The Vanguard Theater Company
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
Vanguard Theater Company (VTC), founded by two Black artists, provides equitable opportunity, training, and access to theater artists and audiences. VTC is changing the narrative through theater dedicated to DREAM: Diversity, Reciprocity, Education, Activism and Mentorship. VTC creates a space for individuals of different racial and socio-economic backgrounds and life circumstances to address issues of social justice through theater.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $1.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- -1.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 60%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 23
- Highest pay
- $55,276, artistic director
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
Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 113% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 31% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 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 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 (3)
- $533,188 spent. VTC challenges conventional social and cultural narratives through theater dedicated to DREAM: Diversity, Reciprocity, Education, Activism, & Mentorship. The vision of VTC is to be recognized as a model for purposeful inclusion of diverse voices and stories; casting and leadership that reflects our community and partnerships that propel cross community conversations with non-arts organizations, including public, private and higher education, government entities and advocacy groups. Ultimately, VTC ensures that stories get told in ways that spark new thought and conversation about bias and its consequences.
- $470,820 spent. VTC identifies and helps develop the next generation of playwrights, composers, lyricists, performers, and stagecraft artists from races and communities that have historically faced institutional and structural barriers to mainstream musical theater. VTCs ongoing educational and training programming, which reaches more than 500 students annually, includes DREAM VTC,an education and performance program for ages 12-18 that emulates a professional production experience as well as VTC Kids, our foundational program for students ages 7-12. All of the education programs emphasize using the arts to give back to the community. The VTC signature mentorship programs are of critical importance in the efforts to challenge narratives.
- $285,686 spent. Summerstock, a 2-week residential camp is an intensive, by-audition, performing arts experience for serious musical theater students, ages 12-19, in residence at Camp in NJ. Students learn critical theater skills and life lessons. For many it is their first experience living and working outside of their socio-economic and demographic bubbles. For some, it is their first opportunity living in nature and engaging in traditional camp activities. The staff is led by professional actors and directors, and approximately 112 campers perform five fully produced shows in two weeks time. In addition to show rehearsals, campers take workshops in a variety of areas including: Songwriting, Shakespeare, Musical Theater Dance, Music Theory, Sight Reading and Character Analysis. Recreational activities such as: swimming, boating, archery, hiking, and nightly campfires, perfectly round out the camp experience.
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
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 September 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 May 2015.
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.