individuals that have read the equity audit report. Number benefitting: 79
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2007.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.