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Center for Puppetry Arts Inc

EIN 58-1275610 · Atlanta, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To inspire imagination, education, and community through the global art of puppetry. Our performances, Museum & workshops encourage creativity, support learning, fuel holistic development, and provide accessible opportunities to engage in the arts.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$5.2 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
-2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 57%
Employees
151
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$198,793, executive dir.

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 25% 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 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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

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 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 (3)
  1. $2.5 million spent. PERFORMANCES: THE CENTER OFFERED 553 PERFORMANCES506 FAMILY SERIES AND 47 NEW DIRECTIONS SERIES FOR ADULTS AND TEENSACROSS SEVENTEEN THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS. FAMILY SERIES PRODUCTIONS INCLUDED CENTER PRODUCTIONS LIKE RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, THE CAT IN THE HAT, AND HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON, CO-PRODUCTIONS OF ROCKEFELLER PRODUCTIONS SESAME STREET THE MUSICAL AND PANCHO RABBIT AND THE COYOTE, AND TOURING PRODUCTIONS LIKE GALAPAGOS GEORGE AND MILO THE MAGNIFICENT. NEW DIRECTIONS SERIES PRODUCTIONS INCLUDED THE CENTERS THE GHASTLY DREADFULS AND XPERIMENTAL PUPPETRY THEATER, ALONG WITH TOURING PRODUCTIONS LIKE MAROONED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CENTER CELEBRATED AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR EMERITUS JON LUDWIG WAS SELECTED AS A 2024 GOVERNORS AWARD FOR THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES HONOREE.
  2. $1.2 million spent. MUSEUM: IN ADDITION TO WELCOMING OVER 100,000 VISITORS INTO THE MUSEUMS TWO PERMANENT EXHIBITION GALLERIES, THE CENTER OFFERED A VARIETY OF POP-UP AND SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMMING. SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS INCLUDED DOWN IN FRAGGLE ROCK, WHICH SHOWCASED PUPPETS FROM JIM HENSONS ORIGINAL 1980S TELEVISION SERIES ALONGSIDE SOME CREATED FOR THE REVIVAL ON APPLETV+; FESTIVE FEATURES, WHICH HIGHLIGHTED PUPPETS CREATED TO CELEBRATE THE WINTER HOLIDAYS SUCH AS TWO OF THE STOP MOTION PUPPETS FROM THE 1964 RANKIN/BASS RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER TELEVISION SPECIAL, RAYMOND CARRS PUPPETRY NOW EXIBITION SHOWCASING PIECES MADE FOR TELEVISION, FILM, AND STAGE PRODUCTIONS; AND AFFECTIONATE ANARCHY: THE HENSON WAY, WHICH SHOWCASED THE ARTISTS, INNOVATORS, AND CREATORS WHO WORKED ALONGSIDE JIM HENSON DURING THE FIRST 25 YEARS OF THE JIM HENSON COMPANY.
  3. $276,772 spent. EDUCATION: IN ADDITION TO OFFERING OVER 1,000 HOURS OF THE CENTERS SIGNATURE CREATE-A-PUPPET WORKSHOPS TO OVER 30,000 PARTICIPANTS, STAFF REACHED OVER 1,400 CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH OUTREACH PROGRAMMING AND 850 STUDENTS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES WITH SPECIAL WORKSHOPS. THIS INCLUDED PARTNERING WITH THE 2ND GRADE CLASSROOMS OF BURGESS-PETERSON ACADEMY AND M. AGNES JONES ELEMENTARY (BOTH ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS) TO ENSURE DIVERSE VOICES AND IDEAS WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE CENTERS 2026 PRODUCTION THE STINKY CHEESE MAN. MEANWHILE, THE DIGITAL LEARNING TEAM USED ZOOM TO SHARE WORKSHOPS AND PUPPET SHOWS WITH OVER 3,400 AUDIENCE MEMBERS AND WON ANOTHER PINNACLE AWARD FROM THE CENTER FOR INTERACTIVE LEARNING AND COLLABORATION (CILC).

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 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 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 May 1977.

    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.