Acting Without Boundaries
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TRANSFORMING LIVES AND BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM IN AN EMPOWERING COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES THROUGH THEATER THAT CELEBRATES ABILITY. ACTING WITHOUT BOUNDARIES LIVES OUT ITS MISSION BY: CHALLENGING PERCEPTIONS ABOUT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR CAPABILITIES; PRODUCING PROFESSIONAL QUALITY THEATER IN NONTRADITIONAL WAYS; TEACHING PERFORMING ARTS SKILLS THROUGH YEAR ROUND PROGRAMS AND WORKSHOPS THAT BUILD CONFIDENCE ON STAGE AND BEYOND; CREATING A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES; GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH PERFORMANCES AND PRESENTATIONS.
- Income
- $489,061
- Spending
- $434,019
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 9.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 3
- Highest pay
- $125,500, managing 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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 44% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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
Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (1)
- $330,919 spent. THE GOAL OF ACTING WITHOUT BOUNDARIES (AWB) PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WHO HAVE A PHYSICAL DISABILITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE THEIR LOVE OF ACTING AND PERFORMING WHILE BUILDING THEIR BELIEF IN THEMSELVES AND THEIR ABILITIES. MONTHLY WORKSHOPS ARE CONDUCTED BY PROFESSIONAL ACTORS AND THEATER EDUCATORS. PARTICIPANTS PERFORM ON STAGE AND RECEIVE TRAINING IN MEMORIZING AND RECITING MONOLOGUES, ACTING IN PLAYS, SINGING, AND VARIOUS IMPROVISATIONAL TECHNIQUES. AN ANNUAL MAJOR PRODUCTION IS STAGED FOR THE COMMUNITY FOLLOWING AN INTENSIVE FOUR DAY WORKSHOP IN THE FALL. THE MELODIES PROGRAM (FORMALLY KNOWN AS KIDS ARE KIDS) IS CRUCIAL FOR AWB TO LIVE OUT ITS MISSION OF IMPROVING COMMUNITY AWARENESS, ACCEPTANCE, ACCESS AND INCLUSION FOR PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. THE PROGRAM IS COMPRISED OF A ROBUST SCHEDULE WHICH INCLUDES DISABILITY OUTREACH, AWARENESS AND EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS AT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE-SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES MINI COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES, RETIREMENT FACILITIES AND OTHER COMMUNITY CENTERS. AWB ALSO PLANS FIELD TRIPS TO PLACES LIKE THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC AND THE WALNUT STREET THEATRE TO PROVIDE VARIOUS EXPERIENCES.
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 February 1997.
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.