Network of Ensemble Theaters
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
NET LINKS A DIVERSE ARRAY OF ENSEMBLES AND PRACTITIONERS TO ONE ANOTHER AND THE PERFORMING ARTS FIELD, ENCOURAGING COLLABORATIONS AND KNOWLEDGE BUILDING AND DISSEMINATION. NET IS COMMITTED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE ENSEMBLE FORM AND STRIVES TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE IN THE WORLD BEYOND OURSELVES THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF COLLABORATIVE THEATER. WE SUPPORT BOLD ARTISTIC AND CIVIC EXPERIMENTS AND AIM TO HEIGHTEN THE IMPACT AND EXCELLENCE OF ENSEMBLE THEATER.
- Income
- $454,140
- Spending
- $210,925
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 12.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 13
- Highest pay
- $58,702, past exec dir
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 54% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1152% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 253 of 6 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
7 of 7Has a 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
- $137,269 spent. FIELD BUILDING PROGRAMSNETS MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM BUILDS AND NURTURES THE ENSEMBLE ARTS FIELD THROUGH SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO MEMBERS, AND BY ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING A VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE NATIONAL ROSTER OF ENSEMBLE-FOCUSED PEERS FOR NETWORKING AND FIELD LEARNING. MEMBERSHIP IS AVAILABLE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO ENSEMBLE ORGANIZATIONS, ARTISTS, AND RELATED PRACTITIONERS THROUGH THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: ENSEMBLES, AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS, AND STUDENTS.THROUGH OUR ADVOCACY & CULTURAL POLICY EFFORTS, NET ORGANIZES AND PROMOTES ENSEMBLE PRACTICE AND ENSEMBLE THEATER-MAKING AS A DISTINCT ELEMENT OF THE UNITED STATES THEATER, AMPLIFYING ITS COLLECTIVE VOICE FOR LOCAL AND NATIONAL IMPACT. NET SERVES AS THE VOICE OF ENSEMBLE THEATERS AND CO-CREATORS IN CULTURAL POLICY DISCUSSIONS, AND AT CONVENINGS OF ARTISTS, PRACTITIONERS, EDUCATORS, FUNDERS, SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, AND AGENCIES NATIONALLY.ADDITIONALLY, IN FY2025 NET BEGAN DEVELOPING THE FEDERATION INITIATIVE, A MULTI-YEAR EFFORT TO BUILD COOPERATIVE ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CULTURAL WORKERS. THE INITIATIVE EMERGED DIRECTLY FROM THE NETNEXT COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS LED BY THE BRIDGE ENSEMBLE, AND FROM NEEDS IDENTIFIED BY THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY THROUGH CIRCLE UPS AND IN-PERSON GATHERINGS FROM 2022-2024. MEMBERS OF THE SHARED LEADERSHIP AND PRODUCING DIRECTORS TEAM COMPLETED THE COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT FOR A CHANGING WORLD PROGRAM AT CUNY SCHOOL OF LABOR AND URBAN STUDIES, WHERE NET SERVED AS A CASE STUDY FOR COOPERATIVE TRANSFORMATION. RESEARCH INCLUDED STUDY WITH THE US FEDERATION OF WORKER COOPERATIVES, FREELANCERS UNION, AND THE MONDRAGON COOPERATIVE IN SPAIN. NET PUBLISHED "LEARNING FROM THE LABOR MOVEMENT: A NEW VISION FOR ENSEMBLE AND COOPERATIVE PRACTICE AND BEGAN FIELDWORK CONVERSATIONS WITH LABOR UNIONS, COOPERATIVE DEVELOPERS, AND BENEFITS INFRASTRUCTURE ORGANIZATIONS TO EXPLORE PATHWAYS TO HEALTH INSURANCE, SHARED SERVICES, AND PORTABLE BENEFITS FOR CULTURAL WORKERS.
