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Palm Beach Dramaworks Inc

EIN 65-1040048 · West Palm Bch, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PALM BEACH DRAMAWORKS IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION INCORPORATED IN 2000 UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS MISSION AND VISION, THE ORGANIZATION BELIEVES IN THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF LIVE THEATRE AND IS COMMITTED TO PRESENTING OUTSTANDING PRODUCTIONS OF CLASSIC, CONTEMPORARY, AND WORLD PREMIERE PLAYS THAT ENTERTAIN, ENLIGHTEN, STIMULATE DISCUSSION, AND ILLUMINATE OUR SHARED HUMANITY. WE ARE EQUALLY DEDICATED TO CREATING NEW WORKS AND CULTIVATING NEW AUDIENCES, UPHOLDING THE ORIGINAL OBJECTIVES OF THE REGIONAL THEATRE MOVEMENT. WE RECOGNIZE AND VALUE THE POWER OF EDUCATION, OFFERING INSPIRING, LIFE-CHANGING PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS, AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING INITIATIVES FOR ADULTS. OUR PERFORMANCES ARE PRESENTED AT THE DON & ANN BROWN THEATRE, LOCATED IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN WEST PALM BEACH, AT 201 CLEMATIS STREET.

Income
$4.8 million
Spending
$4.4 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
78
Volunteers
135
Highest pay
$173,852, prod. art. d

