Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO INSPIRE, EDUCATE AND CONNECT OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE POWER OF SHARED PERFORMING ARTS EXPERIENCES.SEE SCHEDULE O FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S EXPANDED MISSION.
- Income
- $60.0 million
- Spending
- $51.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 2.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 62%
- Employees
- 875
- Volunteers
- 764
- Highest pay
- $651,270, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 71 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2560 of 60 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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)
- $26.6 million spent. ARTS PROGRAMMING:DURING FISCAL 2009/2010, THE CENTER RECEIVED THE LARGEST PHILANTHROPIC GIFT MADE TO A CULTURAL INSTITUTION IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA. THE DONATION IS DEDICATED IN ITS PERPETUITY TO BENEFIT THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AND ITS PROGRAMS. IN RECOGNITION OF THIS GENEROUS GIFT FROM THE DAVID A. STRAZ, JR. FOUNDATION, THE TAMPA BAY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER WAS RENAMED THE DAVID A. STRAZ, JR. CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (AKA "THE STRAZ CENTER").(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE STRAZ CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS IS THE TAMPA BAY AREA'S PREMIER VENUE, INDEPENDENT PRESENTER, PRODUCER, EDUCATOR, AND ECONOMIC CATALYST FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AND IS CONSIDERED THE LARGEST PERFORMING ARTS COMPLEX SOUTH OF THE KENNEDY CENTER. THE STRAZ CENTER BOOKS TOURING BROADWAY SHOWS AND IS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL SINGLE-WEEK MARKETS AND LARGEST PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN THE NATION. WE ARE PLEASED TO SHARE OUR HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR 24/25 SEASON AS SUMMARIZED BY GREG HOLLAND, OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO IN OUR 2024-2025 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY:DEAR FRIENDS:THE PERFORMING ARTS ARE THE LANGUAGE OF POSSIBILITY, AND AT STRAZ CENTER THAT POSSIBILITY COMES TO LIFE IN EVERY PERFORMANCE, EVERY STUDENT WE TEACH AND EVERY STORY WE SHARE.FOR STRAZ CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, THE 2024-2025 SEASON EXEMPLIFIED THE POWER OF OPENING OUR CAMPUS, OUR CLASSROOMS AND OUR PROGRAMS TO EVER-BROADENING AUDIENCES THROUGHOUT TAMPA BAY.ON APRIL 7, 2025, ALONGSIDE TAMPA MAYOR JANE CASTOR AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS, WE BROKE GROUND ON THE NEXT CHAPTER OF STRAZ CENTER'S HISTORY. THE EXPANSION NOW UNDERWAY WILL TRANSFORM OUR CAMPUS AND DEEPEN OUR ROLE AS A CULTURAL GATHERING PLACE FOR TAMPA BAY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.WHILE OUR CAMPUS WILL EVOLVE DRAMATICALLY WHEN THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED IN 2027, OUR PURPOSE REMAINS CONSTANT: TO BRING EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMING ARTS EXPERIENCES TO OUR COMMUNITY AND ENSURE THEY ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.THANKS TO THE REMARKABLE GENEROSITY OF SUPPORTERS OF THE BOUNDLESS CAMPAIGN, THE NEW STRAZ WILL WELCOME THE COMMUNITY IN NEW WAYS. A NEW OUTDOOR STAGE, ROOFTOP BAR AND EXPANDED DINING OPTIONS WILL CREATE VIBRANT SPACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN GATHER, CONNECT AND EXPERIENCE THE ARTS - WHETHER ATTENDING A PERFORMANCE OR SIMPLY SPENDING AN EVENING ALONG THE