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Players Inc

EIN 59-0711182 · Sarasota, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 48% of its spending went to programs.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 82 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE PLAYERS THEATRE'S MISSION IS TO ENTERTAIN, EDUCATE, AND ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN HIGH QUALITY LIVE THEATRE.

Income
$866,181
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
48%
Reserves
10 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 60%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$102,375, 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: 49 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 189% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    48% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 82 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (2)
  1. $1.2 million spent. SARASOTA'S FIRST AND OLDEST PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATION, SECOND OLDEST IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, BEGAN IN 1930, IN THE MIDST OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION, WITH A SEASON OF ONE-ACT PLAYS. TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-ONE MEMBERS/PATRONS EACH PAID A TWO-DOLLAR SUBSCRIPTION FEE FOR THE SERIES.THE PLAYERS FIRST PERMANENT HOME WAS BUILT OF NATIVE PECKY CYPRESS IN 1936. THE ORIGINAL THEATRE SEATED TWO HUNDRED FORTY SIX AND COST JUST OVER $9,000. THE PECKY CYPRESS BUILDING WAS TORN DOWN TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE NEXT THEATRE ON NORTH TAMIAMI TRAIL, WHICH OPENED IN JANUARY 1974, SEATING FOUR HUNDRED NINETY SEVEN. THAT FACILITY WAS SOLD IN 2018 AND VACATED IN OCTOBER 2020 AT THE HEIGHT OF CLOSURES RELATED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE PLAYERS PERFORMED IN VARIOUS INDOOR AND OUTDOOR VENUES UNTIL OPENING AN INDOOR VENUE OF ITS OWN AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2021 AT 3501 S. TAMIAMI TRAIL IN THE CROSSINGS AT SIESTA KEY.THE PLAYERS THEATRE HAS ACHIEVED A REPUTATION FOR QUALITY PRODUCTIONS AND FOR CREATING PROGRAMMING THAT ENTERTAINS, EDUCATES, AND ENLIGHTENS. THE THEATRE SERVES A DIVERSE AUDIENCE WITH MEMORABLE AND MEANINGFUL YEAR-ROUND PERFORMING ARTS THAT INCLUDES THE BROADWAY THEATRE SERIES, THE SNAP (SOMETHING NEW AT PLAYERS) SERIES, THE SUMMER SIZZLER SERIES, THE PLAYERS PLAYWRITING FESTIVAL, CONCERTS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.THE PLAYERS STRIVES TO ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE ARTISTIC QUALITY IN THE CONTEXT OF A VOLUNTEER BASED THEATRE. ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP FROM SOME OF THE AREA'S BEST PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORS, MUSIC DIRECTORS, CHOREOGRAPHERS, SET, LIGHTING AND COSTUME DESIGNERS, CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT CHALLENGES EVERYONE TO ACHIEVE HIGH ARTISTIC STANDARDS.THE PLAYERS MAINTAINS AFFORDABLE TICKET PRICES, FROM $5 TO $35, ENSURING THE EXPERIENCE OF LIVE THEATRE IS AVAILABLE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. THE PLAYERS ALSO PROVIDES OVER THIRTY-FIVE HUNDRED COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS TO LOCAL COMMUNITY SERVICE AGENCIES EACH YEAR THROUGH ITS CHARITY PREVIEW PERFORMANCE PROGRAM.
  2. THE PLAYERS PERFORMING ARTS STUDIO OPENED IN 1995 AND IS THE EDUCATIONAL ARM OF THE PLAYERS THEATRE. IT IS A REPUTABLE PERFORMING ARTS STUDIO AND VITAL FEEDER TO THE PLAYERS THEATRE FOR ACTORS. THE STUDIO OFFERS CLASSES FOR STUDENTS AGE THREE AND OLDER. CLASSES INCLUDE THE STUDY OF ACTING, SINGING AND DANCE. AT THE ADVANCED LEVEL, CROSSOVER SKILLS ARE EMPHASIZED. THERE ARE TWENTY-NINE CLASSES OFFERED EACH WEEK, SPECIALTY WORKSHOPS, AND AN EIGHT-WEEK INTENSIVE SUMMER CAMP FOR CHILDREN AGES SEVEN TO SEVENTEEN. IN ADDITION TO CLASSES, THERE ARE THREE COMMUNITY OUTREACH ELEMENTS OF THE STUDIO: THE PLAYERS KIDS; AND THE SARASOTA PLAYERS FOLLIES, A FIFTY-FIVE AND OLDER TRAVELLING PERFORMING TROUPE. OVER THREE HUNDRED STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM CLASSES AT THE STUDIO ANNUALLY.

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 July 1950.

    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.