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Fountain Hills Theater Inc

EIN 74-2519451 · Fountain Hls, AZ

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak32 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ENGAGE, INSPIRE, ENTERTAIN AND CHALLENGE DIVERSE AUDIENCES WITH INNOVATIVE PRODUCTIONS THAT RANGE FROM THE CLASSICS TO NEW WORKS; TRAIN AND SUPPORT OUR YOUTH AS THE NEXT GENERATION OF ARTISTS; AND CELEBRATE THE ESSENTIAL POWER OF THE PERFORMING ARTS.

Income
$607,593
Spending
$674,192
Spent on programs
53%
Reserves
-0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 59%
Employees
8
Volunteers
520

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

Weak: 32 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 52% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    53% 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (5)
  1. $336,704 spent. LIVE THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS - ESTABLISHED IN 1986, FOUNTAIN HILLS THEATER (FHT) HAS A HISTORY OF PROVIDING LIVE THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS ON OUR INTIMATE DESIGNATED STAGES. "MAIN STAGE" SEATS 129 PATRONS, OFFERING WELL KNOWN COMEDIES, MUSICALS, DRAMAS AND BLOCK BUSTERS. "MAIN STAGE TOO" SEATS 89 PATRONS AND OFFERS LESSER KNOWN, SMALLER SCALE PRODUCTIONS. OUR FULL TIME YOUTH THEATER PERFORMS ON MAIN STAGE TOO AND FULFILLS OUR MISSION OF PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUTH, BOTH ON STAGE AND TECHNICALLY. FHT OFFERS GROUP RATES AND CATERS TO MANY SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEND AND EXPERIENCE LIVE THEATER. OUR COMMITMENT TO QUALITY HAS BEEN REWARDED WITH OVER 800 ARIZONI NOMINATIONS AND OVER 200 AWARDS. AS WELL AS NUMEROUS NATIONAL YOUTH AWARDS. VOLUNTEER PARTICIPANTS AS ACTORS, HOUSE STAFF AND TECHNICAL CREW AVERAGE 250 PER YEAR FROM ALL OVER THE VALLEY. WE PERFORMED 7 MUSICALS, 1 PLAYS, AND 4 YOUTH THEATER PRODUCTIONS. WE ARE PLEASED TO SEE OUR AUDIENCE RETURNING, IN GOOD HEALTH, TO ENJOY LIVE THEATER. FOUNTIAN HILLS THEATER CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON BRINGING THE BEST AND BROADEST SELECTION OF LIVE ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY. LIVE THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS - ESTABLISHED IN 1986, FOUNTAIN HILLS THEATER (FHT) HAS A HISTORY OF PROVIDING LIVE THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS ON OUR INTIMATE DESIGNATED STAGES. "MAIN STAGE" SEATS 129 PATRONS, OFFERING WELL KNOWN COMEDIES, MUSICALS, DRAMAS AND BLOCK BUSTERS. "MAIN STAGE TOO" SEATS 89 PATRONS AND OFFERS LESSER KNOWN, SMALLER SCALE PRODUCTIONS. OUR FULL TIME YOUTH THEATER PERFORMS ON MAIN STAGE TOO AND FULFILLS OUR MISSION OF PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUTH, BOTH ON STAGE AND TECHNICALLY. FHT OFFERS GROUP RATES AND CATERS TO MANY SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEND AND EXPERIENCE LIVE THEATER. OUR COMMITMENT TO QUALITY HAS BEEN REWARDED WITH OVER 800 ARIZONI NOMINATIONS AND OVER 200 AWARDS. AS WELL AS NUMEROUS NATIONAL YOUTH AWARDS. VOLUNTEER PARTICIPANTS AS ACTORS, HOUSE STAFF AND TECHNICAL CREW AVERAGE 250 PER YEAR FROM ALL OVER THE VALLEY. WE PERFORMED 7 MUSICALS, 1 PLAYS, AND 4 YOUTH THEATER PRODUCTIONS. WE ARE PLEASED TO SEE OUR AUDIENCE RETURNING, IN GOOD HEALTH, TO ENJOY LIVE THEATER. FOUNTIAN HILLS THEATER CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON BRINGING THE BEST AND BROADEST SELECTION OF LIVE ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
  2. $22,935 spent. EDUCATIONAL CLASSES, THEATRICAL WORKSHOPS, AND CAMPS - FHT MAINTAINS ITS COMMITMENT TO YOUTH EDUCATION. IN A TYPICAL YEAR CLASSES, WORKSHOPS AND CAMPS PROVIDE A VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND GROW. WE GENERALLY SERVE 350+ STUDENTS. OUR CAMPS AND WORKSHOPS FOCUS ON TEACHING THE SKILLS NEEDED TO CREATE A WORKING THEATER PRODUCTION, WHILE BUILDING SELF CONFIDENCE AND NEW FRIENDSHIPS ALONG THE WAY.
  3. COMMUNITY EVENTS - PARTICIPATED IN THE THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE, A PARKS AND RECREATION EVENT, AND FLUTTER AT THE FOUNTAIN.
  4. CONCESSIONS AND PLAYBILL ADS OUR AUDIENCES CONTINUE TO ENJOY DONATING FOR OUR CONCESSION OFFERINGS. THE YOUTH THEATER CONTINUES OFFERING THE CANDYGRAM PROGRAM TO SEND ENCOURAGEMENT BACKSTAGE TO OUR YOUNG PERFORMERS WHILE SUPPORTING THE THEATER. WE ARE ONCE AGAIN OFFERING OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR PROGRAM AD OPPORTUNITY TO OUR PATRONS.
  5. CONCESSIONS AND PLAYBILL ADS OUR AUDIENCES CONTINUE TO ENJOY DONATING FOR OUR CONCESSION OFFERINGS. THE YOUTH THEATER CONTINUES OFFERING THE CANDYGRAM PROGRAM TO SEND ENCOURAGEMENT BACKSTAGE TO OUR YOUNG PERFORMERS WHILE SUPPORTING THE THEATER. WE ARE ONCE AGAIN OFFERING OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR PROGRAM AD OPPORTUNITY TO OUR PATRONS.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1989.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.

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