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Traveling Players Ensemble Inc

EIN 56-2362426 · Great Falls, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak36 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$844,336
Spending
$892,663
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
-0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
46
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$118,416, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 36 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 80% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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

    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 December 31, 2024, 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. $591,780 spent. TRAVELING PLAYERS HALLMARK NATIONALLY-AWARDED SUMMER THEATRE PROGRAMS SLEEPAWAY CAMPS/RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATORIES AT FREEDOM CENTER IN LEESBURG, VA AND DAY CAMPS IN OUR STUDIO IN TYSONS, VA. WE GRANT GENEROUS FINANCIAL AID TO CAMPERS BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED AND DEDICATION.OUR SLEEPAWAY CAMPS/RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATORIES COMBINE LINGUISTICALLY AND PHYSICALLY CHALLENGING CLASSICAL THEATRE WITH THE OUTDOORS. THE SELECTED PLAYS PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT FRAMEWORK FOR TEENS EXPLORING THE GRAY AREAS OF LIFES GRAND THEMES LOVE, LOYALTY, FRIENDSHIP, HONOR, ETC. THIS ALLOWS TEENS TO EXPLORE THEIR OWN VALUE SYSTEM - EXPLORATION THAT IS CRITICAL TO THEIR SENSE OF IDENTITY. THE PRACTICAL SKILLS OF THE OUTDOORS PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH A PLATFORM OF CONFIDENCE FROM WHICH TO SAFELY EXPLORE THE AMBIGUITIES OF ACTING - AND LIFE. OUR DAY CAMPS ARE SPECIALLY GEARED FOR OUR YOUNGEST CAMPERS AND DESIGNED TO EXPAND IMAGINATION, CONFIDENCE, AND PERFORMANCE SKILLS WHILE SPARKING FRIENDSHIPS.
  2. $178,454 spent. WE OFFER CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS TAUGHT BY PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS/EDUCATORS ALL YEAR LONG. PERFORMANCE CLASSES PRESENT CONTEMPORARY PLAYS AND CLASSIC BOOKS ADAPTED TO THE STAGE. MULTI-SESSION CLASSES FOCUS ON SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND CONCLUDE WITH A SHOWCASE PERFORMANCE FREE TO THE PUBLIC. SINGLE SESSION CLASSES INCLUDE AUDITIONS, WORKSHOPS, AND SEASONAL EVENTS. OUR DD IMPROV CLASSES CONTINUE VIRTUALLY BY POPULAR DEMAND. ALL CLASSES ARE HELD IN OUR STUDIO IN TYSONS CORNER CENTER.
  3. $7,068 spent. TRAVELING PLAYERS OTHER PROGRAM OFFERINGS INCLUDE FIELD TRIPS TO PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCES, IN-SCHOL RESIDENCIES, PRIVATE COACHING, OPEN MICS, OUR CUSTOMIZABLE GIRL SCOUT THEATRE BADGE PROGRAMS, AND PRIVATE PARTIES WITH THEATRICAL AND IMPROV GAMES. PROGRAMS AND PARTICIPATION VARY GREATLY FROM YEAR TO YEAR. WE HOST THE GREATER WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL THEATRE FESTIVAL FOR AREA MIDDLE SCHOOLS. FREE PROGRAMS INCLUDE OUR COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS IMBEDDED BIAS IN CLASSICAL LITERATURE AS WELL AS DIRECTING 101.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 March 2005.

    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.