Theatre Nova
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Theatre NOVA is dedicated to raising awareness of the value and excitement of new plays and new playwrights in a diverse and expanding audience: and providing resources and outlets for playwrights to develop their craft, by importing, exporting, and developing new plays and playwrights.
- Income
- $278,720
- Spending
- $294,344
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- -1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 57%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $27,206, president
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
0 of 20It owes 128% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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
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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
- $13,395 spent. Children's theatre classes partnering with The Ann Arbor public schools Community Education and Recreation. three summer camps with a combined student count 80 and a series of professional workshops geared toward adult learners provides artists opportunities to explore their craft and build new skills. Workshops are led by theatrical professionals and aim to foster creativity, confidence, and collaboration with our talented Michigan artists. First workshop in series held on December 14 2025.
- $221,227 spent. Produced 6 in-house productions. Kairos by Lisa Sanaye Dring was performed 17 times with an combined audience of 377, Eclipsed: The Sun, the Moon and Gladys Atkinson Sweet by D.L. Patrick, was performed 20 times with a combined audience of 892, Jorge Luis Borges Gives a Lecture On Anatomy, a play with music by Carla Milarch was performed 16 times with a combined audience of 525, Radical Empathy by David Wells a World Premiere was performed 16 times with a combined audience of 561, Dry Summer by Robert Axelrod was performed 16 times with a combined audience of 1065, DJ Whittington's Kool Kat: A Hip-Hop Panto by Carla Milarch and R. MacKenzie Lewis was performed 16 times with a combined audience of 528.
- $45,854 spent. produced two original filmed four productions of Grumpy Phil
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 November 2014.
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.