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Stages Theatre Company Inc

EIN 36-3328812 · Hopkins, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

STAGES THEATRE COMPANY (STC) IS COMMITTED TO THE ENRICHMENT AND EDUCATION OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN A PROFESSIONAL THEATER ENVIRONMENT THAT STIMULATES ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE AND PERSONAL GROWTH.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
10.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
168
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$142,876, artistic director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 83 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (3)
  1. $1.4 million spent. THEATRE PRODUCTIONS- OUR ANNUAL SEASON OF PLAYS INSPIRES AUDIENCES WITH HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTIONS OF NEW WORK, POPULAR MUSICALS AND ADAPTION OF BELOVED CHILDREN'S STORIES. OUR PRODUCTIONS FEATURE YOUTH PERFORMING WITH PROFESSIONAL ADULT ACTORS WHO SERVE AS MENTORS. WE ENGAGE SOME OF THIS COMMUNITY'S MOST RESPECTED THEATER DESIGNERS, PLAYWRIGHTS, DIRECTORS AND TECHNICAL PERSONNEL IN THE CREATION OF OUR PLAYS, AND WE STRIVE FOR THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF QUALITY IN BOTH PROCESS AND PRODUCT, PLACING EQUAL VALUE ON THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH THROUGH THE CREATIVE PROCESS AND THE ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT PRESENTED TO AUDIENCES. YOUTH PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS THROUGH THEIR INVOLVEMENT AND THEY ALSO SERVE AS ROLE MODELS FOR YOUNG AUDIENCE MEMBERS.
  2. $973,132 spent. SCHOOL BASED AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS - STC'S COLLABORATIVE APPROACH WITH SCHOOLS HAS LED TO THE DESIGN OF STANDARDS-BASED THEATRE CURRICULA, BRINGING BEST PRACTICES AND INNOVATIVE DELIVERY OF PROGRAMMING AND ARTS INTEGRATION IN THE CLASSROOM. OUR FOCUS ON ARTS AND LITERACY POSITIONS STC TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP AND GRADUATION RATE ISSUES IN FUNDAMENTAL WAYS. STC'S INTENSIVE SCHOOL-YEAR EDUCATION PROGRAM AND CREATIVE WORKSHOPS ENGAGE YOUTH AGES 4-18 IN HIGH QUALITY THEATRE ARTS TRAINING PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION TO DEVELOPING THEIR CREATIVE ABILITIES, STUDENTS LEARN RESPONSIBILITY, SELF-DISCIPLINE, PERSEVERANCE, AND SELF-WORTH. OUR TEACHING ARTISTS AND PROGRAMS, ALONG WITH HIGH QUALITY ADMINISTRATION AND EVALUATION, MAKE STC THE LEADING PROVIDER OF THEATRE EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA.
  3. $56,222 spent. OUTREACH AND ACCESSIBILITY IS A CORE VALUE OF STAGES THEATRE COMPANY AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO REMOVING ALL BARRIERS TO ACCESSING OUR PROGRAMMING. EVERY INDIVIDUAL REGARDLESS OF ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES, GEOGRAPHY, OR ABILITY SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE JOY, WONDER, AND BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION IN THE THEATRE ARTS. THROUGH OUR OPEN DOOR PROGRAM, STC PROVIDES FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE TICKETS, TUITION ASSISTANCE, TRANSPORTATION SUBSIDIES AND ACCESSIBILITY PERFORMANCES FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 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 2025.

    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 December 1984.

    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.