Childrens Musical Theatre of Bartlesville
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 42% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $398,119
- Spending
- $435,209
- Spent on programs
- 42%
- Reserves
- -7.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 49%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 200
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1542% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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.
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 September 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 (6)
- $89,522 spent. MAINSTAGE: FIVE WEEK THEATRE INTENSIVE THAT TEACHES STUDENTS AGED SEVEN TO SEVENTEEN TO PERFORM IN A FULL-SCALE, BROADWAY STYLE MUSICAL WITH HIGH-QUALITY COSTUMES, SETS, LIVE ORCHESTRA, AND PROFESSIONAL ARTISTIC STAFF.
- $36,846 spent. SUMMER CAMPS: EDUCATIONAL MULTI-WEEK CAMPS AT OUR IN-HOUSE THEATRE THAT INSTRUCT STUDENTS ON ACTING, SINGING, AND DANCING, AND THAT CULMINATE IN MULTIPLE PERFORMANCES. DESIGNED TO GIVE STUDENTS SKILLS IN PERFORMING, COMMUNICATION, SELF-CONFIDENCE, THEATRE PRODUCTION, AND TEAMWORK.
- $24,887 spent. STAGE SCHOOL: TRAINING CLASSES IN ACTING, SINGING, AND DANCING FOR 12-16 WEEK SESSIONS AFTER SCHOOL FOR BEGINNERS AND EXPERIENCED PERFORMERS AGES 3-17. TAUGHT BY EXPERIENCED TEACHERS AND WITH LIMITED CLASS SIZES TO PROVIDE CLOSER INSTRUCTION AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO HONE THEIR PERFORMANCE SKILLS.
- $16,876 spent. SCHOOL YEAR PRODUCTIONS: DURING THE FALL AND SPRING SEMESTER, SHORTER "JUNIOR" AUTHORIZED ADAPTATIONS OF BROADWAY MUSICALS ARE REHEARSED AND PERFORMED AT OUR IN-HOUSE THEATRE OR OTHER LOCAL VENUES.
- $6,300 spent. SPOTLITE: AN IN-CLASSROOM THEATRE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM TAUGHT IN ALL 4TH-GRADE CLASSES IN BARTLESVILLE HIGHLIGHTING IMPROVISATION, NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION, AND THE STRUCTURE OF STORIES THAT INCLUDES A HANDS-ON TOUR OF STAGECRAFT AT THE CENTER IN BARTLESVILLE.
- $7,735 spent. MISSOULA CHILDREN'S THEATRE RESIDENCY: A ONE-WEEK RESIDENCY IN THE FALL THAT CASTS 50-60 SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN IN A LIVE THEATRE PRODUCTION DESIGNED TO DEVELOP TEAMWORK, DEDICATION, CREATIVITY, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND SELF-ESTEEM WHILE LEARNING LINES, MUSIC, AND CHOREOGRAPHY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 November 6, 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 September 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 March 2002.
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 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.