Alley Theatre
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To inspire and enchant lives through a variety of theatrical experiences at the highest level of artistic excellence with our Resident Acting Company at the center
- Income
- $36.3 million
- Spending
- $27.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 49%
- Employees
- 388
- Volunteers
- 472
- Highest pay
- $568,025, managing director
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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 38% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2556 of 56 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
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 (1)
- $21.2 million spent. Arts, Culture & Humanities Programs, General/Other: Professional Resident Theatre Services for the 24/25 Season: Productions - 11; Total Attendance - 152,261; The Alley Theatre, founded in 1947 by Nina Vance in Houston, Texas, is one of the leading professional nonprofit theatre companies in the US. The Alley, which maintains a resident company of actors, directors, playwrights, and designers, performs up to eleven productions a year in two theaters (Hubbard Theatre, 774 seats and Neuhaus Theatre, 296 seats). The Alley produces a wide variety of theatrical productions, including American and European classics, musicals, contemporary plays, and new work. In addition to the theatre performance complex, the Alley has a 75,000 square foot Center for Theatre Production, which contains rehearsal space, offices, and the scene, props, and costume shops. The Alley has earned a national and international reputation for artistic achievement, including the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. The Alley supports a robust Education and Community Engagement (ECE) department which strives to become a driving force for arts education, to create an advanced training ground for young and emerging theatre artists, and to provide a forum for community discourse, interaction and understanding. To this end, the department delivers services to local elementary, middle and high schools, provides professional development in arts integration to teachers and school administrators, and offers on-going programming to the Houston community. In the 23/24 Season, ECE delivered 119,751 contact hours of programming to 32,930 students and community members. In August 2017 Hurricane Harvey hit the Houston area. The Alley suffered significant damage from the storm and a ruptured sprinkler pipe. Acting quickly to pump out the water, clean up the mess, and restore the theatre, the Alley was able to reopen its larger Hubbard Theatre in time for the annual production of A Christmas Carol in November that same year. In January 2018, the Alley hosted its annual Alley All New Festival in the restored Neuhaus Theatre. The Alley has worked with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM) to recoup financial losses due to Hurricane Harvey as well as to mitigate future flood damage. In March 2020, the Alley cancelled performances and ceased production for the remainder of the season due to the Covid-19 pandemic. One third of the Alley's artists, artisans, and support staff lost their jobs in June 2020. The entire 20/21 season was canceled, and the theatre remained closed to the public through the end of the fiscal year. Staff and management worked tirelessly to maintain the theatre, the resident company, and the core staff during the shutdown. In October 2021 the Alley reopened to live audiences with some restrictions for audiences and staff. By June 2022, the Alley had returned to pre-pandemic operations. In December 2022, the Alley launched a new production of A Christmas Carol, adapted by artistic director, Rob Melrose.
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 1950.
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.