Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE FOUNDATION IS ORGANIZED AS A SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF TAMPA BAY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, INC. DBA DAVID A. STRAZ JR. CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS ("CENTER OR "STRAZ CENTER"). SEE SCHEDULE O FOR EXPANDED MISSION.
- Income
- $12.2 million
- Spending
- $9.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 28.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 14
- 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 28.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 15 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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)
- $1.8 million spent. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025, THE TAMPA BAY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FOUNDATION, INC. (THE "FOUNDATION") CARRIED OUT ITS MISSION IN SUPPORTING THE TAMPA BAY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, INC. DBA DAVID A. STRAZ JR CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (THE "CENTER OR "STRAZ CENTER") THROUGH DISBURSEMENT OF (A) APPROVED SPENDING POLICY DISTRIBUTION GRANTS AND (B) GRANTS OF GIFTS RECEIVED FROM OTHER FOUNDATIONS TO SUPPORT CENTER EDUCATION AND OPERA PROGRAMS, ARTISTIC INITIATIVES, FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND GENERAL OPERATIONS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)SPENDING POLICY DISTRIBUTIONS ARE BASED ON THE RELATED ESTABLISHED BOARD POLICY TO PROVIDE A CONSISTENT PROCESS TO MOVE FUNDS FROM THE ENDOWMENT TO OPERATING FUNDS ON AN ANNUAL OR APPROVED BASIS. GIFTS RECEIVED BY THE FOUNDATION AND TRANSFERRED TO THE CENTER FROM OTHER FOUNDATIONS ARE APPROVED BY THE FOUNDATION BOARD OR PER DONOR REQUEST.
- $5.8 million spent. THE FOUNDATION LAUNCHED ITS $100 MILLION "BOUNDLESS CAPITAL CAMPAIGN" TOWARDS THE END OF ITS FISCAL YEAR 2018/2019 AS PART OF ITS MISSION TO SUPPORT THE STRAZ CENTER AS IT CONTINUES TO GROW IN THE TAMPA BAY REGION. THIS CAMPAIGN IS COMPRISED OF 2 PARTS: $80 MILLION MASTER PLAN EXPANSION PROJECT AND $20 MILLION TO INCREASE ENDOWMENT. THE FOUNDATION IS COLLECTING CAMPAIGN PLEDGES AND REIMBURSING THE CENTER FOR MASTER PLAN EXPENDITURES. THE MASTER PLAN COMMENCED ITS DESIGN PHASE IN 2018/2019 WITH ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION STARTED IN APRIL 2025 AND ANTICIPATED COMPLETION IN 2027.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THROUGH ITS OVERSIGHT OF LONG-TERM ASSETS AND THE ENDOWMENT FUND, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED THE CENTER FINANCIAL STABILITY IN FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025 AND HELPED MAINTAIN THE CENTER'S HIGH STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE AND CREATIVITY AS WELL AS PROVIDING PATRONS THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE CENTER'S PROGRAMS.FOUNDATION ENDOWMENT BY THE NUMBERS:$66.6 MILLION IN GIFTS AND PLEDGES HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO THE STRAZ CENTER ENDOWMENT FROM BOTH THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS THROUGH OUTRIGHT GIFTS AND PLANNED GIFTS.IN 2024/2025, A TOTAL OF $1.8 MILLION OF ENDOWMENT EARNINGS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THE STRAZ CENTER'S OPERATING BUDGET TO SUPPORT ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE, ARTS EDUCATION, AND OUR STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES.IMPACT OF THE ENDOWMENT:INCOME FROM OUR ENDOWMENT ALLOWS THE STRAZ CENTER TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ARTISTIC PROGRAMMING WHILE ALSO ENSURING THAT YOUNG TALENT FLOURISHES IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT ALSO SUPPORTS VITAL CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT HELP THE STRAZ CENTER REMAIN AN INDUSTRY STANDARD. ENDOWMENT FUNDS PROVIDE SUPPORT THROUGH ENDOWMENT EARNINGS IN THE AREAS OF ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE, CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS, ARTS EDUCATION, OPERA TAMPA, OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION, ARTS EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS, TICKET SUBSIDIES, AND MORE. THIS FINANCIAL STABILITY ALLOWS STRAZ CENTER TO ADVANCE ITS MISSION AND IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE:OUR ARTISTIC PROGRAMMING IS ONCE AGAIN THRIVING WITH BROADWAY AND OUR GRAND OPERA LEADING THE WAY AT THE STRAZ CENTER. ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE OUR MORSANI HALL CROWD THRILLED TO SEE A BROADWAY SPECTACULAR, A JAEB THEATER AUDIENCE ENJOYING SOMETHING LEFT OF CENTER, AND OUR PATEL STUDIOS FULL OF YOUNG ACTORS, DANCERS AND MUSICIANS AND THE NEXT GENERATION'S PERFORMERS.IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025 (24/25) SEASON, WE HELD 1,541 PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS, SERVED BY 764 ANNUAL VOLUNTEERS DEDICATING OVER 70,807 SERVICE HOURS. WE EXTENDED OUR OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING 40,613 COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS.ARTS EDUCATION: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 WELCOMED STUDENTS FROM PRE-K TO GOLDEN AGE. CURRICULUM INCLUDES SEQUENTIAL INSTRUCTION IN MUSIC, DANCE AND THEATER, VOCAL ARTS, MUSICAL THEATER, PLAYWRITING, IMPROVISION AND STORYTELLING.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, CONSERVATORY STUDENTS WERE SERVED IN ON-SITE CLASSES, CAMPS, INTENSIVES, AND WORKSHOPS IN OVER 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 21 STUDENT PRODUCTIONS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, GAINING VALUABLE EXPERIENCES THAT REFLECT PROFESSIONAL APPLICATIONS.SCHOLARSHIPS:SINCE OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 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. 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.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 OPPORTUNITIES TO ATTEND SELECT STUDY-RELATED PERFORMANCES ON STRAZ CENTER STAGES.COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:INTEGRATED INTO ITS CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY WIDE OFFERINGS, STRAZ CENTER HAS A FIRM COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. OUR AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES STEER OUR EFFORTS TOWARDS WELCOMING ALL IN MAKING A COMMUNITY IMPACT. THIS INCLUDES AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, STAFF TRAINING AND VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY TOWN HALLS, ARTS LEGACY REMIX SERIES, FOCUS ON RELATED BOARD AND HR INITIATIVES TO EXTEND OUR REACH TO A WIDE REACH OF CANDIDATES FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. IN ADDITION, WE CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AND EXPAND OUR PROGRAM OFFERING OUR WELCOMING ALL FOOTPRINT AROUND THE CAMPUS INSIDE AND OUT. OUR OFFERINGS INCLUDE RELAXED SENSORY-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCES, ARTS EDUCATION FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS, STRAZ OUTREACH FOR THE REMOTE AND IMMOBILE ASSISTED LISTENING DEVICES AND SIGNED PERFORMANCES, AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) CELEBRAT
- $172,733 spent. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025, THE FOUNDATION ALSO CARRIED OUT ITS MISSION IN SUPPORTING THE CENTER THROUGH A SPENDING POLICY DISTRIBUTION FROM ITS ENDOWMENT ASSETS AT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TAMPA BAY.
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 October 1998.
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.
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