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Jewish Womens Theatre

EIN 47-4157778 · Santa Monica, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JEWISH WOMEN'S THEATRE (JWT), ALSO KNOWN AS THE BRAID, IS THE NATION'S GO-TO JEWISH STORY COMPANY. OUR PURPOSE IS TO LEAVE NO JEWISH STORY UNTOLD WHILE CELEBRATING THE TRUTHS THAT CONNECT ALL PEOPLE. WE CREATE, PRODUCE, AND PRESERVE STORIES GROUNDED IN JEWISH CULTURE AND EXPERIENCE TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS, INSPIRE COMMUNITY, AND BUILD CULTURAL LEGACY.

Income
$944,738
Spending
$942,982
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
14
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$85,180, director/artistic director

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

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% 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 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 14 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 June 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 (2)
  1. $744,364 spent. THE BRAID BRINGS JEWISH STORIES TO LIFE TO CELEBRATE DIVERSE JEWISH CULTURE, EMBRACE SHARED HUMANITY, AND COMBAT ANTISEMITISM. WITH OVER 80 ACCLAIMED PRODUCTIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH 265+ ORGANIZATIONS, THE BRAID PERFORMS LIVE AND VIRTUALLY ACROSS LOS ANGELES AND BEYOND, REACHING AUDIENCES IN ALL 50 STATES AND 40 COUNTRIES. NOW THE NATION'S LARGEST INDEPENDENT JEWISH THEATRE, ITS HIT SHOWS INCLUDE NOT THAT JEWISH (200 OFF-BROADWAY PERFORMANCES), STORIES FROM THE VIOLINS OF HOPE (PRESENTED AT THE UN) AND TRUE COLORS (SPOTLIGHTING JEWS OF COLOR). THE BRAID ALSO ENGAGES COMMUNITIES THROUGH WORKSHOPS, SPEAKER SERIES, AND DIGITAL INITIATIVES AMPLIFYING A LIVING LEGACY OF JEWISH LIFE.
  2. $58,576 spent. THE BRAID RUNS NEXT, AN EMERGING ARTISTS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM WHICH CULTIVATES THE NEXT GENERATION OF DIVERSE VOICES CELEBRATING CULTURAL HERITAGE. THE PROGRAM FOSTERS CREATIVITY, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY ENSURING FRESH TALENT SHAPES JEWISH CULTURE AND FLOURISHES IN THE ARTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 October 13, 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 June 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 July 2015.

    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 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.