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Jungle Theatre

EIN 41-1677757 · Minneapolis, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE JUNGLE'S MISSION IS TO CREATE COURAGEOUS, RESONANT THEATER THAT CHALLENGES, ENTERTAINS, AND SPARKS EXPANSIVE CONVERSATION. THE JUNGLE'S VISION IS TO BE A NEIGHBORHOOD THEATER WITH NATIONAL IMPACT, INDISPENSABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND ASPIRATIONAL TO THE FIELD. FOUNDED IN 1991, THE JUNGLE DEMONSTRATES HOW THE ARTS CAN BE A CATALYST FOR NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION, WITH A STRONG HISTORY OF BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS. IN 1999 THE THEATER MOVED INTO ITS PERMANENT HOME, AN INTIMATE 152-SEAT SPACE ACROSS THE INTERSECTION FROM ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION. ALONG WITH ITS REPUTATION FOR ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE, THE JUNGLE IS PRIZED BY ARTISTS FOR SUPPORTING THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO CAREER-DEFINING OPPORTUNITIES.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
-4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
116
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$90,547, managing 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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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 (2)
  1. $1.1 million spent. MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS:OUR 2023-24 SEASON SUSTAINED OUR COMMITMENT TO A MIX OF PRODUCTIONS BUILT IN-HOUSE ALONG WITH PRESENTED PRODUCTIONS. OUR SEASON INCLUDED SOLD-OUT DEVISED WORK "DINNER FOR ONE CREATED BY JUNGLE'S ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, CHRISTINA BALDWIN, AND LOCAL THEATERMAKERS SUN MEE CHOMET AND JIM LICHTSCHEIDL. WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE MOVING COMPANY TO PRODUCE THEIR BRAND NEW ADAPTATION CALLED "SAY ALL THE TRUTH AND WITH WE ARE MARRIED TO PRESENT THEIR BOLD IMMERSIVE PLAY CALLED "RICH DOGS". THESE THREE SHOWS ROUNDED OUT OUR FALL 2023 OFFERINGS AND PLAYED TO SOLD OUT CROWDS. WE FINISHED OUR MAINSTAGE SEASON WITH A REGIONAL PREMIER OF PLAYWRIGHT INDRA CRAIG GLAVAN'S "A JUMPING-OFF POINT". ALONG SIDE OUR MAINSTAGE SEASON, WE ALSO PRODUCED SEVERAL PLAY READINGS AND A NEW WORKS FESTIVAL FEATURING OUR ARTISTIC COHORT MEMBERS, KATIE KA VANG AND ISABELLA STAR LABLANC. WE ALSO CONTINUED OUR PAY AS YOU ARE TICKET MODEL - PAYA TIX MODEL HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL SINCE ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN 2021. THE MARKET PRICE OF OUR TIX IS $45, THOUGH PATRONS CAN CHOOSE TO PAY MORE OR LESS BETWEEN $15 AND $95, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. LAST YEAR 4,483 PEOPLE USED THE UNDER $45 TIX OPTION, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 40% OF OUR AUDIENCE AND IS A STATISTIC WE ARE PROUD OF. IN ADDITION TO INCREASING ECONOMIC ACCESSIBILITY, OTHER LAST SEASON SUCCESSES INCLUDE: 20% OF PATRONS ARE NEW TO JUNGLE EXPANDED OPEN CAPTIONING TO ALL READINGS (PLUS SEVERAL NIGHTS OF FULL PRODUCTIONS + ASL INTERPRETATION & AUDIO DESCRIPTIONS) RACIAL/ETHNIC DIVERSITY: INCREASED BIPOC PATRONS BY 17% ARTISTIC COHORT IN 4TH YEAR - GIVES ARTISTS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS ACCESS TO DEVELOPMENT & ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 7% INCREASE IN PATRONS WITH DISABILITIES
  2. $10,000 spent. LYNLAKE STREET ART SERIES:WE CO-SPONSORED THE LYNLAKE STREET ART SERIES, A WEEKEND FESTIVAL IN JULY 2024. THE EVENT RESULTED IN NEW VISUAL ARTWORK ON 22 WALLS IN THE LYNLAKE NEIGHBORHOOD, FEATURING THE WORK OF MORE THAN 65 LOCAL AND NATIONAL ARTISTS. WE ALSO COORDINATED YOUTH EDUCATIONAL GRAFFITI DEMONSTRATIONS LED BY SPRAYFINGER. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE STOPPED THE INDIVIDUAL WALL SITES. AUDIENCES WERE DIVERSE IN AGE, RACE/ETHNIC ORIGIN, AND GENDER, WITH MANY FAMILIES IN ATTENDANCE. OUR PARTNERSHIP BEAUTIFIED THE AREA, BROUGHT ECONOMIC BENEFITS, AND PROVIDED A COMMUNITY CELEBRATION THAT WAS FREE AND OPEN TO ALL.

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 July 1991.

    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.