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Nashville Academy Theatre and Nashville Childrens Theater Ass

EIN 62-0637709 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak33 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NASHVILLE CHILDREN'S THEATRE IS A PROFESSIONAL THEATRE COMPANY PROVIDING THE CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND EDUCATORS OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE WITH EXTRAORDINARY SHARED THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES THAT INSPIRE IMAGINATION, DEVELOP CREATIVITY, AND BUILD COMMUNITY.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 63%
Employees
185
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$61,574, frmr artisti

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

Weak: 33 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 42 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    32 of 32 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    0 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 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 (2)
  1. $1.4 million spent. PERFORMANCE SERIES - THE PERFORMANCE SERIES SERVES ALL-AGES THROUGH SCHOOL MATINEES AND PUBLIC PERFORMANCES. AS NASHVILLE'S MOST ESTABLISHED AND BROAD-BASED THEATRE PROGRAM FOR SCHOOLS, WEEKDAY MATINEES ARE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND SCHOOLS' ARTS EDUCATION CURRICULA WHILE ALSO STIMULATING STUDENTS' CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS. THE EXPERIENCE IS AUGMENTED WITH SHOW-SPECIFIC MATERIALS GIVEN TO TEACHERS IN ORDER TO HELP INTEGRATE NASHVILLE CHILDREN'S THEATRE (NCT) PERFORMANCES INTO THE CLASSROOM, WHILE TEACHERS ARE ALSO INVITED TO COMPLIMENTARY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS TO PREVIEW EACH PLAY AND PARTICIPATE IN HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES DEMONSTRATING SHOW-SPECIFIC LESSON PLANS. PUBLIC PERFORMANCES ARE DESIGNED TO ENGAGE BOTH KIDS AND ADULTS FOR A MODEST ADMISSION PRICE, ENCOURAGING FAMILIES TO CONNECT THROUGH THE STORIES BEING TOLD ON STAGE. PERFORMANCE SERIES - THE PERFORMANCE SERIES SERVES ALL-AGES THROUGH SCHOOL MATINEES AND PUBLIC PERFORMANCES. AS NASHVILLE'S MOST ESTABLISHED AND BROAD-BASED THEATRE PROGRAM FOR SCHOOLS, WEEKDAY MATINEES ARE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND SCHOOLS' ARTS EDUCATION CURRICULA WHILE ALSO STIMULATING STUDENTS' CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS. THE EXPERIENCE IS AUGMENTED WITH SHOW-SPECIFIC MATERIALS GIVEN TO TEACHERS IN ORDER TO HELP INTEGRATE NASHVILLE CHILDREN'S THEATRE (NCT) PERFORMANCES INTO THE CLASSROOM, WHILE TEACHERS ARE ALSO INVITED TO COMPLIMENTARY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS TO PREVIEW EACH PLAY AND PARTICIPATE IN HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES DEMONSTRATING SHOW-SPECIFIC LESSON PLANS. PUBLIC PERFORMANCES ARE DESIGNED TO ENGAGE BOTH KIDS AND ADULTS FOR A MODEST ADMISSION PRICE, ENCOURAGING FAMILIES TO CONNECT THROUGH THE STORIES BEING TOLD ON STAGE.
  2. $728,456 spent. DRAMA SCHOOL - NCT OFFERS YEAR-ROUND THEATRE CLASSES AND DRAMA PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 3 TO 18. THE CLASSES ARE TAUGHT BY PROFESSIONAL THEATRE ARTISTS AND ARE DESIGNED TO BE SMALL IN SIZE, OFFERING A DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM THAT CELEBRATES THE INDIVIDUAL SUCCESSES OF EACH STUDENT, WHILE ENCOURAGING GROWTH IN CONFIDENCE, COLLABORATION, AND THEATRE SKILLS. CLASSES ARE DESIGNED TO BE INCLUSIVE FOR CHILDREN AT VARYING STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT, AND NCT HAS BECOME KNOWN AS A RECREATIONAL OUTLET FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS.

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 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 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 December 1952.

    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.