Main Street Theater Houston
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To create theater that challenges its audience to think and its artists to grow. We accomplish this by presenting an articulate and compelling product in an intimate setting, creating employment for Houston-based artists, and memorable theatrical experiences.
- Income
- $3.0 million
- Spending
- $3.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- -4.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 60%
- Employees
- 195
- Volunteers
- 11
- Highest pay
- $48,750, founding artisis director
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
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 55% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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 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)
- $578,505 spent. Main Street Theater (MST) provides audiences stimulating theatrical experiences and artists with challenging and rewarding work. Through our two theaters, MainStage and Theater for Youth, MST serves more than 130,000 patrons ages three years and up. MST contributes to the growth and vibrancy of Houston's theater industry, employing over 250 theater artists each year. MST's 99-seat MainStage presents a wide-ranging repertory of emotionally engaging stories from writers exploring and articulating the human experience.
- $1.7 million spent. MST's Theater for Youth presents weekend matinees for family audiences and weekday performances for school groups (10-16 performances per week) at the 323-seat Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston. The Theater for Youth repertory selects works from popular best-selling books and beloved children's classics in consultation with parents, educators, and students.
- $316,860 spent. MST's education initiatives and in-school residencies supplement classroom curricula and inspire students to express themselves and explore their imaginations. These initiatives utilize the arts to promote literacy and advance understanding of science, math, engineering, and technology in the classroom. MST's educational initiatives foster critical developmental skills, including creativity, observation, self-confidence, communication, leadership, empathy, listening, and teamwork. These sector-leading initiatives merge artists' elements with core curricula to provide engaging content for students and valuable tools for teachers.
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
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1980.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.