Performing Arts at Metropolis
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ARTISTICALLY LEAD OUR COMMUNITY AS AN EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMING ARTS AND EDUCATION CENTER. TO CREATE AN ARTISTIC, EDUCATIONAL AND COLLABORATIVE HOME FOR PERFORMERS, STUDENTS AND AUDIENCE MEMBERS. TO MAKE THE ARTS ACCESSIBLE TO OUR BROAD AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY. TO CULTIVATE LIFELONG APPRECIATION AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE ARTS. TO INTEGRATE THE ARTS INTO THELIVES OF OUR STUDENTS, AUDIENCES, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
- Income
- $3.4 million
- Spending
- $3.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 69%
- Employees
- 64
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $82,924, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 50% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 37 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 (2)
- $1.2 million spent. THE OPERATION OF A THEATER FOR LIVE PERFORMANCES, INCLUDING OUR OWN PROFESSIONALLY PRODUCED SHOWS, AS WELL AS PRESENTED SHOWS WHICH ARE COMPRISED OF CONCERTS, COMEDY, DANCE, AND A VARIETY OF CULTURAL PERFORMANCES. METROPOLIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE EMBRACES THE PRINCIPLE OF A DIVERSE AND WELL-ROUNDED SLATE OF PROGRAMMING TO OFFER OUR PATRONS. THIS PROGRAMMING INCLUDES: -HIGH VISIBILITY PLAYS AND MUSICALS-LESSER-KNOWN DIVERSE PLAYS AND MUSICALS-MUSIC CONCERTS INCLUDING CABARET, ROCK, FOLK, CLASSICAL, AND MULTICULTURAL GENRES STAND-UP COMEDY AND IMPROV COMEDY-CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING IN 2024, THERE WERE 32 PRESENTED SHOWS, 5 PRODUCED SHOWS AND 21 PERFORMANCES BY THE MP SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS. IN TOTAL, THERE WERE 196 PERFORMANCES WITH 45,194 PAID ATTENDEES.
- $1.0 million spent. THE METROPOLIS SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS PROMOTES ARTS EDUCATION TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. OFFERINGS INCLUDE GROUP DRAMA, IMPROV AND DANCE CLASSES, WORKSHOPS AND CAMPS THROUGH-OUT THE YEAR, AS WELL AS PRIVATE AND GROUP MUSIC LESSONS. THE SCHOOL ALSO PRODUCES THREE LIVE PRODUCTIONS A YEAR FOR SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN TO PERFORM IN. THESE PRODUCTIONS ARE DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY THEATER PROFESSIONALS AND HELD IN THE METROPOLIS THEATRE. A LARGE FOCUS OF THE SCHOOL IS TO PROMOTE ARTS EDUCATION OUTREACH. THE SCHOOL PARTNERS WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE ARTS EDUCATION TO SENIOR CITIZENS, PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, AND STUDENTS IN OTHER UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.THE SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS OFFERED IN-PERSON CAMPS AND PRODUCTIONS THROUGHOUT 2024. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 1,285 STUDENTS IN 2024.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.