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Stages St Louis

EIN 43-1434156 · Chesterfield, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

STAGES ST. LOUIS IS COMMITTED TO CREATING UNFORGETTABLE THEATRE THROUGH ONE-OF-A-KIND PRODUCTIONS, INCLUSIVE STORIES, AND EDUCATION.

Income
$7.3 million
Spending
$6.5 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 45%
Employees
275
Volunteers
102
Highest pay
$121,440, executive 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: 47 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 93% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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 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. $4.6 million spent. PROGRAM 1 - MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTIONSSINCE 1987, STAGES ST. LOUIS HAS PRODUCED PROFESSIONAL, BROADWAY-QUALITY MUSICAL THEATRE. THE MAINSTAGE SEASON, WHICH RUNS FROM MAY THROUGH OCTOBER, FEATURES THREE PRODUCTIONS ANNUALLY, EACH WITH 37 PERFORMANCES. AUDITIONS ARE HELD IN BOTH ST. LOUIS AND NEW YORK TO ATTRACT A DIVERSE AND HIGHLY SKILLED POOL OF PERFORMERS.STAGES IS A LEADING EMPLOYER OF LOCAL UNION ACTORS IN THE ST. LOUIS REGION, PROVIDING APPROXIMATELY 450 UNION WORK WEEKS EACH YEAR. MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS SERVE NEARLY 45,000 PATRONS ANNUALLY, DRAWING AUDIENCES FROM MORE THAN 235 CITIES ACROSS 33 STATES AND CONTRIBUTING SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE CULTURAL VITALITY OF THE REGION.
  2. $758,109 spent. PROGRAM 2 PERFORMING ARTS ACADEMYESTABLISHED IN 2004, THE STAGES PERFORMING ARTS ACADEMY (SPAA) PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE PERFORMING ARTS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE ST. LOUIS AREA. AS THE ONLY LOCAL PERFORMING ARTS ACADEMY AFFILIATED WITH A PROFESSIONAL THEATRE COMPANY, SPAA OFFERS A UNIQUE, HIGH-QUALITY LEARNING EXPERIENCE.SPAA PROGRAMS SERVE MORE THAN 6,000 STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ANNUALLY, INCLUDING OVER 2,500 STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE DIRECT CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION. THE ACADEMY IS COMMITTED TO ACCESSIBILITY AND EQUITY, ENSURING THAT NO STUDENT IS DENIED PARTICIPATION DUE TO FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS. TO SUPPORT THIS MISSION, SPAA PROVIDES MORE THAN $15,000 EACH YEAR IN SCHOLARSHIPS AND PROGRAM SUBSIDIES.

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

  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 December 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 August 1987.

    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.

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