Imagination Stage of Washington Dc Inc
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
IMAGINATION STAGE OF WASHINGTON, DC, INC. EMPOWERS ALL YOUNG PEOPLE TO DISCOVER THEIR VOICE AND IDENTITY THROUGH PERFORMING ARTS EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL THEATRE.
- Income
- $426,271
- Spending
- $849,444
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- -1.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 56%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 13
- Highest pay
- $133,242, chief artistic programming officer
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: 8 out of 100. Higher than 0% 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 263% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 99% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 41 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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 15 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
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 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 (1)
- $697,127 spent. IMAGINATION STAGE, WASHINGTON DC'S LEADING CHILDREN'S THEATRE ORGANIZATION, IS DEDICATED TO SERVING ALL CHILDREN THROUGH INNOVATIVE AND ARTISTICALLY RIGOROUS PROGRAMMING. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL THEATRE PRODUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE ACROSS ALL 8 WARDS TO 3,930 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS (DCPS) AND DC PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS, ELIMINATING FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO ACCESS.IN ADDITION TO PERFORMANCES, IMAGINATION STAGE DELIVERS IN-SCHOOL AND OUTSIDE-OF-SCHOOL-TIME ARTS EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND EXTENDED RESIDENCIES THAT INTEGRATE THEATRE INTO CLASSROOM LEARNING, AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS TO SUPPORT ARTS-BASED INSTRUCTION. PROGRAMS INCLUDE THEATRE FOR CHANGE, WHICH USES THEATRE AND FACILITATED DISCUSSION TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN EXPLORING SOCIAL ISSUES AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNICATION, COLLABORATION, AND CRITICAL-THINKING SKILLS. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH HAS IDENTIFIED INCREASES IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS AND CLASSROOM ATTENDANCE AS POSITIVE IMPACTS OF THE COMPANY'S PROGRAMMING. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, IMAGINATION STAGE SUPPORTS THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF DC PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS, HELPING TO CULTIVATE COMPASSIONATE, CONFIDENT, AND COLLABORATIVE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE PREPARED TO CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO THEIR FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES.
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
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 November 6, 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 August 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 April 2016.
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 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.