Stage One the Louisville Childrens Theatre Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
STAGEONE FAMILY THEATRE FOSTERS EMPATHY AND SPARKS THE IMAGINATION OF CHILDREN AND THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF LIVE THEATRE
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- -4.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 95
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $124,123, producing artistic director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 86% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 79% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 23 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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 May 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)
- $654,861 spent. STAGEONE FAMILY THEATRE SERVES THE REGION'S CHILDREN, TEACHERS, AND FAMILIES BY PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY, ENTERTAINING, AND PROFESSIONAL THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES AND BY FOSTERING AN APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS THAT DEVELOPS THE WHOLE CHILD, SUPPORTS THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, AND BUILDS STRONG FAMILY BONDS. BOTH ON STAGE AND IN THE CLASSROOM, STAGEONE HAS FOR DECADES, BEEN A KEY PARTNER WITH AREA SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN PROVIDING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE THEIR FIRST PERFORMING ARTS EXPERIENCE, MANY AT NO COST, SUPPORTING CHILDREN'S AND FAMILY THEATRE IN THE GREATER LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY AREA. APPROXIMATELY, 34,551 STUDENTS AND FAMILES ATTENDED IN-PERSON THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS OF THE TEN STAGED PRODUCTIONS, 23 IN-SCHOOL TOURS AND ELEVEN INTERACTIVE STORYTELLING PERFORMANCES FOR PRESCHOOL AGED YOUTH.
- $525,153 spent. STAGEONE PROVIDES IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES THAT PROVIDE ARTS-INTEGRATED INSTRUCTION TO COMPLETE CORE CURRICULUM AND MEET STATE EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS. EACH RESIDENCY OR PERFORMANCE IS CUSTOMIZED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL AND THE STUDENTS. 6,450 PERSONS WERE SERVED THOUGH EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES IN 2025. STAGEONE DRAMAWORKS AND WALDEN CONSERVATORY CLASSES PROVIDED THEATRICAL INSTRUCTION IN ACTING, SINGING, DANCING, MOVIE-MAKING, AND TECHNICAL THEATRE TO APPRX 808 STUDENTS DURING THE SUMMER AND AFTER-SCHOOL, PROVDING ADDITIONAL ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND PERFORMANCE-BASED CAMPS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 November 6, 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 May 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 June 1952.
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 November 4, 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.