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Imagination Stage Inc

EIN 52-1164889 · Bethesda, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

IMAGINATION STAGE, INC. EMPOWERS ALL YOUNG PEOPLE TO DISCOVER THEIR VOICE AND IDENTITY THROUGH PERFORMING ARTS EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL THEATRE.

Income
$7.8 million
Spending
$6.5 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
-0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 41%
Employees
356
Volunteers
250
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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 53% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 26 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 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)
  1. $5.1 million spent. IMAGINATION STAGE, INC. IS THE WASHINGTON, DC, REGION'S LEADING THEATRE ORGANIZATION DEDICATED EXCLUSIVELY TO YOUNG PEOPLE. THROUGH PROFESSIONAL THEATRE PRODUCTIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS, THE ORGANIZATION SERVES CHILDREN AND YOUTH OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES - ACROSS ECONOMIC, COGNITIVE, AND PHYSICAL DIFFERENCES. IMAGINATION STAGE ADVANCES CREATIVITY, CONFIDENCE, AND SOCIAL CONNECTION BY ENSURING BROAD ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY TRANSFORMATIVE PERFORMING ARTS EXPERIENCES.PROFESSIONAL THEATRE PROGRAMIMAGINATION STAGE PRODUCES PROFESSIONAL THEATRE SPECIFICALLY CREATED FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES, EMPLOYING PROFESSIONAL ACTORS, DIRECTORS, AND DESIGNERS. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN A SINGLE CLASSROOM, THE ORGANIZATION HAS GROWN INTO A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED THEATRE THAT COMMISSIONS AND PREMIERES NEW WORKS FOR CHILDREN ANNUALLY-AN UNCOMMON PRACTICE IN THE FIELD. THESE ORIGINAL PRODUCTIONS HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE AWARDS AND HAVE BEEN PRODUCED BY THEATRES NATIONWIDE AND INTERNATIONALLY, EXTENDING THEIR EDUCATIONAL IMPACT. IN FY25, ISTAGE REACHED 59,000 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH PROFESSIONAL LIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS AT OUR BETHESDA THEATRE. IN ADDITION, IMAGINATION STAGE PRODUCES EDUCATIONAL THEATRE FOCUSED ON MENTAL HEALTH FOR GRADES 3-12 ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THROUGH A MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT WITH KAISER PERMANENTE, REACHING STUDENTS WELL BEYOND THE WASHINGTON REGION.ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMIMAGINATION STAGE OFFERS YEAR-ROUND ARTS EDUCATION IN ACTING, MUSICAL THEATRE, DANCE, AND FILMMAKING. PROGRAMS SERVE YOUTH FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD THROUGH ADOLESCENCE AND ARE DESIGNED TO BE FULLY INCLUSIVE OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. INSTRUCTION EMPHASIZES ARTISTIC SKILL DEVELOPMENT ALONGSIDE CRITICAL LIFE SKILLS, INCLUDING COLLABORATION, COMMUNICATION, AND PROBLEM-SOLVING. THE ORGANIZATION IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR ITS EXPERTISE IN ACCESSIBLE ARTS EDUCATION AND FOR CREATING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS IN WHICH ALL STUDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE MEANINGFULLY. THE COMPANY SERVED 5,152 STUDENTS THROUGH OUR REGULAR CLASSES AND CAMPS IN FILMMAKING, ACTING, MUSICAL THEATRE, DANCE, CONSERVATORY TRAINING, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD ARTS AND DELIVERED CREATIVE DRAMA WORKSHOPS TO 550 KINDERGARTENS THROUGH THIRD GRADE TITLE I STUDENTS IN MCPS, SUPPORTING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL AND EARLY LITERACY DEVELOPMENT.THEATRE FOR CHANGE PROGRAMTHE THEATRE FOR CHANGE PROGRAM USES THEATRE PRODUCTIONS AND FACILITATED WORKSHOPS TO ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM DIVERSE CULTURAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS IN DIALOGUE AROUND COMPLEX SOCIAL ISSUES. BY CENTERING YOUTH VOICES AND LIVED EXPERIENCES, THE PROGRAM PROMOTES EMPATHY, CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, AND CIVIC AWARENESS. PARTICIPANTS, WHICH INCLUDE AT-RISK AND INCARCERATED YOUTH - DEVELOP CONFIDENCE, SELF-EXPRESSION, AND COLLABORATIVE SKILLS THAT ENABLE THEM TO CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO THEIR SCHOOLS, FAMILIES, 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

  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 August 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.