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 23 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 August 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 (3)
  1. $3.3 million spent. THE FIVE MAIN-STAGE PRODUCTIONS WERE: LOST IN YONKERS - 25 PERFORMANCES/ 4,467 ATTENDEES; THE DRESSER - 22 PERFORMANCES/3,896 ATTENDEES; THE HUMANS - 22 PERFORMANCES/4,125 ATTENDEES; CAMPING WITH HENRY AND TOM - 22 PERFORMANCES/4,174 ATTENDEES; AND DANGEROUS INSTRUMENTS - 14 PERFORMANCES/2,026 ATTENDEES. THE ADULT ENRICHMENT SERIES DRAMAWISE, WAS HELD PRIOR TO EACH SHOWS OPENING AND INCLUDED AN INTER-ACTIVE DISCUSSION OF THE PLAY, IT'S CHARACTERS, THEMES AND SOCIAL RELEVANCE AND A CONVERSATION WITH THE CAST AND CREW WHO PROVIDE AN INTIMATE LOOK AT PBD'S PRODUCTION. THESE FORUMS ALLOWED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, DISCUSSION AND EDUCATION - 5 SESSIONS HELD/324 ATTENDEES.
  2. $235,397 spent. WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING STRONG, VIBRANT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO NURTURE CREATIVITY, INSPIRE ARTISTIC POTENTIAL, BUILD CONFIDENCE AND ENCOURAGE SELF-EXPRESSION. APPROXIMATELY 25% OF OUR EFFORTS INCLUDE: IN-SCHOOL MASTER CLASSES IN ACTING AND PLAYWRITING; SPECIAL STUDENT MATINEE PERFORMANCES OF OUR PRODUCTIONS HELD AT NO CHARGE FOR STUDENTS FROM LOCAL AREA SCHOOLS WITH TRANSPORTATION ALSO PROVIDED; AND FREE OR REDUCED PRICED TICKETS TO REGULARLY SCHEDULED PERFORMANCES FOR STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS. STUDENTS ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO AUDITION AND RECEIVE GUIDANCE FROM THEATRE PROFESSIONALS TO POLISH AUDITION TECHNIQUES. OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS 10-MINUTE & 1- MINUTE PLAY CONTESTS GIVING MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS A CREATIVE VOICE IN EXPRESSING THEIR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS; THE LEGACY PROJECT CREATING AN ANNUAL LGBTQ INTERGENERATIONAL DIGITAL STORYTELLING PROJECT; AND THE ONE HUMANITY TOUR, A SCHOOL TOURING PROGRAM FOR 6TH,7TH AND 8TH GRADERS USING DRAMA TO DEVELOP INFORMED, THOUGHTFUL, AND COMPASSIONATE CITIZENS. FOR THE YOUNG PLAYWRIGHT'S 10-MINUTE CONTEST, PLAYS WERE SOLICITED FROM STUDENTS AT ALL PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS. 46 PLAYS WERE SUBMITTED, AND 10 WERE SELECTED AS "WINNERS" TO RECEIVE A STAGED READING OF THEIR PLAY WITH PROFESSIONAL ACTORS AND DIRECTORS ALONG WITH A 250.00 AWARD AND A PUBLISHED COPY OF THEIR SCRIPT. IT WAS PRESENTED FREE OF CHARGE AT THE THEATRE AND HAD 205 ATTENDEES. WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING STRONG, VIBRANT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO NURTURE CREATIVITY, INSPIRE ARTISTIC POTENTIAL, BUILD CONFIDENCE AND ENCOURAGE SELF-EXPRESSION. APPROXIMATELY 25% OF OUR EFFORTS INCLUDE: IN-SCHOOL MASTER CLASSES IN ACTING AND PLAYWRITING; SPECIAL STUDENT MATINEE PERFORMANCES OF OUR PRODUCTIONS HELD AT NO CHARGE FOR STUDENTS FROM LOCAL AREA SCHOOLS WITH TRANSPORTATION ALSO PROVIDED; AND FREE OR REDUCED PRICED TICKETS TO REGULARLY SCHEDULED PERFORMANCES FOR STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS. STUDENTS ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO AUDITION AND RECEIVE GUIDANCE FROM THEATRE PROFESSIONALS TO POLISH AUDITION TECHNIQUES. OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS 10-MINUTE & 1- MINUTE PLAY CONTESTS GIVING MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS A CREATIVE VOICE IN EXPRESSING THEIR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS; THE LEGACY PROJECT CREATING AN ANNUAL LGBTQ INTERGENERATIONAL DIGITAL STORYTELLING PROJECT; AND THE ONE HUMANITY TOUR, A SCHOOL TOURING PROGRAM FOR 6TH,7TH AND 8TH GRADERS USING DRAMA TO DEVELOP INFORMED, THOUGHTFUL, AND COMPASSIONATE CITIZENS. FOR THE YOUNG PLAYWRIGHT'S 10-MINUTE CONTEST, PLAYS WERE SOLICITED FROM STUDENTS AT ALL PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS. 46 PLAYS WERE SUBMITTED, AND 10 WERE SELECTED AS "WINNERS" TO RECEIVE A STAGED READING OF THEIR PLAY WITH PROFESSIONAL ACTORS AND DIRECTORS ALONG WITH A 250.00 AWARD AND A PUBLISHED COPY OF THEIR SCRIPT. IT WAS PRESENTED FREE OF CHARGE AT THE THEATRE AND HAD 205 ATTENDEES.
  3. $104,293 spent. WE ARE EQUALLY COMMITTED TO THE IDENTIFICATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PLAYS THROUGH OUR DRAMAWORKSHOP, ON WHICH WE SPEND APPROXIMATELY 15% OF OUR EFFORTS. PLAYWRIGHTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY SUBMIT THEIR UNPRODUCED PLAYS WHICH ARE READ AND ADJUDICATED BY A TEAM OF THEATRICAL ARTISTS. SOME ARE PRESENTED FOR AUDIENCE FEEDBACK, AND 5 FINALISTS ARE SELECTED TO RECEIVE STAGED READINGS AT OUR NEW YEAR/NEW PLAY FESTIVAL (SUBSEQUENTLY RENAMED THE PERLBERG FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS), OVER 3 DAYS IN JANUARY. FOLLOWING THE READINGS, THE PLAYWRIGHTS ARE ALSO OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE REAL-TIME VALUABLE FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY - 5 PERFORMANCES/1,035 ATTENDEES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 2000.

    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.