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American Gothic Performing Arts

EIN 42-1422382 · Ottumwa, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CELEBRATING THE PERFORMING ARTS, SPECIFICALLY MUSICAL THEATER IN THE PERFORMING OF FULL-LENGTH FEATURE MUSICALS AND JUNIOR MUSICALS PRESENTED BY HIGH SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS. PROVIDING EDUCATION WITH MUSICAL TRAINING, CHORAL PRESENTATIONS AND BAND PERFORMANCES OF VARYING MUSICAL STYLES ALL AIMED AT ENHANCING THE TALENTS OF LOCAL PERFORMERS BY COLLABORATION WITH PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE AREA.

Income
$339,055
Spending
$339,011
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
0
Volunteers
50

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 September 30, 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)
  1. $320,103 spent. THE AMERICAN GOTHIC PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL PRESENTED A FOUR-WEEK SUMMER PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL DURING THE 2025 FISCAL YEAR, PRODUCING THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL PERFORMANCES ALONG WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES THAT ADVANCED ACCESS TO THE ARTS IN SOUTHEAST IOWA. THE FESTIVAL INCLUDED ITS ANNUAL ARTS GALA, HELD AT THE BRIDGE VIEW CENTER IN COLLABORATION WITH BRIDGE VIEW CENTER, FEATURING GUEST ARTISTS AND SERVING AS A PRIMARY FUNDRAISING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENT IN SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION. FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDED A FULLY STAGED PRODUCTION OF KEN LUDWIG'S LEND ME A TENOR AND A CONCERT PRESENTATION OF SWEENEY TODD. THE FESTIVAL ALSO FEATURED TO BE HEARD: SHADOWS IN AMERICA, A CONCERT OF AMERICAN MUSIC EXPLORING THEMES OF HISTORY, IDENTITY, AND SHARED NATIONAL EXPERIENCE. THE SEASON CONCLUDED WITH A FULLY STAGED PRODUCTION OF ANNIE, EXPANDING FAMILY AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND APPEALING TO MULTI-GENERATIONAL AUDIENCES. ACROSS ITS FOUR-WEEK RUN, THE FESTIVAL SERVED APPROXIMATELY 1,500 AUDIENCE MEMBERS. TOTAL ANNUAL EXPENDITURES FOR THE ORGANIZATION WERE APPROXIMATELY 335,000. USING THE AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS ARTS & ECONOMIC PROSPERITY 5 CALCULATOR, THE FESTIVAL GENERATED A VERIFIED LOCAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF 380,393, SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE COMMUNITY. THE AMERICAN GOTHIC PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL PRESENTED A FOUR-WEEK SUMMER PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL DURING THE 2025 FISCAL YEAR, PRODUCING THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL PERFORMANCES ALONG WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES THAT ADVANCED ACCESS TO THE ARTS IN SOUTHEAST IOWA. THE FESTIVAL INCLUDED ITS ANNUAL ARTS GALA, HELD AT THE BRIDGE VIEW CENTER IN COLLABORATION WITH BRIDGE VIEW CENTER, FEATURING GUEST ARTISTS AND SERVING AS A PRIMARY FUNDRAISING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENT IN SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION. FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDED A FULLY STAGED PRODUCTION OF KEN LUDWIG'S LEND ME A TENOR AND A CONCERT PRESENTATION OF SWEENEY TODD. THE FESTIVAL ALSO FEATURED TO BE HEARD: SHADOWS IN AMERICA, A CONCERT OF AMERICAN MUSIC EXPLORING THEMES OF HISTORY, IDENTITY, AND SHARED NATIONAL EXPERIENCE. THE SEASON CONCLUDED WITH A FULLY STAGED PRODUCTION OF ANNIE, EXPANDING FAMILY AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND APPEALING TO MULTI-GENERATIONAL AUDIENCES. ACROSS ITS FOUR-WEEK RUN, THE FESTIVAL SERVED APPROXIMATELY 1,500 AUDIENCE MEMBERS. TOTAL ANNUAL EXPENDITURES FOR THE ORGANIZATION WERE APPROXIMATELY 335,000. USING THE AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS ARTS & ECONOMIC PROSPERITY 5 CALCULATOR, THE FESTIVAL GENERATED A VERIFIED LOCAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF 380,393, SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 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 November 6, 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 September 2025.

    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 October 1994.

    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 November 4, 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.