Uptown Players Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of Uptown Players is to present professional theatre that meets a rising demand in the LGBTQ+ community for audiences to see their life experiences Represented on stage. Our diverse productions represent the LGBTQ+ community attitudes, mindsets and prospectives about their lives and current situation. We also provide the LGBTQ+ community an opportunity to examine itself and to develop confidence, self-awareness, and pride. We provide a safe place for LGBTQ+ patrons and their allies to fellowship, educate and entertain through plays and musicals that create a greater positive public awareness and acceptance through the performing arts.
- Income
- $938,104
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- -8.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 43%
- Employees
- 32
- Volunteers
- 125
- Highest pay
- $78,808, exec. producer
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
Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 71% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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 (1)
- $783,100 spent. DURING 2025, UPTOWN PLAYERS PRODUCED SIX LIVE PRODUCTIONS: WE ARE CONTINUOUS, BROADWAY OUR WAY 2025, XANADU THE MUSICAL, EVERYBODYS TALKING ABOUT JAMIE, IMAGINE, and STAR OF WONDER: A CAROL ANN CHRISTMAS. THE PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES WERE PRODUCTION EXPENSES THAT INCLUDED THEATER RENTAL, ROYALTY PAYMENTS, LABOR FOR CAST, CREW, DIRECTORS, AND DESIGNERS, LIGHTING, SOUND, SETS, COSTUMES, PROPS, TRAVEL, AND TICKETING EXPENDITURES. UPTOWN PLAYERS, INC. PRODUCTIONS ARE ALSO SUPPORTED BY APPROXIMATELY 125 VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP PROVIDE LABOR IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE THEATER.THE THEATER HAS WON OVER 25 LEON RABIN AWARDS AND 30 THEATER CRITICS FORUM AWARDS IN ITS FIRST TWENTY-THREE SEASONS. IT HAS ALSO BEEN NAMED THE BEST THEATER COMPANY BY THE DALLAS VOICE READERS, BY THE DALLAS OBSERVER AND BY D MAGAZINE. UPTOWN PLAYERS HAS BEEN FEATURED ON TELEVISION ON GOOD MORNING TEXAS AND DAYBREAK ON WFAA, TEXAS TODAY ON KXAS, FUN ON THE RUN ON CW33, AND LAST CALL ON FOX4.
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 September 2007.
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.