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Live Arts Inc

EIN 54-1527799 · Charlottesvle, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO FORGE THEATER AND COMMUNITY SINCE 1990.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
-1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 51%
Employees
14
Highest pay
$71,625, executive di

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

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 24% 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

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% 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 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (1)
  1. $764,691 spent. AS THE ANCHOR TENANT IN A FOUR-STORY PERFORMANCE SPACE IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN CHARLOTTESVILLE, LIVE ARTS IS A HUB FOR CREATIVITY, THEATER EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION. EACH YEAR, WE PRESENT A COMPELLING SEASON OF PLAYS AND MUSICALS. WE WELCOME STUDENTS OF ALL AGES TO OUR YEAR- ROUND CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS, OFFER TEEN PLAYWRITING PROGRAMS, AND RUN YOUTH SUMMER CAMPS THAT INTRODUCE YOUNG ARTISTS TO ALL ASPECTS OF THE THEATER. WE SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL WORKS AND PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR VOLUNTEER-LED GROUPS INCLUDING A PLAYWRITING LAB, SCRIPT READING GROUP, AND COSTUME AND SCENIC GUILDS. AND FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES, WE HAVE PROVIDED TECH SUPPORT TO HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE THEATER COMPANIES PERFORMING IN SCOTLAND AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE. POWERED BY MORE THAN 1,000 VOLUNTEERS, WE ARE A NATIONAL MODEL FOR ENGAGED COMMUNITY THEATER. FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, WE'VE DEDICATED OURSELVES TO THE MISSION OF "FORGING THEATER AND COMMUNITY" IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA. OUR ENGAGEMENT IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES RUNS DEEP, AND WE HAPPILY ATTRACT PARTICIPANTS AND AUDIENCES FROM ACROSS CENTRAL VIRGINIA. WE'RE KNOWN FOR EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH CALIBER PRODUCTIONS THAT REFLECT THE REMARKABLE TALENT OF OUR VOLUNTEER ACTORS AND PRODUCTIONS TEAMS. AS THE ANCHOR TENANT IN A FOUR-STORY PERFORMANCE SPACE IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN CHARLOTTESVILLE, LIVE ARTS IS A HUB FOR CREATIVITY, THEATER EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION. EACH YEAR, WE PRESENT A COMPELLING SEASON OF PLAYS AND MUSICALS. WE WELCOME STUDENTS OF ALL AGES TO OUR YEAR- ROUND CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS, OFFER TEEN PLAYWRITING PROGRAMS, AND RUN YOUTH SUMMER CAMPS THAT INTRODUCE YOUNG ARTISTS TO ALL ASPECTS OF THE THEATER. WE SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL WORKS AND PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR VOLUNTEER-LED GROUPS INCLUDING A PLAYWRITING LAB, SCRIPT READING GROUP, AND COSTUME AND SCENIC GUILDS. AND FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES, WE HAVE PROVIDED TECH SUPPORT TO HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE THEATER COMPANIES PERFORMING IN SCOTLAND AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE. POWERED BY MORE THAN 1,000 VOLUNTEERS, WE ARE A NATIONAL MODEL FOR ENGAGED COMMUNITY THEATER. FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, WE'VE DEDICATED OURSELVES TO THE MISSION OF "FORGING THEATER AND COMMUNITY" IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA. OUR ENGAGEMENT IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES RUNS DEEP, AND WE HAPPILY ATTRACT PARTICIPANTS AND AUDIENCES FROM ACROSS CENTRAL VIRGINIA. WE'RE KNOWN FOR EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH CALIBER PRODUCTIONS THAT REFLECT THE REMARKABLE TALENT OF OUR VOLUNTEER ACTORS AND PRODUCTIONS TEAMS.

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 November 6, 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 June 1990.

    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 November 4, 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.