Skip to the page content
Passes our checks

Leviathan Lab Inc

EIN 61-1732369 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Founded in 2009, Leviathan Lab is an award-winning not-for-profit creative studio whose mission is the advancement of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander performing artists and their work. Through the speaking of AANHPI artists' words, and the presentation of AANHPI bodies, presence, and gestures on stage and film, Leviathan works to open spaces that promote social justice, bridge communities, and assert the power of art to change the world. We function as a lab where early-career and established AANHPI artists can be courageous, experiment, and thrive as they create works that captivate the audiences we serve. Under the direction of Founder and Producing Artistic Director Ariel Estrada, Leviathan's programs for AANHPI theatre artists include DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PLAYS through commissions, workshops and readings.

Income
$125,310
Spending
$120,000
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 65%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

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: 69 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 65% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 92% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • 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.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $40,000 spent. THERE WERE LIGHTS Book, music, lyrics, and choreography Albert Guerzon (B'way: INTO THE WOODS, MAMMA MIA) Music arrangements and direction by Christian Almiron Direction and co-choreography by Monica Kapoor Rehearsals: 3/17/25-3/28/25 Performances: 3/28/25 at 12:00 noon and 3:30 p.m. Pay-as-you-are ticketing Two in-person, public workshop presentations of THERE WERE LIGHTS, a new dance musical that follows three people-one lapsed Catholic, Filipino actor, an atheist, widowed Filipina young mother, and a deeply religious, elder, widowed, and Black cemetery caretaker-brought together by a young boy searching for his loved ones in the afterlife. Together, they face their collective grief in the wake of the pandemic and learn to celebrate both their found community and the diversity of their beliefs. Artists engaged: 21. Audience members: 74.
  2. $35,000 spent. 3 | FULL CONTACT A New Solo Work by Ariel Estrada Directed by Leslie Ishii Perseverance Theatre, Juneau, Alaska Performances: December 6-22-2024 Leviathan Lab provided partial playwright compensation, room & board, and per diem for Perseverance Theatre's regional National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere of the new solo work that interrogates Estrada's experiences as a survivor of a brutal martial arts cult. Artists engaged: 22. Audience members: 635.
  3. $15,000 spent. GOTHIC LOLITA By Penny Pun (Associate Director of Civic Alliances, Perelman PAC) Directed by Eugene Ma Pearl Studios NYC Rehearsals: 12/5/24-12/9/24 Reading: 12/9/24, 2:00 p.m. Pay-as-you-are ticketing One, in-person, public staged reading of a new play by playwright, dramaturg, and advocate for Disability justice Penny Pun (Assoc. Director of Civic Alliances, Perelman PAC). Artists engaged: 9. Audience members: 11.
  4. $30,000 spent. Mixed Asian Media's Annual Mixed Asian Media Day: Conference & Fair in Los Angeles.

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 November 6, 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 March 2016.

    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 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.