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Educational Theatre Association

EIN 31-0743605 · Blue Ash, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE EDUCATIONAL THEATRE ASSOCIATION IS A 501C3 NON-PROFIT WHOSE MISSION IS TO INSPIRE AND SUPPORT THEATRE EDUCATORS TO DELIVER EQUITABLE, TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR ALL. WE DO THIS BY INVESTING IN THE INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE GROWTH AND EXCELLENCE OF THEATRE EDUCATORS, AMPLIFYING THE VALUE OF EDUCATIONAL THEATRE, AND CREATING DYNAMIC STUDENT EXPERIENCES THAT DRIVE LIFELONG ENGAGEMENT.

Income
$7.4 million
Spending
$8.1 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 84%
Employees
31
Volunteers
425
Highest pay
$344,416, executive director

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

Financial health

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 44% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    0 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 December 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 (4)
  1. $1.8 million spent. INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN SOCIETY - THE INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN SOCIETY (ITS) IS AN HONOR SOCIETY FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE STUDENTS. IT ACKNOWLEDGES AND CELEBRATES THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF YOUNG THEATRE ENTHUSIASTS WHO ENGAGE IN THEATRICAL ACTIVITIES. THESPIANS ARE INDUCTED INTO A SCHOOL TROUPE UPON THE COMPLETION OF A REQUISITE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF WORK IN THEATRE. THE ITS SUPPORTS OVER 5,000 TROUPES, 75,000 ACTIVE THESPIANS, AND OVER 2.5 MILLION ALUMNI. THE PRESENCE OF A TROUPE OR THESPIANS AT A SCHOOL PROVIDES CREDIBILITY AND DISTINCTION UPON THE STUDENTS AND THE SCHOOL, UNDERSCORING THE EXCELLENCE OF THEIR THEATRE PROGRAMS.
  2. $3.9 million spent. INTERNATIONAL THESPIANS FESTIVAL - THE INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN FESTIVAL (ITF) IS THE PREMIER EVENT FOR MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN SOCIETY (ITS). THE ITF IS HELD ANNUALLY TO CELEBRATE OUTSTANDING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS IN THEATRE AND PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR YOUNG THESPIANS TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENTS ON A NATIONAL STAGE. ITF IS ATTENDED ANNUALLY BY OVER 5,000 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, WHO COULD ATTEND WORKSHOPS AND MASTERCLASSES LED BY EXPERT TEACHING ARTISTS, PARTICIPATE IN BACKSTAGE CHALLENGES, VIEW THEIR PEERS IN OVER 45 PRODUCTIONS, COMPETE IN THE THESPY'S PROGRAM AND ENGAGE IN PANELS WITH BROADWAY AND THEATRE INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS. THE FESTIVAL OFFERS VALUABLE EXPERIENCE TO DEVELOP SKILLS, EARN RECOGNITION, AUDITION FOR COLLEGES AND NETWORK WITH THEATRE PROFESSIONALS.
  3. $940,254 spent. ADULT MEMBERSHIP - MEMBERSHIP IN EDUCATIONAL THEATRE ASSOCIATION (EDTA) IS OPEN TO ADULT THEATRE EDUCATORS. A MEMBER HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, NETWORKING WITH PEERS, ACCESS CURRICULUM AND LESSON PLANS, AND OTHER TOOLS TO SUPPORT THEIR TEACHING AND THEATRE PROGRAMS. MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN A COMMUNITY FORUM TO SHARE RESOURCES, ENGAGE IN DISCUSSIONS, SEEK ADVICE FROM PEERS, AND FIND SUPPORT FROM A NETWORK OF FELLOW EDUCATORS. MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND ADVOCACY TOOLS, SUCH AS THE ANNUAL CLIMATE SURVEY, PREMIERE COMMUNITIES DESIGNATIONS, AND THEATRE IN OUR SCHOOLS WEEK, AND CAN BE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEATRE EDUCATION THROUGH VARIOUS AWARDS AND HONORS.
  4. $522,970 spent. EDTA THEATRE EDUCATORS CONFERENCE (TEC) - THEATRE EDUCATORS CONFERENCE (TEC) IS AN ANNUAL EVENT THAT SUPPORTS AND INSPIRES THEATRE EDUCATORS. THE THREE-DAY CONFERENCE IS PACKED WITH INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS, INSPIRING KEYNOTES, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION AND MENTORSHIP. EDUCATORS PARTICIPATE IN SESSIONS LED BY LEADING EXPERTS, ENGAGE IN RESEARCH ROUNDTABLES, AND ATTEND PRE-CONFERENCE INTENSIVES ON TOPICS, SUCH AS CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PEDAGOGY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 April 1989.

    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 November 4, 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.