Mirror Image
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MIRROR IMAGE ARTS IS A YOUTH ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION DISRUPTING THE PIPELINE TO PRISON THROUGH RESTORATIVE THEATRE. OUR WORK IS THE COLLECTIVE LIBERATION OF ALL. WE BRING RESTORATIVE THEATRE TO YOUTH AND YOUTH SERVING ADULTS IN SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND DETENTION CENTERS. WE CREATE SPACES OF HEALING AND BELONGING WHILE DEEPENING SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WELLBEING.
- Income
- $866,767
- Spending
- $824,905
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 4.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 50%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 31
- Highest pay
- $105,039, exec dir of
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
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 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)
- $616,880 spent. THIS PAST YEAR IN OUR IT STARTS WITH US - RESTORATIVE THEATRE FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WE FACILITATED 12 PROGRAMS INCLUDING TWO - THREE DAY INTENSIVES FOR DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND HAD AN IMPACT ON 13,359 INDIRECT YOUTH. THIS PAST YEAR WE FACILITATED IN OUR OUR YOUR VOICE - RESTORATIVE THEATRE FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT 52 PROGRAMS AND HAD AN IMPACT ON 1126 YOUTH. THIS PAST YEAR WE FACILITATED IN OUR OUR BRIGHTER FUTURE - RESTORATIVE THEATRE FOR SYSTEM-IMPACTED YOUTH 33 PROGRAMS, HAD AN IMPACT ON 306 YOUTH AND OPENED OUR CENTER FOR RESTORATIVE THEATRE IN APRIL 2025 WHERE WE NOW RUN PROGRAMMING, OFFER A FOOD PANTRY AND DONATION CLOSET. ---------------- SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE DETAILS ----------------
- IT STARTS WITH US - BRINGS RESTORATIVE THEATRE FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO ADULTS WHO SERVE YOUTH AND FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. WE WORK TO MAKE CULTURAL SHIFTS BY CREATING SPACES OF RESTORATION AND EXPANDING ONE'S TOOLBOX FOR COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION. THIS PAST YEAR WE FACILITATED 12 PROGRAMS INCLUDING TWO - THREE DAY INTENSIVES FOR DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND HAD AN IMPACT ON 13,359 INDIRECT YOUTH. OUR YOUR VOICE PROGRAM BRINGS RESTORATIVE THEATRE FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND AFTER SCHOOL SPACES. WE WORK ALONGSIDE YOUTH TO CREATE SPACES OF BELONGING - WHERE EVERY YOUTH FEELS VALUED, SEEN, AND HEARD. THIS PAST YEAR WE FACILITATED 52 PROGRAMS AND HAD AN IMPACT ON 1126 YOUTH. OUR BRIGHTER FUTURE PROGRAM BRINGS RESTORATIVE THEATRE FOR SYSTEM-IMPACTED YOUTH TO DETENTION CENTERS, DIVERSION, FACILITY SCHOOLS AND RE-ENTRY. WE CO-CREATE SPACES OF HEALING AND TRANSFORMATION. THIS PAST YEAR WE FACILITATED 33 PROGRAMS, HAD AN IMPACT ON 306 YOUTH AND OPENED OUR CENTER FOR RESTORATIVE THEATRE IN APRIL 2025 WHERE WE NOW RUN PROGRAMMING, OFFER A FOOD PANTRY AND DONATION CLOSET. IT STARTS WITH US QUOTES: "I WAS FEELING BURNED OUT AND ALONE. HAVING THIS THERAPEUTIC SPACE WHEN I'M GOING THROUGH SOMETHING ROUGH HAS CHANGED THE NEXT FEW MONTHS FOR ME. THIS HEALED ME, I AM NOW READY TO RETURN TO SERVING STUDENTS" - DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER "WE SAW KIDDOS STEP OUTSIDE OF THEIR COMFORT ZONES AND SHARE THINGS WTIH THE GROUP THAT THEY NEVER HAVE BEFORE" BRIGHTER FUTURE QUOTES: "MIA HAS BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND HAS NOT ONLY TAUGHT ME TO OPEN UP MORE BUT CHANGED MY WAY OF SEEING THINGS. I GREW AS A PERSON BY TRYING SOMETHING NEW AND TAKING DOWN THAT BARRIER I ONCE HAD. WHAT ENCOURAGED ME MOST WAS THE MIA FACILITATORS BY MAKING ME FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THEIR POSITIVE ATTIDUES, SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS FOR BEING A CONSTANT SUPPORT AND PROVIDING US WITH ALL THESE ACTIVITIES. WHAT I WOULD TAKE AWAY IS YOLO, SO TAKE THE RISK". - MONT VIEW YOUTH "YOU ALWAYS HAD A WAY OF MAKING ME STOP AND RETHINK. I LIKE THAT ABOUT YOU BRO KEEP DOING YO JOB MAN YOU THE DEFINITION OF MIRROR IMAGE ARTS. I'M STAYING WITH Y'ALL FOREVER" - RE-ENTRY "THIS PROGRAM HELPED ME REALIZE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING AND IT'S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP" - DIVERSION MIRROR IMAGE ARTS IS PROUD TO ASSIST SCHOOLS AND DETENTION CENTERS IN THEIR MOVE FROM PUNITIVE PRACTICES TO RESTORATIVE PRACTICES. OUR CURRICULUM USES RESTORATIVE THEATRE AS A VEHICLE TO UNDERSTAND SOCIAL INTERACTIONS AND CREATES SOCIAL CONTEXT FOR YOUTH TO MAKE MEANING IN A FREEDOM-TO-FAIL ENVIRONMENT THAT IS TEACHING REASONING AND SOCIAL CONTEXT THROUGH EMPATHY. THROUGH OUR WORK, WE GIVE YOUTH ACCESS TO THE ARTS WHILE OPENING SPACES FOR THEM TO EXPERIENCE .BELONGING, TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH PLAY, IMAGINATION, AND DIALOGUE. TO FEEL VALUED, SEEN, AND HEARD. TO BE EXPERTS IN THEIR OWN LIVES AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MISTAKES AND COME BACK STRONGER. TO PRACTICE THEIR RESILIENCE AND THEIR POTENTIAL. MIRROR IMAGE ARTS RELIES ON THE IDEA THAT HUMANS ARE IN A CONSTANT STATE OF "BECOMING- AND IS COMMITTED TO HUMANIZING OTHERS AND SELF FOR OUR COLLECTIVE LIBERATION. WE PRIORITIZE THE EMPOWERMENT AND AGENCY OF THE YOUTH WE WORK WITH, PARTICULARLY INCARCERATED YOUTH WHO OFTEN HAVE LIMITED CONTROL OVER THEIR LIVES. WE ENSURE THAT OUR PROGRAMS INVOLVE A CO-CREATIVE PROCESS WHERE . YOUTH HAVE OWNERSHIP OF THE SPACE AND THEIR VOICES AND IDEAS ARE VALUED. UNLIKE TRADITIONAL APPROACHES WHERE YOUTH ARE SILENCED OR TOLD WHAT TO BELIEVE, WE CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN OPINIONS THROUGH DIALOGUE AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN ENVISIONING AND ENACTING POSITIVE CHANGES IN THEIR LIVES, COMMUNITIES, AND THE WORLD. OUR TEAM OF RESTORATIVE THEATRE ARTISTS SERVES AS FACILITATORS AND COLLABORATORS, ALLOWING YOUTH THE RARE OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE THE CONTENT OF THEIR OWN STORIES AND CHALLENGE THE NARRATIVES IMPOSED UPON THEM BY SOCIETY AND FAMILY.
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
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 June 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 April 2009.
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.
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.