- $35,197 spent. FIELD GATHERINGS AND CONVENINGSNET FULFILLS ITS FUNCTION AS A NETWORK BY ORGANIZING AND CONVENING THE FIELD THROUGH VARIOUS EVENTS FOR NETWORKING, PEER-BASED LEARNING, AND DISCUSSION OF PRESSING FIELD ISSUES.AT THE END OF FY24, NET BEGAN BUILDING AND ACTIVATING A REGIONAL GATHERING PLANNING COMMITTEE FROM ARTISTS, ADMINISTRATORS, LEADERS, AND SCHOLARS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES IN ORDER TO MOBILIZE SHARED PROCESSES FOR BUILDING NEW WAYS OF GATHERING AND SHARING KNOWLEDGE.THIS NEW BRAIN TRUST MODEL RESULTED IN AN INCREASED ABILITY FOR THE NET PRODUCING TEAM TO DEEPEN NETS FIELD CONNECTIVITY ACROSS THE FY25 PILOT YEAR. NETS IMPACT ACROSS THIS YEAR INCLUDES HIGHLIGHTS SUCH AS THE NET REGIONAL MEETUP TOUR ACROSS MULTIPLE CITIES, THE LOS ANGELES REGIONAL GATHERING (CAMP ENSEMBLE), AS WELL AS ARTIST WORKSHOPS, COLLABORATIVE PITCH SESSIONS, VIRTUAL CIRCLE-UPS, AND VIRTUAL MEMBERSHIP GATHERINGS, SUCH AS THE VIRTUAL CAMP ENSEMBLE GATHERING. THE BELOVED 15 TOASTS TRADITION CONTINUED TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR THE ENSEMBLE FIELD AND PAST NET LEADERSHIP, FURTHER STRENGTHENING THE BONDS OF OUR NATIONAL SOLIDARITY NETWORK.
- $3,520 spent. FIELD RESOURCESCREATE + ACTIVATE, A LEARNING COHORT THAT WE PILOTED IN FY22 AS AN EXPERIMENT IN BUILDING INTERCONNECTED RELATIONSHIPS AMONG INTERSECTIONAL ENSEMBLES/ARTISTS FOR SMALL-GROUP, PEER KNOWLEDGE-SHARING AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIVITY WRAPPED UP THEIR WORK IN FY23. THIS COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY IN ENSEMBLE PRACTICE PROVIDED A VALUED SUPPORT SPACE FOR THE PARTICIPATING ENSEMBLE ARTISTS, WHERE COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS COULD DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR OWN PERSONAL ARTISTIC PRACTICES, AND LEAD TO EXPLORATIONS AROUND A NEW PARADIGM OF COLLECTIVELY-CREATED CULTURE AND PRACTICES. NET'S EXPERIENCE SUPPORTING THE COLLABORATIVE STRUCTURE AND SELF-DETERMINING, AUTONOMOUS PRACTICES FOR THE CREATE + ACTIVATE COHORT ALSO SERVED AS AN EXTREMELY VALUABLE MODEL FOR THE FY23 CREATION, RECRUITMENT, AND OPERATION OF THE NETNEXT BRIDGE ENSEMBLE. AS THE BRIDGE ENSEMBLE CONCLUDED ITS WORK IN FY24, NET ARTICULATED A TRANSITION TO A SHARED LEADERSHIP AND PRODUCING DIRECTING TEAM MODEL, REFLECTING OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO COLLABORATIVE, ARTIST-CENTERED GOVERNANCE PILOTED IN FY25. IN FY25, NET BEGAN PLANNING FOR A SECOND CREATE + ACTIVATE COHORT, WITH AN AIM TO CONTINUE DEEPENING PEER LEARNING AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIVITY AMONG INTERSECTIONAL ENSEMBLE ARTISTS LAUNCHING IN FY26.ADDITIONALLY, NET OFFERS A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE, OPEN SUBMISSION, NATIONAL ENSEMBLE & ARTIST DIRECTORY, ENSEMBLE AND ARTIST TOOLKITS, AND DIGITAL KNOWLEDGE SHARING THROUGH BIMONTHLY PUBLICATIONS. ACTIVE SOURCES FOR FIELD INFORMATION SHARING ON NET'S WEBSITE, EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS (INCLUDING A LIBRARY OF BLOG POSTS, VIDEOS, AND ARTIST-TO-ARTIST LEARNING).
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 August 2007.
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.