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Educational Theatre Association Foundation

EIN 31-1436571 · Blue Ash, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceGood79 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE EDUCATIONAL THEATRE FOUNDATION (ETF) IS THE PHILANTHROPIC ARM OF THE EDUCATIONAL THEATRE ASSOCIATION (EDTA). SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2017, ETF HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO BROADENING REPRESENTATION AND INCREASING ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL THEATRE. ETF PROGRAMS SUPPORT STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND THE FIELD AT LARGE BY FOCUSING ON THREE STRATEGIC GOALS: ENHANCING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION; PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS; AND OFFERING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEATRE EDUCATORS. ETF AIMS TO INSPIRE THEATRE EDUCATORS TO TRANSFORM LIVES THROUGH THE POWER OF THEATRE.

Income
$390,151
Spending
$866,593
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
0
Volunteers
19
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

Weak: 43 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 122% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 42 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: 79 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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

    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.

  • 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 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 (3)
  1. $178,587 spent. PROGRAM GRANTS - THE JUMPSTART THEATRE PROGRAM IS A THREE-YEAR INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE MUSICAL THEATRE PROGRAMS IN UNDERSERVED MIDDLE SCHOOLS. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE EDUCATIONAL THEATRE FOUNDATION, MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL, ITHEATRICS, AND BROADWAY MEDIA, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES SCHOOLS WITH TRAINING, MATERIALS, AND SUPPORT TO PRODUCE THEIR FIRST FULL-SCALE MUSICAL PRODUCTION. THE GOAL IS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN ALL ASPECTS OF THEATRE, BUILD SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY INTEREST IN THE ARTS, AND PROVIDE A SCALABLE MODEL FOR SCHOOLS LACKING THEATRE PROGRAMS. IN 2024, JUMPSTART THEATRE LAUNCHED VERSION 2.0, INCREASING TOUCHPOINTS WITH COLLABORATING AND CULTURAL PARTNERS, INCREASING VISITS BY TEACHING ARTISTS TO EACH SCHOOL, AND ALIGNING THE THREE-YEAR PROGRAM STRUCTURE ACROSS PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS WITH OUR FIVE CURRENT CULTURAL PARTNERS.
  2. $337,330 spent. PRODUCTION GRANTS - THE EDUCATIONAL THEATRE FOUNDATION'S PRODUCTION GRANTS PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO SCHOOLS FOR PRODUCING PLAYS AND MUSICALS THAT PROMOTE RACIAL EQUITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND COMMUNITY GROWTH. THE CRAIG ZADAN PATHWAY FOR RACIAL EQUITY IN THE ARTS GRANT IS AWARDED TO HIGH SCHOOLS TO PRODUCE A MUSICAL OR PLAY THAT ENCOURAGES DIALOGUE AROUND RACIAL EQUITY. THE FIDDLER ON THE ROOF GRANT SECURES RIGHTS FOR SCHOOLS WHO PERFORM "FIDDLER ON THE ROOF," TO HELP EDUCATE COMMUNITIES ABOUT JEWISH HERITAGE AND CULTURE. THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN GRANT SUPPORTS PRODUCTIONS THAT ENHANCE THE SCHOOL THEATRE EXPERIENCE AND IMPACT COMMUNITIES FACING RACIAL DISPARITIES BY INVOLVING STUDENTS WITH INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS OF COLOR.
  3. $145,514 spent. STUDENT AND EDUCATOR SCHOLARSHIP AND AWARDS - THE THESPIAN GROWTH & EXCELLENCE GRANTS ARE EDUCATOR GRANTS AWARDED TO MANY SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT EDTA MEMBERSHIP, TEACHER DEVELOPMENT, AND PROGRAMMATIC RESOURCES FOR THEATRE IN SCHOOLS. MANY STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED BY ETF SUPPORT UNDERREPRESENTED APPLICANTS IN THE THEATRE INDUSTRY, FUTURE THEATRE EDUCATORS, FUTURE MARKETING PROFESSIONALS, AND CURRENT STUDENT LEADERS. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ATTENDANCE AT THE INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN FESTIVAL, AND FOR TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENT THESPIANS.

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 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 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 September 1996.

    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.