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Des Moines Performing Arts

EIN 51-0138181 · Des Moines, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ENGAGE THE MIDWEST IN MEANINGFUL ENTERTAINMENT, EDUCATION, AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES. PROVIDE PERFORMING ARTS EXPERIENCES THAT EDUCATE, INSPIRE AND CHALLENGE.

Income
$26.2 million
Spending
$28.2 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 80%
Employees
471
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$695,197, president/ceo

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 66% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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 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. $24.0 million spent. DES MOINES PERFORMING ARTS (DMPA) IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATION, SERVING MORE THAN 350,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY THROUGH A VARIETY OF PERFORMANCES, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. PROGRAMMING SPANS BROADWAY NATIONAL TOURS, DANCE, COMEDY, FAMILY-FRIENDLY SHOWS, AND SPEAKER SERIES, PRESENTED ACROSS ITS FOUR VENUES (DES MOINES CIVIC CENTER, TEMPLE THEATER, STONER THEATER, AND COWLES COMMONS) AND OUTDOOR PUBLIC SPACES. DMPA HAS NINE SELF-PRESENTED PERFORMANCE SERIES, INCLUDING THE WILLIS BROADWAY SERIES, AND IMPARTS A SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT THROUGHOUT CENTRAL IOWA.
  2. $1.1 million spent. THE IMPACT OF DMPA PROGRAMMING REACHES FAR BEYOND THE BIG STAGE, INTO SCHOOLS, PUBLIC PARKS, AND THE CREATIVE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY. EACH YEAR, MORE THAN 50,000 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS FROM ACROSS IOWA BENEFIT FROM CURRICULUM-CONNECTED PERFORMANCES AND TRAINING. ITS APPLAUSE SERIES OFFERS CURRICULUM-CONNECTED MATINEE PERFORMANCES TO STUDENTS FOR JUST $1 PER TICKET, MAKING LIVE THEATER ACCESSIBLE TO THOUSANDS OF YOUNG IOWANS EACH YEAR. OVER 100 SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE PARTICIPATE IN THE IOWA HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATER AWARDS. THIS SIGNATURE PROGRAM CELEBRATES STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN THEATER AND PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MENTORSHIP, AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES.

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 January 1981.

    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.