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Woolly Mammoth Theatre Co

EIN 52-1242900 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To create rousing, visceral, enlightening theatre experiences that galvanize diverse artists and audiences to engage with our world in unexpected and often challenging ways.

Income
$6.9 million
Spending
$5.7 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
204
Volunteers
237
Highest pay
$167,606, 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 27 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 (3)
  1. $3.5 million spent. New Play Production: Woolly Mammoth produces and presents 6-10 productions a year, bringing in 50,000 people each season. Woolly is one of America's few major theaters devoted entirely to new work. Our premieres have gone on to be produced at more than 200 theaters in 39 states and 12 countries. 2024-2025: SEASON 45 ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha - Julia MasliThe Comeuppance - Branden Jacobs JenkinsThe Ford/Hill Project - Lee Sunday Evans and Elizabeth MarvelDance Like There's Black People Watching - The Second CityGUAC - Manuel OliverIt's a MotherF**king Pleasure - FlawBored Akira Kurosawa Explains His Movies & Yogurt (with Live & Active Cultures) - Julia IzumiPride Plays - with Pride Plays and Rattlestick Theater
  2. $269,898 spent. Community Engagement/Access: Woolly Mammoth's nationally acclaimed Connectivity department was founded in 2009 to link its artistic mission to its social, civic and political one. It is integral to all of the theatre's work and enhances the total theatrical experience of Woolly Mammoth for all who encounter it. Connectivity represents the potential and ambition of Woolly Mammoth to be a place for people to come and engage with the most thought-provoking and challenging questions of our time. The work of Connectivity rests on four pillars: community engagement, audience engagement, audience development, and learning. Woolly Mammoth's core values of radical inclusion and anti-racism are at the center of this work.
  3. $174,151 spent. New Play Development: Woolly Mammoth is committed to the development of new plays, with a unique process specifically designed to bring each project to fruition. This might include workshops, readings, research trip, or a combination thereof, depending on the needs of each play and creatives. A fully staffed artistic team including the artistic director, director of new work, acting company, and resident designers allows us to provide this flexible roster of support and to mobilize the trajectory of a project as appropriate.

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.