RIVER.EDUCATION REMAINS CENTRAL TO OUR MISSION. THE EXPANSION WILL INCREASE THE FOOTPRINT OF THE PATEL CONSERVATORY BY 30 PERCENT, ADDING CLASSROOMS AND A NEW DANCE STUDIO TO NURTURE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ARTISTS AND PERFORMERS.STRAZ CENTER'S IMPACT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND OUR STAGES. DURING THE PAST YEAR, WE WELCOMED MORE THAN HALF A MILLION GUESTS TO MORE THAN 1,500 PERFORMANCES, EVENTS AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS. OUR WORK GENERATED AN ESTIMATED $132 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR THE REGION AND MORE THAN $4 MILLION IN LOCAL AND STATE TAX REVENUES. WE ALSO PROVIDED MORE THAN 40,000 COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS TO SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS SO THAT THE ARTS REMAIN ACCESSIBLE REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY.OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONTINUES TO GROW THROUGH INITIATIVES SUCH AS STRAZ SALUTES FOR ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS, VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AS WELL AS ARTS & HEALTH PROGRAMS EXPLORING THE ROLE OF THE ARTS IN HEALING AND WELL-BEING.ON STAGE, AUDIENCES EXPERIENCED UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS-FROM THE RETURN OF DISNEY'S THE LION KING TO NEW WORK DEVELOPED THROUGH STRAZ PRODUCTIONS, INCLUDING THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE BOY WHO LOVED BATMAN, BASED ON MICHAEL USLAN'S MEMOIR.THIS ANNUAL REPORT REFLECTS WHAT YOUR GENEROSITY MAKES POSSIBLE TODAY-AND WHAT IT MAKES POSSIBLE FOR THE FUTURE.BECAUSE WHEN A COMMUNITY INVESTS IN THE ARTS, IT ISN'T JUST BUILDING STAGES, IT'S BUILDING THE SPIRIT, IMAGINATION AND SHARED LIFE OF THE PLACE WE CALL HOME.OUR 24/25 SEASON SHINED WITH OUR DYNAMIC BROADWAY SEASON. WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT A BROADWAY SEASON THAT INCLUDED A WORLD PREMIERE,THE RETURN OF DISNEY'S THE LION KING IN ALL OF ITS GLORY AND HAVING OUR HOMETOWN USED AS A LOCALE IN A BROADWAY HIT? WHAT IF WE TOLD YOU THE SEASON ALSO INCLUDED A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT NOW?IT'S ALL BUT AUTOMATIC THAT THE CHORUS OF DIAMOND'S "SWEET CAROLINE" SPRINGS TO MIND WHEN HIS BIO-MUSICAL IS MENTIONED. FOR US, IT'S A HANDY WAY TO SUM UP A SEASON THAT MOVED FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH.THE AFOREMENTIONED WORLD PREMIERE, THE BOY WHO LOVED BATMAN, BASED ON THE BOOK OF THE SAME TITLE BY MICHAEL USLAN, FOLLOWS USLAN FROM COMIC BOOK-COLLECTING GEEK TO MAJOR MOVIE INDUSTRY HONCHO, DRIVEN BY HIS LOVE OF BATMAN (AND HIS CONTEMPT FOR THE CAMPY 1960S' TELEVISION SHOW). THE BOY WHO LOVED BATMAN WAS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO FIND AND NURTURE PROMISING WORKS ON THEIR WAY TO BROADWAY AND BEYOND.WE BROUGHT BACK DISNEY'S THE LION KING FOR A HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED THREE-WEEK RUN. THERE IS REALLY NOTHING LIKE THE OPENING SEQUENCE OF DISNEY'S THE LION KING IN MODERN MUSICAL THEATER (OR ANYWHERE ELSE, MOST LIKELY). THE COMBINATION OF RHYTHMS AND MELODIES, LIGHTING, THE AMAZING DESIGN OF THE COSTUMES AND THE INTERACTION OF ACTORS AND PUPPETS IMMERSES THE AUDIENCE IN THE STORY FROM THE START.PLUS, TAMPA GOT A ROLE IN A MUSICAL! WELL, A MENTION IN A MUSICAL. FOR THIS, WE THANK THE CREATORS OF SHUCKED, THE OUTRAGEOUSLY FUNNY (AND UNASHAMEDLY CORNY) MUSICAL SET IN COB COUNTY, SOMEWHERE IN THE GREAT CORN-GROWING HEARTLAND. WHEN ALL THE CORN MYSTERIOUSLY DIED, A CHARACTER DECIDES TO VENTURE OUTSIDE COB