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Segerstrom Center for the Arts

EIN 23-7287150 · Costa Mesa, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$106.0 million
Spending
$91.4 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 48%
Employees
768
Volunteers
519
Highest pay
$671,393, president/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 41 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    41 of 42 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

    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 June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $48.1 million spent. CENTER PRESENTATIONS SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS IS ONE OF THE NATION'S PREMIER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS. IT IS A UNIQUE ACHIEVEMENT OF COMMUNITY VISION, INITIATIVE, ARTISTIC ACCOMPLISHMENT AND GENEROSITY KNOWN FOR ITS STUNNING ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNICAL FACILITIES, IMPECCABLE ACOUSTICS AND THE EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY OF THE COMPANIES AND ARTISTS WHO PERFORM HERE. THE CENTER, ORANGE COUNTY'S LARGEST NON-PROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATION,OFFERS THE WORLD'S LEADING DANCE COMPANIES, BROADWAY SHOWS, AWARD-WINNING CLASSICAL, JAZZ AND CABARET ARTISTS, FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT, SPECIAL EVENTS AND YEAR-ROUND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE CENTER ENCOMPASSES THE 3,000-SEAT OPERA HOUSE STYLE SEGERSTROM HALL, THE 2,000-SEAT RENEE AND HENRY SEGERSTROM CONCERT HALL, THE 500-SEAT MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SAMUELI THEATER, 250-SEAT JUDY MORR THEATRE AND 46,000-SQUARE-FOOT JULIANNE AND GEORGE ARGYROS PLAZA. THE EDUCATION CENTER INCLUDES THE STUDIO PERFORMANCE SPACE AND BOEING EDUCATION LAB AS WELL AS THE OFFICES FOR THE CENTER'S EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. OTHER AMENITIES INCLUDE TWO PRIVATE DONOR ROOMS, GEORGE'S CAFE AND THE ELEGANT LEATHERBY'S CAFE ROUGE. THE PERFORMANCE VENUES ALL FEATURE ARTIST AMENITIES, INCLUDING DRESSING ROOMS, ARTIST LOUNGES, PRACTICE SUITES AND REHEARSAL STUDIOS.
  2. $14.0 million spent. HALL RENTAL OPERATIONS SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS IS ALSO THE HOME OF THREE RESIDENT COMPANIES: PACIFIC SYMPHONY, THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTY, AND PACIFIC CHORALE. TOGETHER THE RESIDENT COMPANIES HAVE OVER 100 PERFORMANCES A YEAR AT THE CENTER. IN ADDITION TO THE RESIDENT COMPANIES, THE CENTER ALSO RENTS TO OTHER USERS.
  3. $5.3 million spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS THE CENTER HAS ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST RESPECTED EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENTS TO SERVE ORANGE COUNTY'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THEIR PROGRAMS REACH MORE THAN 360,000 STUDENTS IN ELEMENTARY THROUGH UNIVERSITY LEVELS, EDUCATORS AND FAMILIES WITH PROGRAMS AND EVENTS AT THE CENTER AND IN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. MANY PERFORMANCES IN FAMILY ORIENTED PRODUCTIONS ARE SENSORY FRIENDLY AND ASL INTERPRETED. THE CENTER IS ALSO HOME TO THE AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE WILLIAM J. GILLESPIE SCHOOL FOR YOUNG DANCERS 3-18 AND STUDIO D: ARTS SCHOOL FOR ALL ABILITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 2025.

    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 November 1974.

    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.