Tennessee Shakespeare Company
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 49% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 49%
- Reserves
- 8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 69%
- Employees
- 30
- Volunteers
- 18
- Highest pay
- $75,721, producing art. dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1549% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (2)
- $571,043 spent. THE ORGANIZATION IS THE MID-SOUTH'S ONLY PROFESSIONAL, CLASSICAL THEATRE AND EDUCATION COMPANY PERFORMING THE PLAYS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE AND OTHER CLASSICAL AND SOUTHERN WRITERS; AND PROVIDING INNOVATIVE TRAINING AND OUTREACH PROGRAMMING TO LEARNERS OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES, AND BACKGROUNDS. THE 2023-24 PRODUCTIONS INCLUDED THE "FREE SHOUT-OUT SHAKESPEARE" PRODUCTION OF THE TEMPEST; THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST BY OSCAR WILDE; A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE BY TENNESSEE WILLIAMS; HAMLET; THE LITERARY SALON OF THE BIBLE OF BARBARA KINGSOLVER; THE CHILDREN'S LITERACY GALA; THE ROMEO AND JULIET PROJECT; THE MACBETH INITIATIVE; THE JUVENILE JUSTICE PROJECT, AND THE FEAST OF CRISPIAN-SOUTH PROGRAM FOR MILITARY VETERANS. OVER 25,000 POINTS OF CONTACT WERE CREATED DURING THE SEASON.
- $19,979 spent. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED OVER 340 YEAR-ROUND EDUCATIONAL, TRAINING, AND OUTREACH SESSIONS THAT ENGAGED OVER 20,000 STUDENT INTERACTIONS IN THE MEMPHIS AREA DURING 2023-24. ITS ONLINE ACADEMY INCREASED OFFERINGS TO OVER 65 COURSES, LECTURES, PLAYSHOPS, AND PERFORMANCES. PROGRAMS INCLUDED THE NATIONALLY-ACCLAIMED ROMEO AND JULIET PROJECT, WHICH BRINGS A 90- MINUTE PERFORMANCE OF THE PLAY AND THREE NON-VIOLENCE WORKSHOPS TO EVERY FRESHMAN IN PARTNERING TITLE 1 HIGH SCHOOLS. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDED THE SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION PROGRAM OF THE MACBETH INITIATIVE DELIVERED IN SCHOOLS TO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS, WHO EXPERIENCED THE PERFORMANCE ACCOMPANIED BY A PLAYSHOP BASED ON THE PLAY'S THEMES; STUDENT MATINEES OF ROMEO AND JULIET, MACBETH, IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, AND HAMLET; IN-SCHOOL PLAYSHOPS; ARTS-IN-EDUCATION RESIDENCIES; MULTIPLE SUMMER AND WINTER CAMPS FOR ADOLESCENTS; YEAR-ROUND RESIDENCIES FOR ADJUDICATED YOUTH IN TWO MEMPHIS DETENTION FACILITIES; AND LONG-TERM RESIDENCIES FOR MILITARY VETERANS IN CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY/PTSD UNITS AT THE MEMPHIS V.A. HOSPITAL.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2008.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.