COUNTRY FOR SOLUTIONS. TAMPA WAS HER CHOICE. WHY TAMPA? IF ANYONE KNOWS, NO ONE IS SAYING. WE DON'T WANT TO LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH, SO THANKS, SHUCKED!DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! THE MUSICAL STARTED OUR HOLIDAY SEASON IN MID-NOVEMBER WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY NEXT GENERATION BALLET'S ANNUAL NUTCRACKER. WE SAW THE STRIVING AND STRUGGLE THAT GOES INTO THE MAKING OF SUPERSTARS SUCH AS CHER (THE CHER SHOW) MICHAEL JACKSON (MJ THE MUSICAL) AND MOTOWN LEGENDS THE TEMPTATIONS (AIN'T TOO PROUD).JOBSITE, STRAZ'S RESIDENT THEATER COMPANY, BROUGHT US THE INGRATIATING HORROR OF GOREY
- $11.6 million spent. FACILITY SERVICES:FACILITY SERVICES INCLUDE OPERATIONS INVOLVED IN THE PRESENTATION OF PERFORMING ARTS TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE UTILIZATION OF ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO ENSURE CONTINUED FINANCIAL STABILITY.THESE OPERATIONS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BOTH FRONT-OF-HOUSE AND BACK-OF-HOUSE FUNCTIONS FOR FIVE THEATERS AND A 335,000-SQUARE-FOOT COMPLEX.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)OPERATIONS IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE (WITH THREE ON-SITE RESTAURANTS PLUS CATERING), MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING, FACILITIES, HOUSE MANAGEMENT (INCLUDING VOLUNTEERS), SECURITY AND GROUNDS AS WELL AS PRODUCTION SUPPORT THROUGH LIGHTING, SOUND, LOAD-INS, LOAD-OUTS AND STAGING. OPERATIONS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING A 38-YEAR-OLD BUILDING, AS WELL AS A 20-YEAR-OLD CONSERVATORY WITH 20 STUDIOS. OUR 24/25 EXPENSE BASE ALSO INCLUDES DEPRECIATION EXPENSE OF $2,038,156 FOR THE AMORTIZED COST RECOGNITION OF PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, AND LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS.
- $4.9 million spent. ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMMING:ARTS EDUCATION IS A TOP PRIORITY AT THE STRAZ CENTER. THROUGH ITS PATEL CONSERVATORY, ARTS EDUCATION IS COMPRISED OF AGE-APPROPRIATE PERFORMANCES ON ITS MAIN STAGES, A SEQUENTIAL CLASSROOM CURRICULUM IN DANCE, THEATRE AND MUSIC PROVIDED IN THE PATEL CONSERVATORY, AND OUTREACH INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO REACH THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNABLE TO ATTEND ON-SITE ACTIVITIES.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)PATEL CONSERVATORY CONTINUES TO PROVIDE THE FINEST PERFORMING ARTS TRAINING IN AN INSPIRATIONAL SETTING BY GIVING STUDENTS THE TOOLS TO DREAM, REACH, DISCOVER AND CREATE THE PERFORMING ARTS, INTEGRATE THEM INTO EVERYDAY LIFE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY. THE CONSERVATORY IS AN ACCREDITED SCHOOL THROUGH THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS COUNCIL ON ACCREDITATION AND SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT. THE CONSERVATORY IS NOW IN ITS SEVENTEENTH YEAR OF ACCREDITATION WITH ITS ACCREDITATION THROUGH 2029. AT THE NORTH END OF THE STRAZ CENTER'S CAMPUS, THE PATEL CONSERVATORY'S THREE-STORY, 45,000 SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY OFFERS MORE THAN 260 PERFORMING ARTS CLASSES IN DANCE, THEATER, AND MUSIC FOR STUDENTS OF ALL AGES AND EXPERIENCE LEVELS. THE CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INTRODUCTORY CLASSES FOR THE CULTURALLY CURIOUS AND PROGRESS TO PRE-PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR SERIOUS PERFORMING ARTS STUDENTS.TO US, ARTS EDUCATION IS NOT ABOUT MAKING NEW PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS. IT'S ABOUT GIVING YOUNG PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO DEVELOP COMPETENCIES THAT WILL HELP THEM SUCCEED IN SCHOOL, WORK, AND LIFE; TO GROW INTO GOOD CITIZENS AND GOOD NEIGHBORS; TO DREAM AND ACHIEVE BETTER FUTURES.THE PATEL CONSERVATORY CONTINUES TO FLOURISH WITH HIGH ENROLLMENT, GREAT ATTENDANCE AT OUR PROFESSIONALLY PRODUCED PRODUCTIONS AND STRONG DIVERSITY AMONG STUDENTS FROM PRE-K TO GOLDEN AGE. CURRICULUM INCLUDES SEQUENTIAL INSTRUCTION IN MUSIC, DANCE AND THEATER, VOCAL ARTS, MUSICAL THEATER, PLAYWRITING, IMPROVISION AND STORYTELLING. PATEL CONSERVATORY IS STRAZ'S INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE. CHILDREN WHO LOVE THE ARTS BECOME ADULTS WHO LOVE AND SUPPORT THE ARTS. FOR SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS, IT WILL LEAD TO A PROFESSIONAL CAREER.PLACING ARTS EDUCATION WITHIN REACH OF ALL TAMPA BAY STUDENTS IS SOMETHING WE CAN'T DO WITHOUT COMMUNITY DONORS AND SUPPORT. THIS YEAR, WITH YOUR HELP, WE SERVED OVER 1,991 PATEL CONSERVATORY SCHOOL YEAR AND SUMMER SESSION UNIQUE TOTAL STUDENTS IN ON-SITE CLASSES, CAMPS, INTENSIVES, AND WORKSHOPS IN 153,699 INSTRUCTION HOURS. IN ADDITION, OVER 918 REGIONAL AND NATIONAL STUDENTS VISITED AND PARTICIPATED IN EVENTS OR CLASSES AT OUR CAMPUS. PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF ARTS EDUCATION. PATEL CONSERVATORY STUDENTS STEPPED ONTO STRAZ CENTER STAGES TO SHOWCASE THEIR SKILLS IN OVER 21 STUDENT PRODUCTIONS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, GAINING VALUABLE EXPERIENCES THAT REFLECT PROFESSIONAL APPLICATIONS.SCHOLARSHIPS:SINCE OUR SCHOLARSHIP LAUNCHED IN 2007, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE BEEN AWARDED TO DESERVING STUDENTS WITH LIMITED RESOURCES - MANY THROUGH ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS ESTABLISHED THROUGH PLANNED ESTATE GIFTS. IN 2024-2025, WE AWARDED 447 MERIT AND NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS WORTH $323,384 PLUS $84,749 IN LIVING AND HOUSING SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $408,133 IN AGGREGATE AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO HELP STUDENTS ACCESS THE TRAINING THEY DESIRE...ALL THANKS TO OUR DONORS.SELECTED ADVANCING STUDENTS WERE ALSO INVITED TO PERFORM ALONGSIDE PROFESSIONALS IN ARTS LEGACY REMIX AND OTHER PERFORMANCES ON OUR OUTDOOR RIVERWALK STAGE. THE STRAZ CENTER ALSO LINKS STUDENTS TO OPPORTUNITIES TO STRETCH THEIR WINGS AND EARN SCHOLARSHIPS, BY HOSTING EVENTS LIKE YOUTH AMERICA GRAND PRIX INTERNATIONAL BALLET COMPETITION FINALS, FLORIDA THESPIANS FESTIVAL, AND REGIONAL BROADWAY STAR OF THE FUTURE AWARDS.ARTS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM:WE ALSO DELIVERED PATEL CONSERVATORY DANCE, MUSIC AND THEATER CURRICULA AND OTHER ARTS LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO 1,600 TAMPA BAY STUDENTS IN 44 SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORHOODS LACKING IN ARTS OFFERINGS THROUGH OUR ARTS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM. PATEL CONSERVATORY AND PARTNERSHIP STUDENTS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN MASTER CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS WITH PROFESSIONAL TOURING ARTISTS, INCLUDING COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET; ATTENDED DRESS REHEARSALS OF OPERA TAMPA PRODUCTIONS; AND RECEIVED MORE THAN 800 TICKETS TO ATTEND SELECT STUDY-RELATED PERFORMANCES ON STRAZ CENTER STAGES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1981.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.