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Washington Performing Arts Society

EIN 52-6062439 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS CHAMPIONS THE ARTS AS A UNIFYING FORCE. THROUGH COLLABORATIONS WITH ARTISTS, EDUCATORS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS, WE BRING WIDE-RANGING ARTISTIC PROGRAMS TO STAGES, SCHOOLS, AND NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT OUR NATION'S CAPITAL AND, WITH OUR VIRTUAL PLATFORM, SHARE OUR WORK THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

Income
$14.3 million
Spending
$6.0 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
38
Volunteers
93
Highest pay
$365,031, president & ceo

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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 58% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    41 of 41 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 (3)
  1. $1.9 million spent. SINCE ITS 1965 FOUNDING BY ARTS VISIONARY PATRICK HAYES, WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS (WPA) HAS BEEN ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST DYNAMIC PRODUCERS AND PRESENTERS OF LIVE PERFORMANCE, ARTS EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR ALMOST 60 YEARS. GUIDED BY HAYES' FOUNDING PRINCIPLE OF "EVERYBODY IN, NOBODY OUT," WPA PRESENTS PERFORMANCES ACROSS THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA IN A RANGE OF VENUES. THROUGH ITS MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH, WPA DEMONSTRATES THE UPLIFTING POWER OF LIVE PERFORMANCE WHILE BUILDING BRIDGES. ITS INTEGRATED FOCUS CREATES LASTING IMPACT EXTENDING FAR BEYOND THE CONCERT HALL, FOSTERING A MORE CONNECTED AND CULTURALLY VIBRANT COMMUNITY. WPA PRESENTS CLASSICAL MUSIC, GOSPEL, JAZZ, AND MUSIC FROM CULTURALLY SPECIFIC TRADITIONS FEATURING BOTH RENOWNED AND EMERGING ARTISTS, AS WELL AS NEWLY COMMISSIONED WORKS.
  2. $907,461 spent. WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS IS A NATIONAL LEADER IN COLLABORATIVE ARTS EDUCATION INCLUDING PERFORMANCES, RESIDENCIES, CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, AND TEACHER RESOURCES THAT REACH DC PUBLIC/CHARTER SCHOOLS ACROSS ALL EIGHT WARDS, PLUS MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA. THE EMBASSY ADOPTION PROGRAM IS A 50-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH EMBASSIES/DIPLOMATIC ENTITIES FOR CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION. THE CONCERTS IN SCHOOLS PROGRAM DELIVERS TRANSFORMATIVE LIVE PERFORMANCES AND HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS IN MUSIC, DANCE, THEATER, STORYTELLING, AND VISUAL ARTS. THE CAPITAL ARTS PARTNERSHIP EMBEDS TEACHING ARTISTS IN CLASSROOMS FOR IMMERSIVE, YEAR-LONG RESIDENCIES.
  3. $602,067 spent. OUR SIGNATURE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE MARS ARTS DC PROVIDES DYNAMIC FREE PERFORMANCES IN PARKS, CLUBS, STREET FESTIVALS, LIBRARIES, AND PUBLIC SPACES WHILE HELPING LOCAL ARTISTS BUILD AUDIENCES. ALSO CENTRAL TO OUR WORK IS A DEEP INVESTMENT IN GOSPEL MUSIC PROGRAMS, WHICH PROVIDE TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR THREE RESIDENT CHOIRS, PRESERVING, ELEVATING, AND PASSING ON THIS VITAL AMERICAN ARTISTIC TRADITION TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.

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 December 1965.

    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.