Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Applause Academy Ma Inc

EIN 27-1541994 · Taunton, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceFair52 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE ARE A NON-PROFIT YOUTH THEATRICAL ORGANIZATION OFFERING MAIN STAGE PRODUCTIONS; MUSICAL

Income
$364,171
Spending
$466,904
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 46%
Employees
0
Volunteers
9

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 41% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 August 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. $386,490 spent. MAIN STAGE PRODUCTIONS CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN FULL LENGTH MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTIONS IN WHICH THEY LEARN MUSIC, CHOREOGRAPHY, ACTING TECHNIQUES AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. DURING THE REHEARSAL PERIOD, CHILDREN ARE INTRODUCED TO THE AUDITION PROCESS AND ATTEND A REHEARSAL SCHEDULE. SHOWS CONCLUDE WITH COSTUME FITTINGS, TECHNICAL REHEARSALS, MAKEUP AND LIVE PERFORMANCES IN FRONT OF PUBLIC AUDIENCES.
  2. VACATION THEATRE CAMP DURING THE 2021-2022 FISCAL YEAR FEBRUARY, APRIL AND SUMMER THEATRE CAMPS WERE OFFERED. DURING THEATRE CAMPS ORIGINAL MUSICAL THEATRE SHOWS ARE PRODUCED IN 5 DAYS. CHILDREN ARE DIVIDED ACCORDING TO AGE. EVERY 30 MINUTES CHILDREN ROTATE TO A DIFFERENT THEATRICAL ACIVITY TO HELP THEM MASTER THE PRODUCTION IN 5 DAYS. ROTATIONS INCLUDE MUSIC CHOREOGRAPHY, ACTING THEATRE GAMES, CRAFTS, COSTUME FITTINGS, MAKEUP AND HOW TO EFFECTIVELY USE PROPS. VACATION THEATRE CAMP CONCLUDES WITH A LIVE PERFORMANCE IN FRONT OF A PUBLIC AUDIENCE COMPLETE WITH SETS, LIGHTING, AUDIO, COSTUMES AND PROPS.
  3. VOICE LESSONS DURING VOICE LESSONS STUDENTS WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE VOICE TEACHER TO LEARN PROPER BREATHING TECHNIQUES, BREATH SUPPORT, PITCH MATING AND HEALTHY SIGNING TECHNIQUES. DURING THE COSTUME ASSISTANT PROGRAM CHILDREN WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE COSTUME DESIGNER TO LEARN HOW TO TAKE MEASUREMENTS, CUT PATTERNS, USE A SEWING MACHINE, INSERT ZIPPERS, SEW BUTTONS, SNAPS AND FASTENERS. UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COSTUME DESIGNER CHILDREN CREATE THE COSTUMES THAT ARE WORN BY THE ACTORS IN OUR PRODUCTION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 2011.

    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.