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Charleston Stage Company

EIN 57-0694183 · Charleston, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak32 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHARLESTON STAGE'S VISION IS TO BE A LEADING PROFESSIONAL THEATER COMPANY, ENGAGING THE BROAD COMMUNITY THROUGH HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTIONS, WITH LEADING ARTISTS, AND EXCELLENT PRODUCTION VALUES. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES THE COMMUNITY ACCESS TO THEATER THROUGH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS WHICH ENGAGE AND EXCITE BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS.

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$4.3 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
-2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 68%
Employees
117
Volunteers
32
Highest pay
$103,096, managing director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 32 out of 100. Higher than 5% 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

    2 of 20

    It owes 88% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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

    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 April 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. $2.5 million spent. FOUNDED IN 1978 BY PLAYWRIGHT JULIAN WILES, WHO WAS MOST RECENTLY INDUCTED INTO THE COLLEGE OF FELLOWS OF THE AMERICAN THEATER IN APRIL 2024 AT THE KENNEDY CENTER, CHARLESTON STAGE IS SOUTH CAROLINA'S LARGEST PROFESSIONAL THEATER COMPANY. CHARLESTON STAGE IS A 501(C)3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION RESIDING AT THE HISTORIC DOCK STREET THEATRE. OVER ITS 46-YEAR HISTORY, CHARLESTON STAGE HAS PRESENTED OVER 360 PRODUCTIONS AND ENTERTAINED A COLLECTIVE AUDIENCE OF MORE THAN TWO MILLION. BEYOND PRODUCING ENGAGING, HIGH-QUALITY PERFORMANCES, WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO OUR MISSION OF THEATRE ARTS EDUCATION, EMPLOYING A STAFF OF PROFESSIONAL THEATRE ARTISTS DEDICATED TO SHARING THEIR EXPERTISE WITH THE NEXT GENERATION.THE MISSION OF CHARLESTON STAGE IS TO PRODUCE LIVE THEATRE OF THE HIGHEST CALIBER, FOCUSING ON CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY MUSICALS AND PLAYS THAT EXCITE AND INSPIRE THE IMAGINATION. CHARLESTON STAGE CELEBRATES THE SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY BY PROVIDING A COLLABORATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEATRE PROFESSIONALS SHARE THEIR TALENTS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, TEACHERS, AND SCHOOLS IN THE COMMUNITY, INSPIRING PARTICIPANTS TO CELEBRATE THEIR OWN CREATIVITY.
  2. WHILE CHARLESTON STAGE PRESENTS HIGH-QUALITY, PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIONS AT THE HISTORIC DOCK STREET THEATRE, THAT IS ONLY HALF THE STORY. CHARLESTON STAGE BOASTS ONE OF THE LARGEST ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN SOUTH CAROLINA, EXTENDING OPPORTUNITIES TO 30,000 STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE LOWCOUNTRY EACH YEAR. CHARLESTON STAGE OFFERS SIX PROGRAM INITIATIVES: THEATRE SCHOOL ACTING CLASSES, SUMMER CAMPS, THEATRE WINGS HIGH SCHOOL APPRENTICE PROGRAM, SCHOOL MATINEES, CITYSTAGE (COMMUNITY OUTREACH), AND ARTS-INTEGRATED LITERACY KITS. ACTING CLASSES AND SUMMER CAMPS ENROLL OVER 250 STUDENTS ANNUALLY, MORE THAN 35 HIGH SCHOOLERS RECEIVE HANDS-ON TRAINING IN THEATRICAL PRODUCTION, OVER 12,000 STUDENTS ATTEND MATINEE SHOWS AT THE DOCK STREET THEATRE, 4,000 STUDENTS EXPERIENCE FREE LIVE THEATRE THROUGH CITYSTAGE, AND STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE GAIN ACCESS TO UNIQUE ARTS-INTEGRATION WORKSHOPS THROUGH LITERACY KITS.
  3. $753,500 spent. CITYSTAGE, AN INITIATIVE BY CHARLESTON STAGE, AIMS TO EXTEND OUR WORK BEYOND THE WALLS OF THE DOCK STREET THEATRE AND INTO THE BROADER COMMUNITY. THE CITYSTAGE TEAM FOCUSES ON EXPANDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS, RELIGIOUS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS IN THE CHARLESTON AREA. THIS INITIATIVE NOT ONLY BRINGS THE WORK OF CHARLESTON STAGE INTO THESE COMMUNITIES BUT ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT AND PROFESSIONAL THEATRE RESOURCES TO ENHANCE THE MISSIONS OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, FOSTERING TRUE TWO-WAY PARTNERSHIPS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending April 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1980.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.