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Noor Theatre

EIN 27-2594048 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Noor Theatre is an OBIE Award winning company with a mission to support, develop and produce the work of theatre artists of Middle Eastern and North African/South West Asian and North African(MENA/SWANA) descent. Founded in 2010, Noor was created to serve these artists in developing their voices and to share their often-unheard stories with a diverse audience. As New York Citys only company with this mission, we provide an important space for MENA/SWANA voices to be heard. In doing so, we encounter negative stereotypes, share nuanced work that reflects the uique perspectives of our artists, and ensure that our communities are represented and celebrated in the larger theatre ecosystem. We are committed to provide an artistic home for artists where they can find support throughout their creative process-from inception through development. We organize our rogramming into three primary categories: commissions & new work development, global exchange, and community-centered events & partners

Income
$157,463
Spending
$259,138
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
7.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
5
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$31,705, executive director

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: 63 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 65% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $182,574 spent. COMMISSIONING PROGRAM: NOOR THEATRES COMMISSIONING INITIATIVE WAS CREATED IN ORDER TO HELP BUILD THE CANON OF WORK BY ARTISTS OF MIDDLE EASTERN AND NORTH AFRICAN (MENA) DESCENT. PLAY COMMISSIONS ARE AWARDED TO PLAYWRIGHTS, WHO EMBARK ON A FULL-LENGTH NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS WITH NOOR. HIGHLIGHT READING SERIES: IN FY 25-26, NOOR PRODUCED ITS 11TH ANNUAL HIGHLIGHT READING SERIES SHOWCASING NEW WORK BY ARTISTS OF MENA/SWANA DESCENT. HE WORKS WERE SELECTED PURSUAN TO A COMPREHENSIVE OPEN SUBMISSIONS PROCESS IN SPRING 2025, AND THE READINGS TOOK PLACE IN SUMMER AND FALL 2025 IN NYC. NOOR ALSO CONTINUED TO DEVELOPE ANOTHER COMMISSIONED PIECE, THE 30 NAMES OF NIGHT, AND RECORDING A CONCEPT ALBUM FOR THE MUSICAL FOUAD OF NAZARETH. NOOR IS ALSO ACTIVELY LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR POSSIBLE PRODUCTIONS OF NEW PLACS DEVELOPED AND PLANNING FOR THE NEXT ITERATION OF ARAB VOICES GLOBAL EXCHANGE INITIATIVE. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS AND PARTNERSHIPS: THROUGHOUT FY25, NOOR PRODUCED VARIOUS COMMUNITY-CENTERED EVENTS, INCLUDING BROADYWAS FIRST EVER MENA COMMUNITY NIGHT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ROUNDABOUT THRATRE COMPANY FOR ITS PRODUCTION OF ENGLIHS BY IRANIAN-AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHT SANAZ TOOSSI, CASUAL COMMUNITY GATHERINGS SUCH AS NOORS CHAI & CHAT SERIES, RAMADAN IFTARS, CELEBRATIONS OF NOROOZ (NEW YEAR), AND NOOR NIGHTS FOR MULTIPLE PRODUCTIONS WRITTEN BY MENA/SWANA THROUGHOUT NEW YORK CITY.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2010.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.