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South Carolina Childrens Theatre

EIN 57-0856956 · Greenville, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EMPOWERING AND INSPIRING A NEW GENERATION OF CHANGEMAKERS THROUGH THEATRE. AT SCCT, WE DEFINE A CHANGEMAKER AS: SOMEONE WHO HAS EMPATHY FOR OTHERS AND IS DRIVEN TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. SOMEONE WHO IS INQUISITIVE, OPEN MINDED, AND COURAGEOUS.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
52%
Reserves
-1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 60%
Employees
43
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$92,688, 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

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 13% 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 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    52% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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. $713,095 spent. PRODUCTIONS - SC CHILDREN'S THEATRE (SCCT) PRESENTED EIGHT FULLY PRODUCED PLAYS AND MUSICALS IN THE 2024-2025 SEASON. WITH PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTION VALUE, THE ORGANIZATION EMPLOYED LOCAL PROFESSIONAL ACTORS TO SHARE THE STAGE WITH STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY. SCCT BELIEVES THAT DIVERSE PRODUCTION OFFERINGS OF HIGH ARTISTIC QUALITY, FROM BROADWAY MUSICALS TO IMMERSIVE THEATRE EXPERIENCES, FOSTER JOY AND CURIOSITY FOR WIDE-REACHING MULTIGENERATIONAL AUDIENCES, HELPING TO ACHEIVE THE VISION OF BRINGING TRANSFORMATIVE THEATRE EXPERIENCES TO EVERY YOUNG PERSON AND FAMILY IN THE UPSTATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
  2. $297,580 spent. EDUCATION - THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AT SCCT FOCUSES ON USING THEATRE TO ENHANCE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) SKILLS DEVELOPMENT. THROUGH THEATRE EDUCATION, STUDENTS LEARN THEATRE TECHNIQUES ALONGSIDE COMMUNICATION, PROBLEM-SOLVING, LEADERSHIP, AND TEAMWORK SKILLS. THE CURRICULUM PROGRESSIVELY BUILDS COMPETENCE IN VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THEATRE, AIMING TO PROVIDE CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES THAT FOSTER STUDENT COLLABORATION, EXPRESSION, AND CONFIDENCE. THIS EXPERIENCE EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO BE CURIOUS, COURAGEOUS, AND ABLE TO EMPATHIZE WITH OTHERS IN PURSUIT OF MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. OVER 2,000 STUDENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN SCCT'S CLASSES AND CAMPS DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR.
  3. $70,039 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - SCCT CONNECTS WITH THE UPSTATE COMMUNITY THROUGH A TAPESTRY OF MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES. CUSTOM BUILT THEATRE EDUCATION EXPERIENCES, THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED FOR UNDERESTIMATED GROUPS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, CULTIVATE INCLUSIVITY AND EMPOWERMENT THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE ARTS. FREE STORYTELLING EVENTS ENCOURAGE YOUNG READERS TO DELVE INTO VIBRANT INTERPRETATIONS OF BELOVED CHILDREN'S LITERATURE, IGNITING THEIR IMAGINATIONS AND LOVE FOR BOOKS. SCCT COLLABORATES WITH ESTEEMED PARTNERS LIKE THE GREENVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TO MERGE ART FORMS AND CREATE IMMERSIVE CULTURAL EVENTS THAT ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC. EVERY SCCT PRODUCTION OFFERS A "PAY WHAT YOU CAN" TICKET DAY, ENSURING THAT FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS NEVER HINDER FAMILIES FROM EXPERIENCING THE MAGIC OF THEATRE.(CONTINUED) SCCT STRIVES TO INCREASE ACCESS TO ITS PRODUCTIONS AND EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS BY EXTENDING FINANCIAL AID TO STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS, ENRICHING LIVES, AND FOSTERING A VIBRANT, INCLUSIVE SPIRIT.

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 1988.

    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.